In a written answer on 22 June 2026, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis defended the Commission's oversight of Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) investments, responding to concerns from Spanish MEPs Sandra Gómez López and Leire Pajín (S&D) that intraoperative radiation therapy equipment purchased under Spain's RRF plan in the Valencia region faced years-long delays before being used. Dombrovskis stressed that Member States are primarily responsible for organising and delivering health services, while the Commission's role is to verify that equipment is installed — not necessarily that it is actively used in clinical practice.
The question, submitted on 16 March 2026, focused on three mobile electron accelerators bought for public hospitals in Castellón, Valencia and Elche. The MEPs asked whether the Commission was aware of such delays, what mechanisms exist to check actual use, and whether prolonged inactivity could undermine Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. Dombrovskis noted that Spain's RRF plan includes investment C18.I1 on high-tech equipment, with target 279 requiring installation of at least 750 devices nationwide. The Commission positively assessed this target in July 2025 as part of the fifth payment request, based on evidence showing 862 devices installed — exceeding the target. The assessment relied on primary evidence verified through a sample, confirming installation and equipment type, but did not track post-installation utilisation.
Dombrovskis pointed to broader EU efforts to improve cancer care: over 90% of the Beating Cancer Plan's actions are concluded or ongoing, the EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres was launched in 2025 with EUR 90 million from EU4Health, and the Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications (SAMIRA) supports quality and safety standards. He also referenced the European Semester as a forum where access-to-healthcare issues are regularly discussed. The answer did not announce any new monitoring requirements for RRF-funded medical equipment, nor did it commit to investigating the specific Valencia cases.
For Spanish regional health authorities, the answer reaffirms their autonomy in deploying equipment but offers no new support for utilisation challenges. EU cancer patients may see limited direct benefit from this exchange, as the Commission's focus remains on installation milestones rather than clinical uptake. The European Commission itself maintains its current oversight model, avoiding additional administrative burdens. Equipment manufacturers and health technology providers face no new compliance requirements, but the lack of use-tracking could affect future procurement decisions under RRF.