vdL II – Which Commissioners will have the most influence over health policy in the next five years?
Over the course of the next five-year Commission mandate, the life sciences sector is set to undergo transformative changes, with several crucial initiatives outlined in the mission letters to incoming EU Commissioners.
President von der Leyen’s letters emphasise the EU's commitment to strengthening healthcare systems, addressing public health challenges, advancing medical innovation and, of course, boosting the sector’s global competitiveness.
EGA Brussels has identified several of the new Commission’s major priorities in the life sciences space, and cross-checked the mission letters to reveal who will be leading on these:
- Completion of negotiations on the General Pharmaceutica Legislation (GPL) – headed up by Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (candidate: Olivér Várhelyi), under the guidance of EVP Commissioner-Designate for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition (candidate: Teresa Ribera).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG SANTE and DG COMP.
- Proposal for a Critical Medicines Act – Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (candidate: Olivér Várhelyi), with the possible support of EVP Commissioner-Designate for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition (candidate: Teresa Ribera).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG SANTE, DG GROW and DG COMP.
- New Strategy for European Life Sciences – Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation (candidate: Ekaterina Zaharieva), under the guidance of EVP for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy (candidate: Stéphane Séjourné).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG RTD, DG GROW, DG SANTE
- New Biotech Act – headed up by Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (candidate: Olivér Várhelyi), with the support of Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation (candidate: Ekaterina Zaharieva), and EVP for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy (candidate: Stéphane Séjourné).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG SANTE, DG RTD, DG GROW.
- New Strategy on medical countermeasures against health threats – Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management and Equality (candidate: Hadja Lahbib) , with the potential support of Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (candidate: Olivér Várhelyi).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: HERA, DG SANTE
- Cybersecurity of hospitals and HCPs – EVP for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy (candidate: Henna Virkkunen), alongside Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi.
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG CNECT, DG SANTE.
- Mental Health - Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (candidate: Olivér Várhelyi), under the guidance of EVP for People, Skills and Preparedness (candidate: Roxana Mînzatu).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG SANTE, DG EMPL.
- Potential revision of the Medical Devices Regulation – Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (candidate: Olivér Várhelyi).
- Directorates-General likely to be involved: DG SANTE.
These initiatives, along with others, aim to future-proof Europe's healthcare landscape, reclaim Europe’s place as a leader in innovation, and erase differences in accessibility and outcomes across national borders.
