Inside EU Health: Preparedness; Sanofi peace offering; two JCAs; infringements
Preparedness under long-term budget; Sanofi offers concessions; two joint clinical assessments for lung cancer treatments; Romania late payments to pharmacies; nurses' recognition; six EU nations face pressure after missing asbestos safety deadline
Lahbib calls for continued investment in preparedness under long-term budget
Commissioner for Equality and Preparedness Hadja Lahbib urged sustained international support to contain the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo during a European Parliament debate, describing it as "a crisis within a crisis" driven by conflict, displacement and fragile health systems.
Lahbib stressed that while the risk of Ebola spreading to the EU remains very low, Europe must remain vigilant and continue supporting frontline response efforts, including the deployment of health experts and investments in vaccines, diagnostics and medical supplies.
Looking beyond the immediate emergency, the Commissioner called for health preparedness to remain a priority in the EU's next long-term budget. "We must invest in what is needed today while preparing for tomorrow. This is why sustainable financing and health preparedness must go hand in hand in the next multiannual financial framework," she told MEPs.
Sanofi offers concessions to settle EU vaccine disparagement probe
Sanofi has offered a package of commitments to address concerns raised by the European Commission in its antitrust investigation into the company's marketing practices for influenza vaccines.
As reported on 26 June, the Commission opened formal proceedings after finding preliminary evidence that Sanofi may have engaged in an anti-competitive campaign against a rival flu vaccine produced by CSL Seqirus. The conduct sought to cast doubt on a competing vaccine for older adults, despite both products being recommended for use in elderly populations.
Catherine Feore
Sanofi has offered to address the Commission's preliminary concerns by publishing, for a period of two years, a statement on its German website stating that the two vaccines are supported by robust evidence and that they are equally recommended for elderly people. The company has also offered to distribute this statement to German healthcare professionals. A similar commitment is made for France. In addition, the company will include a prominent citation of the national authorities' advice for the next four years in any German marketing materials.
Sanofi has made a general commitment to “not casting doubt on or contradicting the applicable national vaccine recommendations". The full proposal is here.
These commitments would remain in force until March 2030 and would be monitored by a trustee who would report to the Commission.
The Commission has invited all interested parties to submit their comments by 21 August 2026.
Two joint clinical assessments published for lung cancer treatments
The European Commission has published two joint clinical assessment (JCA) reports for two orphan medicines for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. The EU's first JCA was published on 9 June.
The assessments were conducted by health technology assessment authorities from Germany, with Hungary as co-assessor for tarlatamab (Imdylltra) and Portugal as co-assessor for lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) under the EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Regulation. They were endorsed by all member states on 22 June 2026.
The reports provide a shared scientific evaluation of the medicines' clinical benefits, supporting national reimbursement and healthcare decision-making.
Commission refers Romania to European Court for late payments to pharmacies
The European Commission has referred Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union over persistent delays in payments to pharmacies, arguing the country has failed to comply with the EU Late Payment Directive.
The Commission considers that late payments owed to pharmacy operators in Romania to be both “systemic and persistent”, with the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) regularly exceeding the 60-day legal payment deadline. “By failing to ensure that CNAS pays pharmacy operators within the prescribed time limit, Romania has breached its obligations under the Directive,” the Commission said.
The case follows a formal notice in April 2024, a reasoned opinion (formal request to comply with EU law) in February 2025, and an additional opinion in January 2026. The Commission warned that payment delays threaten access to medicines by straining pharmacies’ cash flow.
EU steps up action against Greece and Portugal on Romanian nurses' recognition
The European Commission has issued reasoned opinions to Greece and Portugal for failing to fully transpose EU rules on the recognition of Romanian nursing qualifications.
The countries have failed to respect a directive designed to simplify the recognition of qualifications for Romanian nurses who began their training before Romania joined the EU and later completed an EU-compliant upgrading programme. Full implementation is intended to ensure these nurses can access the profession more easily across the EU.
Greece and Portugal now have two months to comply with the Directive. If they fail to do so, the Commission may refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union and seek financial sanctions.
Six EU nations face pressure after missing asbestos safety deadline
The European Commission has stepped up legal action against Greece, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia for failing to fully incorporate updated EU asbestos protection rules into national law.
The Commission issued reasoned opinions after the countries missed the deadline to notify measures to better protect workers from asbestos exposure. Asbestos still accounts for around 75% of workplace cancers across the EU. An updated directive significantly lowers the workplace exposure limit from 0.1 to 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre, reflecting the latest scientific evidence. Most provisions were due to be transposed by 21 December 2025.
The countries now have two months to respond or risk referral to the Court of Justice, potentially facing financial penalties.