This report provides a summary of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to the European Commission and Commission replies to previous PQs published between 6 to 12 October 2025. Key themes addressed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) include public health and environmental risks, the resilience and accessibility of healthcare systems, EU governance and transparency, and the health and environmental implications of international trade agreements. Of the 18 questions covered in this period, 9 have received a response from the Commission, while 9 remain pending.
❗ Commission Outlines Support for Mental Health of Hungarian Women in Ukraine
In PQ E-002405/25, submitted on 16 June 2025, a group of MEPs from the PfE group, including Viktória Ferenc and Tamás Deutsch, asked the Commission what concrete measures were being taken to provide targeted, linguistically and culturally accessible mental health support for Hungarian women in Transcarpathia affected by the war. In a response on 7 October 2025, Commissioner Várhelyi highlighted several actions, including the EUR 9 million EU-PROMENS project for multidisciplinary training and a EUR 31.2 million project with the International Federation of the Red Cross to deliver psychological first aid. He also noted that the EU4Health 2025 Work Programme, adopted on 23 July 2025, supports mental health as a priority.
❗ EU Calls for Gaza Medical Corridor and Highlights Evacuation Efforts
A large cross-party group of MEPs, including Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE) and Mimmo Lucano (The Left), submitted PQ E-002776/25 on 8 July 2025, demanding to know what actions the EU would take to restore health services in Gaza and open a medical evacuation corridor to East Jerusalem hospitals. In a reply on 9 October 2025, High Representative/Vice-President Kallas described the humanitarian situation as “unbearable” and reiterated the EU’s call for aid access and respect for international humanitarian law. The response confirmed the EU is advocating for humanitarian channels for patients and appeals for the urgent restoration of a medical corridor. It also noted that as of 3 September 2025, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism had facilitated 24 medical evacuations for 294 paediatric patients from Gaza to the EU.
❗ Commission Responds to Concerns Over Health Infrastructure in Greek Islands
MEP Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE) asked in PQ E-003350/25 on 1 September 2025 how the Commission assesses the lack of basic infrastructure, including for health, in the Dodecanese and Eastern Aegean islands despite significant EU funding. On 9 October 2025, Executive Vice-President Fitto responded by acknowledging the unique challenges faced by EU islands. He stated that Cohesion Policy support for the South and North Aegean regions has substantially increased for the 2021-2027 period but stressed that under the shared management principle, the selection and implementation of projects are the responsibility of national authorities.
❓ MEPs Question Regulatory Disparities in Medical Responsibility
In PQ E-003768/2025, submitted on 29 September 2025 by Valentina Palmisano (The Left) and Ignazio Roberto Marino (Verts/ALE), the Commission is asked about the lack of EU minimum criteria on medical responsibility. The MEPs highlight that high exposure to litigation in countries like Italy fuels defensive medicine and creates disincentives for medical careers, and they ask if the Commission will promote EU guidelines to distinguish between minor and gross negligence and consider establishing an EU observatory on medico-legal litigation. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Details Climate and Health Monitoring Amidst Rising Heat-Related Deaths
Following reports of increased deaths attributable to high temperatures in Spain, MEP Leire Pajín (S&D) asked in PQ E-003203/25 on 7 August 2025 what actions have been implemented to strengthen monitoring and warning systems for climate-related health risks. Commissioner Hoekstra replied on 9 October 2025, outlining the key role of the European Climate and Health Observatory in monitoring and education. He explained that while alert systems are a Member State responsibility, the EU provides support through data from systems like Copernicus and is developing heat early warning systems. He also noted that the regulation on serious cross-border threats to health strengthens coordination on climate-related health risks.
❗ Commission Confirms Monitoring of Brindisi Coal Plant Amidst Closure Postponement
MEP Valentina Palmisano (The Left) questioned the compatibility of Italy’s decision to postpone the closure of the Brindisi coal-fired power station with EU Green Deal objectives in PQ E-003386/25, submitted on 3 September 2025. In his response on 10 October 2025, Commissioner Hoekstra stated that while it is too early to appraise the consequences, the plant is regulated under the Industrial Emissions Directive and the EU Emission Trading System (ETS), which ensures overall decarbonisation of the sector. The Commission also highlighted an ongoing infringement case against Italy (C-644/18) for systematic air quality breaches in the zone that includes the Brindisi plant.
❗ Commission Addresses Hazardous Waste Disposal and Groundwater Protection in Greece
In PQ E-003027/25 submitted on 21 July 2025, MEP Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR) raised concerns about the improper disposal of hazardous aluminium waste in Boeotia, Greece, and the risk of groundwater contamination. On 9 October 2025, Commissioner Roswall replied that the Commission monitors waste treatment and has an active infringement case against Greece for its failure to treat waste prior to landfilling. The response clarified that while national authorities are responsible for implementing the Landfill Directive’s strict requirements for groundwater protection, the Commission oversees compliance with EU law.
❗ Commission Outlines EU Support for Wildfire Prevention and Response
In a response on 6 October 2025 to PQ P-003299/25, Commissioner Lahbib detailed the EU’s role in supporting Member States’ wildfire management efforts. The Commission clarified that while civil protection is a primary national responsibility, the EU provides significant support through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), the rescEU strategic reserve, and Horizon Europe research funding. The answer specifically noted that Spain had requested and received assistance through the UCPM during the summer of 2025, with France and the Netherlands providing support.
❗ Commission Clarifies EU Framework on Water Scarcity
Responding to PQ E-003167/25 on 6 October 2025, Commissioner Hansen addressed concerns over water scarcity. The Commission’s answer reiterated that water management is primarily a Member State responsibility, but it is supported by an EU framework. The Water Framework Directive allows Member States to consider socio-economic impacts in water pricing, while the Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy provide support for efficient irrigation and public water infrastructure, respectively. The recent European Water Resilience Strategy was also cited as reaffirming access to clean water as a human right.
❓ MEP Raises Alarm Over Avian Flu Risk from Mercosur Poultry Imports
MEP Paolo Borchia (PfE) submitted PQ E-003814/2025 on 1 October 2025, expressing concern that poultry meat imported from Mercosur countries might not comply with the EU’s stringent avian flu control standards. The question asks what measures the Commission will take to ensure import standards are met, how it will monitor the health situation in Mercosur countries, and how it will protect public health and support EU producers. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Deflects on Deleted ‘Pfizergate’ SMS Messages
In priority question P-003182/25, submitted on 5 August 2025, MEP Friedrich Pürner (NI) demanded a concrete explanation for why SMS messages between the Commission President and Pfizer’s CEO concerning vaccine negotiations could no longer be located. On 6 October 2025, Commissioner Šefčovič responded on behalf of the Commission. Instead of providing details on the messages, the answer referred to a General Court judgment (T-36/23) and stated that the Commission had adopted a new confirmatory decision on 28 July 2025 providing “a more detailed explanation,” which is publicly available.
❓ MEP Questions Inconsistent Tendering Practices for Medical Gloves
MEP Kristian Vigenin (S&D) submitted PQ E-003589/2025 on 17 September 2025, highlighting that Chinese medical gloves are permitted in some EU hospital tenders but excluded from others, creating regulatory fragmentation. The question asks for the reason behind this distinction and whether the Commission considers it logical, especially in light of DG HERA’s objective to secure affordable stockpiles of essential medical goods. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ MEP Seeks Details on Commission Contacts in German State Aid Case
Following up on a previous exchange, MEP Fabio De Masi (NI) submitted PQ E-003821/2025 on 1 October 2025. The question asks for specific information on which German authorities the Commission had contact with, and when, as part of its assessment under EU State aid law in Case SA.104638, which concerns the procurement of masks. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ MEP Calls for Simplification of Single Market for Services
In PQ E-003770/2025, submitted on 29 September 2025, MEP Maria Grapini (S&D) points to numerous obstacles hindering the smooth functioning of the single market for services, such as non-standardised health certificates and disjointed reporting. The question asks if the Commission is considering measures to raise awareness among Member States about the importance of simplifying procedures and harmonising regulations. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ MEP Questions Efficiency and Results of the European Green Deal
Citing reports from the European Environment Agency and the European Court of Auditors, MEP Claudiu-Richard Târziu (ECR) submitted PQ E-003797/2025 on 30 September 2025. The question highlights the high costs and allegedly minimal results of the Green Deal, noting that many 2030 targets are not on track. It asks how the Commission will bridge this “efficiency gap” and ensure future environmental policies deliver quantifiable benefits rather than just administrative burdens. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Potential Conflict Between Critical Raw Materials and Water Protection Legislation Raised
MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska (ECR) raised concerns in PQ E-003833/2025 on 1 October 2025 about a potential conflict between the Critical Raw Materials Regulation and the Water Framework Directive. The question notes that accelerating the extraction of strategic resources could threaten groundwater reservoirs in regions like Śląskie Province in Poland and asks whether the Regulation’s provisions will be suspended where they conflict with water protection and the human right to water. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Responds on Plant-Based Food Labelling and Promotion
In PQ E-002799/25, submitted on 9 July 2025 by Anja Hazekamp (The Left) and other MEPs, the Commission was asked about promoting plant-based diets, introducing an EU-wide vegan label, and respecting a CJEU ruling on food naming. In her reply on 10 October 2025, Commissioner Zaharieva pointed to Horizon Europe projects funding research on alternative proteins. However, she stated that the Commission is “currently not planning to work on” an EU-wide vegan/vegetarian label. While acknowledging the CJEU ruling that allows descriptive names for plant-based products, the Commission noted it has introduced a proposal in the context of the post-2027 CAP “to protect certain meat-related terms.”
❓ MEP Challenges Strength of EU-Mercosur Agreement Safeguard Clauses
MEP Mathilde Androuët (PfE) submitted PQ E-003781/2025 on 29 September 2025, citing analysis from the Veblen Institute which argues that the safeguard clauses in the EU-Mercosur Agreement are legally non-binding and insufficient to protect European health and environmental standards. The question asks the Commission to rebut this analysis in detail. A response from the Commission is pending.
