Inside EU Health: EPP request pause on wastewater law; S&D urges Várhelyi to back €90 billion for health in next MFF; infant formula recall; ERC backs bench-to-clinic innovations; WHO inaugurates Cyprus office
Várhelyi sympathetic to one-year ‘stop-the-clock’ pause; S&D urges Várhelyi to back €90 billion for health in next MFF; ECDC warns of toxin-containing infant formula; ERC backs bench-to-clinic innovations; WHO/Europe establishes Cyprus office
Várhelyi sympathetic to one-year ‘stop-the-clock’ pause on wastewater directive
The European People’s Party (EPP) has called for a one-year “stop-the-clock” pause on the implementation of Article 9 of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, citing concerns about its impact on Europe’s pharmaceutical sector and access to essential medicines.
Article 9 of the directive introduces extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, which the European Commission identifies as key sources of micropollutants in urban wastewater. Under the directive, these sectors would be required to cover 80% of the investment and operational costs of quaternary wastewater treatment needed to remove these pollutants.
Speaking at the meeting of the Parliament's Public Health Committee, MEP Tomislav Sokol said that while the EPP fully supports protecting Europe’s water resources, serious questions remain about how the framework will work in practice. He warned that cost estimates vary widely and that the impact on critical and predominantly generic medicines has not been sufficiently assessed, given their structurally low margins. Sokol cautioned that there is a real risk to the availability and security of supply of medicines.
A recently updated study from the Joint Research Centre estimates that implementation costs remain broadly in line with those in the 2022 impact assessment, but industry claims that the original study relied on flawed toxicity assumptions and severely underestimated cost projections.
Catherine Feore
In response, Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi agreed that implementation must not result in medicine shortages. He suggested that he shared Sokol’s view, but because he was “bound by the college”, was not at liberty to go against the policy line agreed by the College of Commissioners.
“What I see, on the other hand, is this proposal to stop the clock, it might do some good to create time and space for proper reflection, without jeopardizing or calling into question the targets. Maybe there are ways to implement the targets of the directive in a way which will not lead to any shortages or even social problems when it comes to the supply of generics. So I think that if the EPP achieves such a ‘stop the clock’ provision, I think it should provide us with the time and space to have a proper reflection.” Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
S&D urges Várhelyi to back €90 billion for health in next MFF
Victor Negrescu MEP (S&D, Romania) has called on EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to take a stronger stance in securing funding for health under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s seven-year budget.
“We would like you to be louder in asking for adequate funding for health in the next MFF, across policies and across programmes,” Negrescu said. “The S&D Group is calling for a dedicated allocation of up to €90 billion in the next MFF for a standalone health programme.” He also stressed that national plans should ring-fence funding specifically for health.
Ignazio Marino MEP (Greens/EFA, Italy) echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for earmarked funding for European public health initiatives, including EU4Health and programmes targeting non-communicable disease prevention. He warned that their future risked becoming unclear if they were subsumed under a broader competitiveness heading.
Commissioner Várhelyi said ongoing initiatives demonstrated the Commission’s commitment to public health. “When you look at the planning of programmes we are developing, such as the Safe Hearts Plan to tackle cardiovascular disease, it is very clear that they are here to stay,” he said.
“Once we have policies, we of course need to allocate funding to them, but that is part of the broader discussion in Parliament and the Council,” Várhelyi added. “Our proposal is very clear: we want to continue funding all existing public health actions at the same level, while also creating new funding for the cardiovascular plan.”
ECDC warns of toxin-containing infant formula
Global recalls of certain infant nutrition products are ongoing following the detection of cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. The precautionary recalls began in December 2025 and continue, affecting products sold in Europe and beyond.
ECDC advises caregivers to seek medical advice if infants develop gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming recalled formula and to follow guidance from national food safety authorities. ECDC is working closely with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission to coordinate the response.
The products from Nestlé, Danone, and Lactilis are all sourced from a single supplier of a key ingredient.
ERC backs bench-to-clinic innovations
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the results of the final 2025 round of its Proof-of-Concept Grants, awarding 136 projects €150,000 each to help transform frontier research into tangible products and solutions.
Health-related grants are particularly prominent. Examples include advanced ultrasound methods that allow real-time imaging of the smallest blood vessels in the human kidney, regenerative therapies inspired by the naked mole-rat’s biology to repair damaged heart tissue, and new biomedical approaches that reduce wear in medical devices by forming protective carbon layers during use.
WHO/Europe inaugurates Cyprus office
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially inaugurated its new Country Office in Nicosia (28 January), marking a milestone in its long-standing partnership with the Government of Cyprus. The opening comes at a particularly good time, with Cyprus holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The new office is designed to serve as a strategic hub for public health, health security and cross-border collaboration. Speaking at the inauguration, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge described the Cyprus Office as a “Next Gen” model, combining national support with a broader interregional focus. He highlighted Cyprus’s growing leadership in global health and thanked the Government for its strong commitment to WHO priorities, including emergency preparedness and system resilience.