Inside EU Health: EU auditors call for clearer health spending; EU media law revision opens for consultation; launch OECD cardio report
EU auditors urge clearer health spending; EU media law revision opens door to stronger pubic health provisions; ‘State of Cardiovascular Health in the EU’ launch
EU auditors urge clearer separation of health spending in €10.7bn crisis plan
The European Court of Auditors has published its opinion on the Commission's Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and health emergency preparedness and response proposal under the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.
The report complains that the Commission has not specified how the funding envelope would be split between civil protection and health emergencies, nor how resources would be allocated among prevention, preparedness, and response.
The auditors warn that this lack of clarity risks undermining transparency and predictability saying “earmarking a minimum financial allocation” would help balance flexibility and predictability.
MEPs have already raised concerns that the new proposal could lead to duplication and confusion over responsibilities in a crisis.
Catherine Feore
EU media law revision opens door to stronger pubic health provisions
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to evaluate the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the EU’s framework governing television, on-demand services and video-sharing platforms. Scheduled for review in the 2026 Commission work programme, the process aims to modernise rules for a rapidly evolving media environment, with stronger safeguards for viewers’ wellbeing.
From a public health perspective, the evaluation offers a key opportunity to address long-standing gaps in protections, particularly for children. Concerns include the persistent marketing of unhealthy food, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products online, as well as emerging promotion of GLP-1 weight-loss medicines.
Critics argue that current reliance on voluntary industry codes has failed to curb children’s exposure to harmful advertising. Meanwhile, evidence shows tobacco and nicotine companies increasingly use social media and influencers to reach young audiences.
The consultation runs until 1 May 2026.
'State of Cardiovascular Health in the EU'
This morning the EU organised a formal lunch of the OECD-produced report on the ‘State of Cardiovascular Health in the EU’. At the webinar, an online cardiovascular health dashboard was presented, which will help policymakers, researchers and the public in monitoring the situation. cardiovascular health across the EU.
The webinar highlighted that cardiovascular disease rarely exists in isolation, with patients often living with interconnected conditions that health systems still treat in silos. Prevention remains underdelivered despite clear links to modifiable risks, while access to care varies sharply by geography, gender and income.
Speakers agreed digital and AI tools hold promise, but only if integrated into equitable, trusted care pathways.
Catherine Feore
The newsletter will be taking a break until next Tuesday; in the meantime, any major developments will be covered in articles.