The European Parliament's Committee on Public Health debated the missing public health dimension in drug policy reforms in EU candidate countries on 6 May 2026, with guest speaker Dr Pavel Bém urging a shift from repression to evidence-based regulation, harm reduction, and human rights. Bém warned that the EU Drugs Strategy 2026–2030 prioritises security over health, a view supported by Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis (S&D), who linked current trends to a return to war-on-drugs thinking. Gerald Hauser (PfE) reframed the issue as combating consumption, while Aurelijus Veryga (ECR) cautioned against legalisation normalising drug use, though Bém advocated careful regulation.
On accession conditionality, Bém called for revising Chapters 24 and 28 to strengthen health criteria, a proposal backed by Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), who questioned EU coherence and civil society inclusion. Regarding Ukraine, Bém highlighted wartime trauma and substance use, arguing for both PTSD treatment and harm reduction. Veryga pressed on balancing mental health support with low-threshold harm reduction, and Stine Bosse (Renew) connected intergenerational trauma. Hauser introduced a political dispute on peace negotiations, countered by Bosse. On new substances, Veryga questioned harm reduction's relevance, but Bém insisted it remains necessary alongside primary prevention.
Consensus emerged on Ukraine's mental health crisis, EU support, and trauma's intergenerational effects. Procedural votes on opinions for the Competitiveness Fund, Youth Strategy, and Switzerland agreements were adopted with broad support, as noted by Radan Kanev (EPP). Chair Adam Jarubas (EPP) closed the session, linking the debate to earlier committee work on Ukraine.