On 3 June 2026, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) held a public hearing on building health resilience and ensuring preparedness of public health systems, with a focus on the supply of critical medicinal products. The debate revealed a split between those favouring binding EU-level obligations and those prioritising national flexibility.
ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner warned that fragmentation among member states undermines crisis response and called for stronger EU coordination on stockpiling and procurement of critical medicines. EPP MEP Peter Liese stressed the importance of strategic autonomy in pharmaceutical production, while S&D MEP Tiemo Wölken called for binding targets for domestic manufacturing of essential active pharmaceutical ingredients. Renew Europe MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir pushed back against excessive reliance on non-EU suppliers, urging the Commission to use trade policy to diversify supply chains. Greens-EFA MEP Margrete Auken questioned whether the proposed Critical Medicines Act would include sufficient enforcement mechanisms. ECR MEP Joanna Kopcińska argued for more flexibility for member states in stockpiling decisions. The Left MEP Kateřina Konečná warned against market-based solutions, advocating instead for public production capacities.
EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi confirmed that the Commission will present a legislative proposal on critical medicines by end of 2026, including measures on joint procurement and strategic reserves. The ENVI committee will now draft an own-initiative report feeding into the Commission's proposal.
Binding EU obligations would increase compliance costs for pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers but could improve supply security for hospitals and patients. National flexibility would reduce administrative burden for member states but risk continued fragmentation and shortages. The outcome will shape the balance between EU integration and national sovereignty in health crisis preparedness.