MEP Gabriela Firea (S&D) has called on the European Commission to take concrete action against the needle spiking phenomenon at festivals and cultural events, following a wave of attacks at France's 'Fête de la Musique' in June 2026. In a parliamentary question submitted on 30 June 2026, Firea urged the Commission to propose measures for data collection, awareness-raising, and the exchange of best practices among Member States. She also asked whether the Commission plans to draw up European guidelines on women's safety at public cultural events, including rapid intervention protocols and victim support mechanisms.
The question comes after around 145 people, mostly women and young women, reported being attacked with syringes during the festival. French authorities have launched an investigation and made several arrests. Firea, a Romanian MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, framed the issue as a matter of public safety and gender-based violence, stressing that what should be a celebration turned into a traumatic experience for many.
first, that the Commission consider meaningful measures to improve data collection and awareness on needle spiking, and ensure Member States share best practices; second, that the Commission develop a set of European guidelines on safety for women at festivals and cultural events, to support rapid intervention and victim care. The question does not specify numerical targets or deadlines, but its focus on EU-level coordination signals a push for harmonised action rather than leaving the issue solely to national authorities.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will indicate whether the EU executive is willing to take on a coordinating role in this area, potentially leading to new soft-law instruments or funding for prevention programmes. The issue affects festival organisers, national law enforcement, women's safety advocates, and public health authorities across the EU.