European Health Care News - July 2026

To mark World Cancer Day, members of the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for renewed support for the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. They called for a dedicated health programme to be included in the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. They also urged the European Commission and the Member States to recognise health and oncology care as social investment objectives, to be realised through the national and regional partnership plans (EN/FR).

On the same occasion, the European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases specifically asked to preserve the legacy of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan by establishing a 2 billion euro European Cancer Fund in the next EU long-term budget. It also recommended the establishment of new infrastructure for enhanced cross-border cooperation, including a European Cancer Institute (EN).

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has updated the European Code Against Cancer, on behalf of the European Commission. This provides practical advice on how to prevent the disease, based on personal behavioural factors, environmental factors, and medical interventions. For the first time, the revised edition combines recommendations for individuals with population-level recommendations aimed at policymakers (EN/FR/NL).

A new report provides new insights into disparities, challenges and good practices related to cancer care in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU), Norway and Iceland. Four main cross-cutting policy areas are suggested: integrated cancer pathways, monitoring, resource optimisation and technological innovation, and people-centred approaches. The report was produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the European Cancer Inequalities Registry, as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EN).

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) looked at the design, implementation, sustainability and monitoring mechanisms of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. It found that this plan is contributing to the coordination and implementation of Member States’ efforts in the fight against cancer. However, its effectiveness could be compromised by overlapping initiatives, poor national ownership, monitoring weaknesses, and an unclear outlook for the period after 2027. Recommendations are made to better tailor key initiatives to Member States’ needs and capacities, as well as to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of the plan (EN/FR/NL).

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) published a critical opinion on the proposal made by the European Commission in July 2025 for a regulation that would combine, in the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the support for health emergencies currently covered by the EU4Health programme. ECA notably points out transparency-related flaws in the indicative budget and raises concerns about the overlap between the structures as well as the weaknesses in the monitoring framework (EN, FR, NL).

The European Commission published an implementing regulation laying down the procedures for information exchange, consultation and coordination among Member States within the Health Security Committee in case of serious cross-border health threats (EN/FR/NL).

The Accelerating Clinical Trials in the EU (ACT EU) initiative, which is run jointly by the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Heads of Medicines Agencies of the Member States, has published new recommendations designed to streamline and accelerate the authorisation of new clinical trials, as well as the approval of modifications to ongoing trials. The guidance aims to facilitate the rapid generation of clinical evidence in emergencies (EN).

The European Commission has announced a proposal for a delegated directive aiming to facilitate the application of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications for physiotherapists. It will establish a common training framework, allowing automatic recognition of physiotherapist qualifications that meet certain standards, in terms of the European Qualifications Framework level and the knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired. The delegated act is expected in the third quarter of 2026.  (EN/FR/NL).

The European Commission published a report assessing the implementation of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. The Directive provides a solid legal basis for professional mobility across all sectors and skill levels, with a positive impact on highly regulated essential sectors such as health care and education where severe shortages are reported. Recognition procedures remain complex and time-consuming, and the user experience can be improved (EN).

The European Commission has plans to propose a regulation introducing a standardised digital solution for social security documents. Called the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), it will build on pilot activities implemented since 2021 and form part of the fair labour mobility package expected in the third quarter of 2026. It will enable national authorities and health care providers to automatically verify the validity, integrity and authenticity of portable documents and European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), while reducing the risk of error and fraud. A call for evidence and a public consultation were launched in January (EN/FR/NL).

In a resolution adopted in March, Members of the European Parliament called on the European Commission to present an action plan to eradicate gender pay and pension gaps. This plan should include targeted measures to improve working conditions and ensure fair pay in sectors dominated by women, such as care, health care, education, and social work. They also called on the Member States, together with social partners, to design multi-year, fiscally responsible career and pay paths to improve quality, skills and staff retention in these sectors (EN/FR, EN/FR/NL).

The Council of the EU has adopted conclusions that invite Member States to accelerate progress towards poverty reduction and social exclusion. This includes strengthening the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, which aims to ensure effective and free access to key services such as health care. The European Commission is called upon to strengthen its support to Member States in these efforts, including by improving the quality and availability of data (EN/FR/NL).

Members of the European Parliament have also adopted an own-initiative report highlighting their demands for the upcoming EU anti-poverty strategy. They notably call for adequate funding and more coordination to combat poverty and social exclusion in the EU. They call for a dedicated budget of at least EUR 20 billion for the European Child Guarantee and urge Member States to ensure universal access to affordable, high-quality public health care (EN/FR/NL).

In an Economic Brief published by the European Commission, Boriana Goranova and Santiago Calvo Ramos analysed the impact of population ageing on public expenditure on health care in the EU. They argue that structural reforms accompanied by well-targeted investments need to be deployed promptly to ensure fiscal sustainability. These reforms include improving budgeting governance, shifting the focus towards primary care and prevention, integrating care (including with long-term care), improving hospital efficiency, benchmarking performance, cost-effective purchasing and workforce planning. The EU Semester and EU funding can support Member States in implementing these reforms (EN).

The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) signed three new framework contracts under the 2024 EU4Health Work Programme, which aim to speed up the development and early access to next-generation influenza vaccines. These are designed to protect across a wider range of influenza variants, to be easier to administer, and be rapidly scaled up in emergencies. The contracts cover clinical development through to market authorisation (EN/FR, EN).

The European Commission has launched BE READY, a new partnership designed to strengthen the EU’s capacity to anticipate, prevent and respond to epidemics and pandemics. Coordinated by the French agency ANRS – Infectious Emerging Diseases (ANRS MIE), it brings together 81 organisations from 27 countries. The partnership will advance research into emerging and re-emerging pathogens and accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines (EN).

In a non-paper led by France, 13 Member States (including Belgium) have called on the European Commission to reinstate operating grants for health civil society organisations under the EU4Health 2025 Work Programme. They also raise considerations as regards the governance and preparation of the EU4Health annual Work Programmes and the modalities for Member States’ involvement (EN).

The European Ombudswoman asked the European Commission to explain why it did not, in a timely and transparent way, inform civil society organisations that had signed Framework Partnership Agreements under the EU4Health programme in 2024 how budget cuts resulting from the revision of the EU long-term budget 2021-2027 would affect their activities (EN/FR/NL).

A briefing requested by the European Parliament Committee on public health (SANT) explores how health policy areas are currently financed in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, and how they are covered in the budget proposed by the European Commission for 2028-2034. It highlights how the EU4Health programme has supported health promotion and disease prevention, health security and preparedness. It warns that merging it into the proposed European Competitiveness Fund could limit progress towards the EU Health Union and recommends ensuring that EU public health policy retains an important role in the next budget (EN).

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published a dozen opinions on the proposals made by the European Commission in July 2025 regarding the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034. The auditors warned of potential risks to sound financial management and called for stronger safeguards, including clearer definitions, comprehensive and reliable data on the use of EU funds, and clarifications about simplified rules. This also applies to proposals including health-related funding, such as the European Competitiveness Fund, the Horizon Europe programme, the revised Union Civil Protection Mechanism, and the European Fund (EN/FR/NL).

In September 2023, the European Commission started investigating whether, through its Global Unilateral Pro-Innovation Policy (UPIP), Edwards Lifesciences may have limited physicians’ freedom to participate in clinical trials and other scientific and educational activities sponsored or supported by a competing manufacturer of transcatheter aortic valve implantation devices. Following the company’s decision to revoke the policy, the European Commission has now closed its antitrust investigation (EN/FR).

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of sole control of Clario Holdings by Thermo Fisher Scientific, both based in the United States. The transaction relates primarily to clinical research organisation services and e-clinical trial solutions (EN).

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of sole control of Zentiva Group, a pharmaceutical company based in Czechia, by GTCR LLC, a private equity firm headquartered in the United States. The transaction relates primarily to the pharmaceutical industry (EN).

The European Commission has issued Slovenia with a reasoned opinion concerning its pharmacy legislation. In 2024, the country widened the use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication for the purchase of medicines by public pharmacy institutes. Despite the justifications put forward by Slovenia, the European Commission finds that this is in breach of Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement (EN/FR/NL).

The European Commission has issued Poland with a letter of formal notice for failing to comply with the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 19 June 2025. The Court found that Poland had infringed Directive 2000/31/EC on e-commerce and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, by prohibiting the advertising of pharmacies and pharmaceutical outlets under the Polish Pharmaceutical Law. Poland’s preparatory legislative work is not considered sufficient, and the European Commission is now asking for concrete measures to be taken; otherwise, it will refer the case back to the Court of Justice of the EU (EN/FR/NL).

The European Commission has issued an additional reasoned opinion to Romania due to continued and systematic delays by the national health insurance institution in paying pharmacies for medical products dispensed under the national health insurance programme. These delays exceed the 60-day deadline set out for authorities providing health care, in Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions (EN/FR/NL).

The European Commission has issued a reasoned opinion to Denmark for failing to notify measures that fully incorporate into national law Directive (EU) 2024/505 on the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses responsible for general care trained in Romania (EN/FR/NL).

The European Commission has published its new Gender Equality Strategy for the period 2026 to 2030. This transforms the objectives of the Roadmap for Women’s Rights, presented in 2025, into specific actions. For the first time, health care is covered as a dedicated policy area in the Gender Equality Strategy. Measures aim to improve the quality and accessibility of women’s health care, as well as to integrate a gender-sensitive approach into medical research and clinical trials (EN/FR/NL).

The European Commission has adopted the EU Anti-Racism Strategy for the period 2026 to 2030. Building on the 2020-2025 action plan, the new strategy aims to tackle structural racism, ensure the implementation of EU anti-discrimination laws, strengthen social equality and cohesion, and foster key partnerships. Health care is acknowledged as one of the key areas of life where people affected by racism may face discrimination. Member States are encouraged to embed anti-racism in social protection and health policies. The Commission will support them in this endeavour, including by improving the collection of equality data (EN/FR/NL).

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), which represents over 140 member organisations across Europe, has criticised the new strategy, arguing that it fails to deliver (EN).

In a comment published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Markus Frischhut and colleagues propose to revise and update the Council conclusions that EU health ministers adopted in 2006 on ‘common values and principles in European Union health systems’. The authors argue that today’s challenges and polycrises call for a reassessment of EU health values and principles, which should now apply to a true European Health Union (EN).

A report published by EuroHealthNet explores the impact of the EU’s new emphasis on competitiveness on the European Semester process and how this, in turn, is (re)shaping the balance between economic and social objectives. Focusing on the narrative and priorities of the 2025 European Semester cycle, the report considers the impact of the new economic governance and the Social Convergence frameworks on social and public health issues (EN).

A report written by Dalila Ghailani and colleagues from the European Social Observatory (OSE) for the European Social Policy Analysis Network (ESPAN) examines long-term care (LTC) settings for older people in 38 countries: the 27 EU countries, nine (potential) candidate countries, Iceland and Norway. Drawing on national reports, the report provides a comparative overview of formal LTC systems and presents policy pointers for improving the availability and provision of LTC services (EN).

A report written by Tamara Hervey and Rachel Horton for the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination shows how EU (gender) equality law is connected to access to health care. The authors take stock of existing EU law that directly or indirectly shapes gender equality in access to healthcare, and they reflect on how it can be used and/or improved (EN).

In an editorial published in the European Journal of Public Health, Milka Sokolović and colleagues from the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) emphasise the important role of civil society in tackling public health challenges. They express regret at the removal of operating grants under the EU4Health Programme, arguing that reinvesting in health-related civil society organisations is a strategic necessity for Europe’s health, resilience, and democracy (EN).