Major Takeaways from 2025’s Q4 EU Parliamentary Questions on Health Policy

This report summarizes key developments in EU health policy during Q4 2025, covering the period from 6 October 2025 to 28 December 2025. Over these three months, a total of 122 new Parliamentary Questions (PQs) were published and 132 Commission Answers were made available, based on the provided weekly reports. The quarter was dominated by discussions on medicines regulation and supply chain security, including persistent concerns over shortages and ongoing scrutiny of the pharmaceutical package and transparency in vaccine procurement. Other dominant narratives included debates on public health and prevention strategies, with a strong focus on tobacco control, substance use, and cancer prevention, and the resilience of health systems and ensuring equitable access to care, particularly regarding workforce shortages and regional disparities. Finally, there was significant parliamentary focus on the intersection of health with environmental and trade policies, especially concerning food safety standards for imports and the regulation of chemicals and pesticides.

Throughout Q4, parliamentary scrutiny of medicines regulation was intense and multifaceted. A primary concern was the persistent issue of medicine shortages, with MEPs from various political groups repeatedly questioning the Commission on its strategy to increase EU production, reduce dependency on third countries, and strengthen prevention tools, including the potential for an EU-level stockpile. The effectiveness of the new pharmaceutical package also came under fire, with questions raised about whether data protection extensions could prolong monopolies and whether the criteria for ‘unmet medical need’ were sufficiently clear.

The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to drive questions on transparency and governance, particularly the ‘Pfizergate’ affair. MEPs persistently sought access to text messages between the Commission President and Pfizer’s CEO, questioning the Commission’s record-keeping policies and its refusal to disclose the correspondence. The regulation of medical devices was another key topic, with MEPs highlighting the need for a revision of the MDR to reduce administrative burdens and ensure uniform interpretation across Member States to avoid market access inequalities.

The resilience of national health systems and the well-being of the healthcare workforce were central themes this quarter. MEPs frequently raised alarms about systemic failures, understaffing, and deteriorating working conditions in several Member States, with a particular focus on Greece and Italy. Questions highlighted the impact of staff shortages on patient safety and called on the Commission to strengthen enforcement of the Working Time Directive for doctors. The Commission, in its responses, often reiterated that the organisation of health services is a Member State competence but pointed to EU support mechanisms like the EU4Health programme and Cohesion Policy funds to upskill professionals and improve infrastructure.

Access to care was another major focus, with numerous questions addressing regional inequalities in access to specialised services, such as cancer treatment and radiotherapy equipment in Spain. The implementation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive was also scrutinised, with MEPs pointing to complex procedures that deter patients from seeking treatment abroad and calling for simplification. The recognition of professional qualifications for emerging roles like genetic counselling and established professions like chiropractic was also debated as a key element of workforce mobility and patient access.

Public health and prevention remained a high-priority area, with a wide range of topics under discussion. Tobacco control was a dominant theme, with MEPs questioning the delay in the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and the Tobacco Advertising Directive. The regulation of novel products, particularly e-cigarettes and their marketing to young people, was a recurring concern. The Commission confirmed it is evaluating the legislative framework and that findings will inform future steps.

The threat from substance use also featured prominently, with a cross-party call for a ban on the sale of nitrous oxide to the general public and pointed questions about the EU’s response to the rise of synthetic opioids like nitazenes. In response, the Commission highlighted the intensified activities of the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) and a new EU Drugs Strategy. Cancer prevention was another key focus, with questions on the implementation of screening programmes, the promotion of carcinogenic products like processed meat, and the regulation of sunbeds. Mental health, particularly among young people, and the impact of social media were also addressed, with the Commission pointing to the Digital Services Act and the ‘Healthier Together’ initiative as key policy responses.

Discussions on digital health this quarter centred on the development of key EU-wide initiatives and the crucial issue of data protection. The Commission provided updates on the digitalisation of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as part of the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS) initiative, confirming it is considering approaches that ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities. The creation of a European network of AI-powered advanced screening centres was also highlighted as a flagship initiative under the Apply AI Strategy, with the Commission emphasizing that all systems must comply with the AI Act and GDPR.

MEPs raised significant questions regarding patient rights over their personal health data, particularly in the context of the forthcoming European Health Data Space (EHDS). Scrutiny focused on whether patients can prohibit the forwarding of their data and what happens to data transferred to the EHDS, reflecting underlying concerns about data governance and individual control in an increasingly digitalised healthcare environment.

The financing of EU health policy and ensuring equitable access to care were key topics of debate in Q4. Significant attention was paid to the Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, with MEPs expressing concern that public health funding was being absorbed into a broader Competitiveness Fund without a dedicated successor to the EU4Health programme. The Commission responded by outlining its proposed funding windows for health, biotech, and health emergency preparedness.

The implementation of existing funds, particularly the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), was also under scrutiny. MEPs highlighted significant delays in the use of RRF funds for healthcare projects, such as hospital renovations in Greece, prompting the Commission to acknowledge common implementation challenges across Member States. Questions were also raised about ensuring adequate and transparent funding for flagship initiatives like Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan in the next budget cycle.

The intersection of health with environmental, agricultural, and trade policies was a highly active area of parliamentary debate this quarter. The EU-Mercosur trade agreement was a major point of contention, with multiple questions raising concerns about the safety of food imports, particularly beef from Brazil. MEPs questioned the reliability of Brazil’s control systems for antibiotics and hormones and asked if the Commission was prepared to suspend import concessions on public health grounds. The Commission maintained that all imports must comply with the EU’s high sanitary standards.

The regulation of chemicals and pesticides also remained a top priority. MEPs scrutinised the Commission’s proposals on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), the restriction of lead in ammunition, and the potential classification of talc as a carcinogen. The Commission’s withdrawal of its proposal on the sustainable use of pesticides did not end the debate, with MEPs continuing to push for measures to reduce pesticide use through other means, such as the Common Agricultural Policy. The health impacts of climate change, including heat-related deaths and the spread of vector-borne diseases, were also addressed, with the Commission highlighting its monitoring and preparedness efforts.

As the quarter concludes, several key policy questions remain on the Commission’s agenda, setting the stage for debates in early 2026. Notable pending responses relate to the detailed strategy for tackling persistent medicine shortages, the future regulatory framework for novel tobacco and nicotine products amid rising youth consumption, and the specific measures to ensure food imports under trade agreements like EU-Mercosur meet EU health and safety standards. Furthermore, the future funding and structure of major initiatives like Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the broader European Health Union under the next MFF are expected to be central to parliamentary scrutiny in the coming months.

All Parliamentary Questions and Commission Answers are accessible via Policy-Insider.AI.