The European Parliament launched its revised EU pharmaceutical package in the first quarter of 2023. The fragmentation of EU health research and development, a lack of transparency and a disparity between public investment and clinical output are among the weaknesses identified. Possible solutions include the creation of a large-scale European biomedical infrastructure, and a series of targeted strategies to improve the coordination of EU health research and reprioritise areas of healthcare with unmet therapeutic needs.

Towards a new EU pharmaceutical strategy - English

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the European single market.

The EU thus ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

In the wake of a series of human food and animal feed crises, EU food safety policy underwent substantial reform in the early 2000s. The ‘Farm to Fork’ approach was defined, guaranteeing a high level of safety at all stages of the production and distribution process for all food products marketed within the EU, whether produced within the EU or imported from third countries.

Food safety

Vaccines are a key part of a long-term strategy to bring SARS-CoV-2 under control. It is essential to roll out vaccination rapidly to protect as many people as possible and to lower the opportunities for the virus to evolve further. Any vaccine must be authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The European Commission has secured up to 4.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far - and negotiations are underway for additional doses. However, countries are facing different challenges around the disinformation or vaccine acceptance. The European Parliament is trying to keep an eye on the purchase and safety of these vaccines. During June plenary the EP adopted a resolution calling for COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver. Parliament proposed negotiations start for a temporary waiver of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on patents to improve global access to affordable COVID-19-related medical products and to address global production constraints and supply shortages. The EP approved also the Digital Green Certificate to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the pandemic.

EU Vaccine Strategy

The EU Digital COVID Certificate aims to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.The certificate should&nbsp;be available in either digital or paper format. It attests that a person has been vaccinated against coronavirus or has a recent negative test result or has recovered from the infection.

&nbsp;A common EU framework is&nbsp;allowing member states to issue certificates that will then be accepted in other EU countries. The EU Digital Covid Certificate regulation should be&nbsp;in place for 12 months. The certificate should&nbsp;not be a precondition to exercise the right to free movement and is&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered a travel document.

Member states should not impose additional travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as quarantine, self-isolation or testing, “unless they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health”. Member states must accept vaccination certificates issued in other member states for persons inoculated with a vaccine authorised for use in the EU by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

It is&nbsp;up to the member states to decide whether they also accept vaccination certificates that have been authorised by other Member States following national authorisation procedures or for vaccines listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use. The Regulation entered&nbsp;into force on&nbsp;1 July 2021.
 Parliament and EU member states’ negotiators have agreed to keep the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework in place for another year, until June 2023

EU Digital COVID certificate

Virginijus Sinkevičius, born on 4 November 1990 in Vilnius, is a Lithuanian politician. Commissioner-designate for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

After the hearing by the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, Commissioner-designate

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ was the Third Deputy Spanish Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. She is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President designate, Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

Stéphane Séjourné was a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024, Chair of the Renew Europe Group of the European Parliament in 2021 and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in 2024. He is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive VIce-President designate, Prosperity and Industrial Strategy

Wopke Hoekstra was Dutch Minister for Finance from 2017 to 2022, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023 and European Commissioner for Climate Action and acting Commissioner for Transport in the von der Leyen Commission I. He is now European Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth

Olivér Várhely was European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement in the von der Leyen Commission I. He is now European Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designated, Health and Animal Welfare

Hadja Lahbib was Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Federal Cultural Institutions since 2022. She is now European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management, and European Commissioner-designate for Equality, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, Commissioner-designate, Preparedness and Crisis Management

Jessika Roswall was Swedish Minister for EU Affairs since 2022. She is now European Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, Commissioner-designate, Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

ENVI - Exchange of views with Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, as part of the structured dialogue

ENVI - Exchange of views with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, as part of the structured dialogue

ENVI - Exchange of views with Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management, as part of the structured dialogue, including an exchange of views on the EU Preparedness Union Strategy

ENVI Extraordinary meeting - Exchange of views with Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, as part of the structured dialogue

ECON ENVI - Exchange of views with Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, on the draft Commission Delegated Regulation

ENVI.- Exchange of views with Dr Bernhard Url, Acting Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority

ENVI - Exchange of views with Jessika Roswall, Commissioner responsible for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, as part of the structured dialogue

ENVI - Exchange of views with Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, in particular on the Vision for Agriculture and Food Communication

&lt;p>From 4th to 12th November 2024, the European Parliament held the Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, in Brussels. For 3 hours, MEPs quizzed the candidates for the College of Commissioners on their priorities ahead of the new mandate given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This clip highlights the best pictures from the 26 confirmation hearings.&lt;/p>

Highlights of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate (2024)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions and answers

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 4 - Invited committees)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 3).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 3)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 2).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 2)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 1 - Political groups coordinators).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 1 - Political groups coordinators)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Opening statement by the Executive Vice-President-designate

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Opening statement by the Executive Vice-President-designate

Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety

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