From Europe’s coastal waters to its inland bathing sites, a large majority of Europe’s waters are safe to swim in, according to the latest European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season, published today. It found that over 85% of monitored locations met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing water quality standards last […]
World Cancer Day: Commission publishes Country Cancer
The Commission has published the latest Country Cancer Profiles for all Member States, Norway and Iceland. The 2025 reports show that cancer survival rates are increasing across the EU. At the same time, cancer continues to be a public health concern, and cancer inequalities still persist across Member States. The profiles also demonstrate how cancer […]
EU signs first HERA-Invest agreement to boost innovation in health and health emergency preparedness
The Commission, through its Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Authority (HERA) and the European Investment Bank, has today signed a €20 million agreement with the French biopharmaceutical company Fabentech. The agreement will allow the company to develop and deploy its broad-spectrum medicines to combat biological threats to public health. The threat analysis conducted by HERA […]
Commission recommends stronger measures on smoke-free environments to better protect public health
Today, the Commission has recommended to better protect people from the effects of second-hand smoke and aerosols through the revision of the Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments. The new initiative recommends that Member States extend smoke-free environment policies to key outdoor areas, to better protect people in the EU, particularly children and young people. These areas include outdoor recreational areas where children are likely […]
New future-proof EU pharmaceutical policy
Affordable medicines, preventing shortages and a climate-neutral industry – Parliament presses for a new EU pharmaceutical policy. During the plenary session in November 2021, the European Parlimanet set out a series of recommendations for the update of the EU’s pharmaceutical legislation. Faster access In 2019, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorised 103 orphan drugs – which are […]
Commission proposes a progressive roll-out of the new In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation
The European Commission has proposed a progressive roll-out of the new In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation to prevent disruption in the supply of these essential healthcare products. The unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have diverted resources from Member States, health institutions and economic operators towards addressing the crisis, thereby hampering the capacity to […]
H2020. Restricted Call to maximise impact of IMI2 JU objectives and scientific priorities
A major challenge in life sciences, in particular within the medicines development process, is the scale of the investment required, the stepwise approach, very long development timelines and the successful involvement of relevant stakeholders. Certain IMI2 JU topics, launched under IMI2 JU Calls for proposals that are now closed, anticipated in their corresponding work plans […]
MEPs want more role for EU in improving public health
In a debate on public health strategy, MEPs pointed out that the pandemic has shown that the EU needs better tools to deal with health emergencies. MEPs discussed the issue with Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides and the German Presidency of the Council, before voting on Friday on a resolution on the public health strategy following […]