The European Commission has proposed a Council recommendation on cardiovascular health checks to support Member States in improving early detection and screening. This involves making checks accessible to all and tailoring them to the needs of high-risk and vulnerable groups. These efforts are expected to contribute to the goal of reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases by 25% by 2035, as defined in the Safe Hearts Plan presented in December 2025 (EN/FR/NL).
The proposal marked the launch of the first annual Screening Week, which mobilised partners across the European Union (EU) to raise awareness of key risk factors and encourage people to take control of their heart health (EN).
Members of the European Parliament have adopted their own initiative report on the EU cardiovascular diseases strategy as a reaction to the Safe Hearts Plan proposed by the European Commission. They strongly support the introduction of cardiovascular health checks and want people living with cardiovascular diseases to have timely and affordable access to high-quality health care. They call for stronger measures to reduce health inequalities linked to socio-economic status and urge a horizontal EU health prevention plan that addresses risk factors for major non-communicable diseases (EN/FR/NL).
The Health Security Committee is mandated to coordinate preparedness for and response to serious cross-border health threats. In an opinion adopted in July, it outlined measures to address and mitigate the health impacts of heatwaves and extreme heat. These include support for health care professionals, such as dedicated training for recognising and managing heat-related illnesses and optimising care for all, as well as improved coordination between primary health care facilities, hospitals and emergency departments (EN).
The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) conducted a study on the mental health of young people in the digital era. The aim was to provide the Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) with evidence on the state of mental health among young people, as well as policy options at the EU level. The study highlights chronic structural weaknesses in the funding, organisation and delivery of mental health care. It estimates the costs of inaction over a ten-year period (2024-2033) and shows that the costs of mental ill-health in young people affect not only the health care sector, but also social protection, education and the labour market (EN/FR).
The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) assessed the implementation and evolution of cross-border health care under Directive 2011/24/EU. The Directive established a legal framework enabling EU citizens to seek health care in another Member State and promoting cooperation between national health systems. The study shows that implementation challenges remain and proposes a roadmap for EU action (EN).
The European Commission has published a communication on the European Radioisotope Valley Initiative (ERVI). This new strategic framework aims to strengthen Europe’s leading role in the field of medical radioisotopes – which are largely used for the diagnosis of several illnesses and for cancer treatment – and to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. The Commission will coordinate with Member States, industry, researchers, health care providers and other stakeholders to implement the initiative (EN, EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has published three implementing regulations that provide more detailed rules for the cross-border exchange of health data under the European Health Data Space. The first regulation governs the exchange of health data through the platform MyHealth@EU (EN/FR/NL). The second regulation lays down the requirements for the interoperable, cross-border identification and authentication mechanism for patients, health professionals and health care providers when exchanging electronic health data across borders (EN/FR/NL). The third regulation defines the requirements for the secondary use of electronic health data (EN/FR/NL).
A report published by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission provides insights into how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to extract and analyse epidemiological information. It confirms AI’s potential to support public health surveillance and response strategies, while also analysing the remaining challenges (EN).
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a new regulation on public contracts and concessions. The aim is to make public procurement simpler, more flexible and more effective. The proposal streamlines data exchange between Member States and supports socially responsible procurement by introducing a ‘Best Price-Quality Ratio’ that considers societal objectives besides price. Tailored rules are also maintained for health and health care services with a net value of at least EUR 750,000 (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has adopted a communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights, which assesses the progress made in implementing it, including with regard to access to health care. It also identifies three main areas for future action: addressing affordability and the cost of living, harnessing artificial intelligence for the future of labour markets, and reducing persistent inequalities. The communication emphasises that well-designed health care reforms can contribute to reducing poverty and social exclusion (EN/FR/NL).
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution proposing measures to strengthen health care systems and improve employment and working conditions in the health care sector. The measures cover adequate financing and improved working conditions, including fair remuneration, mental health support and job security (EN, EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has adopted the Fair Labour Mobility package, which aims to guarantee clear social rights for mobile workers. The package establishes a European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), which will enable people to request and receive social security documents fully online, including the European Health Insurance Card. The Commission also proposes updating the rules for recognising professional qualifications in regulated professions, including health care ones. This involves the use of digital procedures and common training frameworks. The first such framework adopted concerns physiotherapists. Common standards are also defined for the recognition of qualifications obtained outside the EU. Finally, proposals are made to strengthen the capacity of the European Labour Authority to support Member States in enforcing EU law (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has published a mid-term assessment of the progress made in achieving the 2030 goals set for five EU Missions launched in 2021 under Horizon Europe. One of the missions is dedicated to cancer and aims to generate new evidence and foster innovative concepts to inform policy actions across four objectives: understanding cancer; prevention and early detection; diagnosis and treatment; and improving quality of life for people affected by cancer and their families (EN).
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has published a report showing how collaborative research projects funded under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes have driven innovation within the health biotech sector, thereby enhancing its global competitiveness. The report highlights the importance of connecting expertise across borders and emphasises the strategic role of health biotechnology, including its contribution to smarter, more precise and effective health care (EN).
The European Commission has published the EU4Health work programme for 2026, which defines how funding will be allocated to health sector initiatives this year (EN). The programme was adopted after the Commission’s initial proposal was rejected twice by several Member States, including Belgium. The main point of contention was the proposed cuts to operating grants for civil society organisations (EN, EN). The final version reinstates these grants, although the amount allocated remains limited compared to that in the 2024 work programme.
The European Commission has approved a €400 million German measure in favour of Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. The measure aims to strengthen the resilience of the supply of insulin in Germany and the European Economic Area by compensating Sanofi for the net costs incurred in providing a service of general economic interest (EN).
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition has published new guidance with the aim of assisting Member States in designing State aid measures for social support and social investment, including in the health care sector, as set out in the Clean Industrial Deal. The guidance provides information on aid for services of general economic interest, on public measures that do not constitute State aid, as well as on types of State aid that are not allowed under EU rules (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has adopted guidelines on the application of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This article prohibits dominant companies from engaging in abusive behaviour, such as attempting to exclude competitors from the market. The guidelines are intended to provide a modern, coherent framework based on the Commission’s experience and case law from the Court of Justice of the EU, including in the pharmaceutical sector (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has announced the launch of an investigation into whether imports of acetylsalicylic acid (more commonly known as ‘aspirin’) from the People’s Republic of China are being dumped, thereby causing damage to the European industry (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of joint control of Recordati Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica S.p.A, which is an international pharmaceutical group based in Italy, by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, a publicly listed investment holding company headquartered in Belgium, and CVC Capital Partners from Jersey (EN).
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of joint control of Oftalvist, an ophthalmology group specialising in outpatient eye care services, operating 43 centres across 15 Spanish provinces. This is now controlled by HLA Vistahermosa only, an operator of a network of hospitals throughout Spain, which belongs to ASISA, a leading Spanish health insurance cooperative. The joint control will now be shared with Sanoptis, a European ophthalmology platform operating in Austria, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, which is based in Spain and belongs to the investment holding company Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (EN).
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of joint control of Health & Medical Services, a provider of services in the fields of transport medicine, occupational medicine, operational medicine and insurance medicine, as well as support services and software solutions for the health care sector in Switzerland. This is now controlled by Helsana Beteiligungen, a holding company within the Helsana Group operating primarily in the areas of basic health insurance, supplementary insurance and accident insurance in Switzerland. The joint control will now be shared with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) (EN).
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Corza Medical’s biosurgery business unit. This consists of several companies in Europe and the United States that manufacture and sell Tachosil, a fibrin sealant patch used in vascular and neurological surgeries. The unit will be acquired by EQT Fund Management, an investment fund headquartered in Luxembourg (EN).
In case C‑427/24, the Court of Justice was asked to issue a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Articles 2(1) and 2(12) of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices, with regard to patient identification wristbands designed for use in the health care sector. The Court ruled that patient identification wristbands made from a thermoplastic resin and supplied completely blank cannot be classified as ‘medical devices’ under that provision (EN/FR/NL).
In case T‑12/24, the General Court dismissed the action brought by Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S seeking the annulment of Implementing Decision C(2023) 6669, which was issued by the European Commission on 29 September 2023. This decision granted a marketing authorisation for Degarelix Accord. This is a generic version of Firmagon, a medicine produced by Ferring Pharmaceuticals to treat advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer in adult male patients (EN/FR).
In case T‑455/24, the General Court dismissed the action brought by Advanz Pharma Ltd seeking the annulment of Implementing Decision C(2024) 6281 final, which was issued by the European Commission on 30 August 2024. This decision revoked the conditional marketing authorisation granted for Ocaliva, an orphan medicinal product for human use (EN, FR).
The European Commission has referred Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to ensure that the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) pays pharmacy operators within a maximum of 60 calendar days, as set out in Directive 2011/7/EU on combatting late payment in commercial transactions. The Commission considers that late payments have been both systemic and persistent, and that the efforts of the authorities to address them have been insufficient (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has also sent a letter of formal notice to Greece for failing to comply with the ruling issued by the Court of Justice of the EU on 19 June 2025. The Court found that Greece had breached the Late Payment Directive due to excessive payment delays by its public hospitals to suppliers. In June 2026, significant payment delays remained, with the amounts owed to suppliers reaching three times the level recorded in 2019 (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has also sent a letter of formal notice to Belgium for failing to comply with the ruling issued by the Court of Justice of the EU on 5 June 2025. The Court found that the federal government, the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region had not met the payment deadlines set out in the Late Payment Directive. Today, payment periods in the Walloon Region continue to exceed the deadlines set by the directive. Consequently, the Commission considers that Belgium has not yet taken all the measures necessary to comply with the Court’s ruling (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has sent reasoned opinions to Greece and Portugal for failing to fully transpose Directive (EU) 2024/505 into national law. This relates to the recognition of the professional qualifications of nurses responsible for general care trained in Romania. While the two countries have introduced some measures, the Commission considers that additional measures are required to ensure full compliance with the directive (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has also sent Slovakia a letter of formal notice for failing to fully comply with the ruling of the Court of Justice of the EU on the recognition of professional qualifications, issued on 29 June 2024. The Court found that Slovakia had failed to fulfil several obligations under Directive 2005/36/EC, as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. This directive establishes the rules for recognising professional qualifications and applies to regulated professions, including health care professions. While Slovakia has since addressed the main shortcomings identified, issues remain regarding the recognition of traineeship periods completed abroad (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Greece for failing to comply fully with the ruling issued by the Court of Justice of the EU on 20 November 2025 regarding the transposition of Directive (EU) 2018/958. This directive aims to ensure that all competent bodies carry out a proportionality assessment before introducing or amending rules that restrict access to, or pursuit of, regulated professions, such as health care professions. The Court found that measures taken by Greece had failed to cover all types of competent bodies. Although national law has since been amended, parliamentary initiatives and amendments remain outside the scope of the proportionality assessment obligation (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has referred France, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to notify measures transposing the Directive (EU) 2022/2555, also known as NIS2 Directive. This aims to secure network and information systems from cyber incidents and threats by setting high standards for entities operating in 18 critical sectors, including the health sector (EN/FR/NL).
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on gender inequalities in health, which particularly focuses on gender-specific conditions. It asks the European Commission to develop a strategy for women’s health that includes targeted indicators, monitoring measures and adequate funding. It also calls for better representation of women in clinical trials, and for collecting sex- and gender-disaggregated health data in all EU-funded projects (EN/FR/NL, EN/FR).
The European Commission has renewed its commitment to support the outermost regions of the EU. This is built around four main objectives: strengthening regional integration; increasing competitiveness and access to the single market; improving resilience and preparedness; and promoting social fairness. This includes measures to prepare and respond to health crises, as well as to improve access to health care services (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has proposed a regulation containing measures aimed at strengthening the EU’s innovation ecosystem, including in the health sector. The proposal aims to help companies to access financing and harmonise research and development procurement procedures, enabling public buyers from different Member States to carry these out jointly more easily (EN/FR/NL).
The European Commission has published the third edition of its report on demographic transformation in the EU. This edition highlights the challenges and opportunities that a shrinking and ageing population pose to competitiveness, innovation, social cohesion, and sustainable development. In the health care sector, these demographic trends are expected to increase demand for services, as well as put additional pressure on public budgets and the health care workforce. Measures to address these issues include health promotion and disease prevention, reforms to working conditions and management, and the provision of universal health coverage (EN/FR).
The special issue of the journal Eurohealth published on the occasion of the 2026 European Health Forum Gastein explores how health initiatives can reinforce the EU’s resilience, solidarity and capacity for collective action. These initiatives include strengthening the European Health Union, advancing cross-border health care, harnessing health data and innovation, and addressing shared challenges from climate change to health security (EN).
The Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA Prevent NCD) has published a position paper in which it calls on EU institutions and Member States to ensure that the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework provides adequate and clear funding for health promotion, the prevention of non-communicable diseases, and health equity. The paper sets out the strategic benefits of investing in health promotion and disease prevention for the EU. It also makes proposals to increase the visibility, funding and measurability of action in this area within the next EU budget (EN).
In an editorial published in the European Journal of Public Health, Benedetta Armocida, Knut-Inge Klepp and Hanna Tolonen express concerns about the simplification of the EU funding architecture around competitiveness in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework. This simplification risks undermining the governance infrastructure that has enabled coordinated action on health promotion and disease prevention across Member States to date. The authors recommend securing a dedicated budget for prevention, maintaining cross-border implementation instruments such as the current joint actions, and preserving specific governance, monitoring and accountability mechanisms (EN).
A policy brief published by the European Health Management Association (EHMA) argues that the digitalisation of medication management should be considered a practical investment in the health system. This would strengthen patient safety, ease pressure on the workforce, reduce medicine waste, and improve the resilience of the health system. The brief calls for coordinated EU funding within the next Multiannual Financial Framework to support innovation, development and scaling up across Europe (EN).
In an article published in the Archives of Public Health journal, Teodora Lalova-Spinks and colleagues investigate what patients and professionals in Belgium value in relation to the reuse of health data in oncology, particularly in the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Their findings provide valuable insights into how to establish a value-oriented and socially legitimate health data ecosystem at the national and EU levels (EN).
In an article published in the Health Policy journal, Andrea Martani and colleagues analyse a specific provision of the EHDS: the right of patients to opt out of the reuse of their health data. Their research indicates that the EHDS is merely the initial step towards harmonising privacy rules, as national differences can re-emerge during implementation. The authors argue that international coordination is needed to ensure that opt-out rules for health data governance are harmonised effectively across Europe (EN).
A working paper published by the think tank Bruegel examines how uncertainty in demographic and health trajectories shapes the assessment of future long‑term care (LTC) needs in the EU. It sets out three demographic scenarios and three health scenarios in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden. The findings show that future health trajectories exert a stronger influence on LTC demand than demographic ageing alone (EN).
Editor: Jessica Martini
Period covered: 1 July to 30 September 2026
Publication date: 9 November 2026