Laurent CASTILLO

Policy topics Laurent CASTILLO is active on

What Laurent CASTILLO has said (25)

• 2026-06-17 “Now many teenagers are feeling the harmful effect of the Internet. There are children that spend more than 10 hours before in front of their screens, and they're looking at suicide related content or content about violence and other issues or, tension disorders, anxiety, depression, isolation. Yes. The platforms need to shoulder their share of responsibility, but it would be a very serious mistake if we pointed the finger at them as the sole guilty parties. If we are to protect children, we're not gonna do it just in Brussels and through a regulation. It has to happen in families. Child, parents have to keep an eye out, and that cannot be replaced by regulation, and regulations cannot replace education. We need to promote a real, responsibility mindset. Of course, platforms, member states, but also families shoulder responsibility. We have to teach children to be free.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• 2026-01-12 “P-000077/2026 Reply Following the political agreement reached at the Foreign Affairs Council of 29 January 2026 to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the ‘EU terrorist list’, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/421 of 19 February 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2025/1577 1 updating the list of persons, groups and entities covered by Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism. On the same day, the Council adopted Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/420 of 19 February 2026 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202600421”
  EU-Iran relations
• 2025-11-03 “P-004303/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission With the exemptions defined in Article 4 of the Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices 1 , the Member States have the competence and responsibility to take decisions on the qualification of medical devices. The Helsinki procedure 2 is a voluntary cooperation system enabling the consultation among EU competent authorities on borderline and classification issues concerning medical devices and ensuring that appropriate guidance is published in the Manual on Borderline and Classification 3 . This voluntary cooperation mechanism does not have any suspensive or binding effect on the decisions adopted by the competent authorities of Member States. The entries in the Manual represent the agreements reached by the EU competent authorities that are members of the Borderline and Classification Working Group of the Medical Device Coordination Group 4 . The recommendations contained in the Manual are not legally binding. The qualification of the same technology as a medical device always requires a case-by-case assessment on the technical characteristics and the indications for use of a given device. 1 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/745/oj. 2 Helsinki Procedure: https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/2e667094-2eaf-4370-9861d1a283210da7_en?filename=md_border-class_helsinki-proc-mdr-ivdr_en.pdf. 3 Manual on borderline and classification under Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and 2017/746 v4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/71a87df8-5ca1-4555-b453b65bdf8de909_en?filename=md_borderline_manual_en.pdf. 4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/medical-devices-dialogue-between-interested-parties/medical-device-coordinationgroup-working-groups_en#six.”
  Medical devices
• 2025-09-19 “E-003635/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The Framework Directive on Safety and Health at Work 89/391/EEC 1 covers any occupational risk, physical or psychosocial, and lays down the main principles of prevention and protection against them. As part of the ongoing review of the Workplace Directive 2 , the Commission is looking at the need to update occupational safety and health protections of workers to modern workplaces, and to further address psychosocial risks. The Commission continuously assesses the need for further updates of the Commission Recommendation concerning the European schedule of occupational diseases 3 , including a possible addition of other diseases, however, currently, there are no plans to include burnout in the Recommendation. The Commission is working on several other initiatives to protect mental health, including at work. In 2023 the Commission adopted the Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health 4 , with 20 flagship initiatives and nearly EUR 1.3 billion in funding opportunities it aims to supports Member States and stakeholders in addressing mental health issues in the EU. The Communication included, as one of the flagships, a peer review on legislative and enforcement approaches addressing psychosocial risks at work 5 . Throughout the years 2026-2028, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work will carry out a Healthy Workplace Campaign on mental health and psychosocial risks at work, raising awareness to this topic, thus contributing to the promotion of prevention and protection of psychosocial risks. 1 Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1) - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A31989L0391. 2 Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (OJ L 393, 30.12.1989, p. 1) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:31989L0654. 3 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/2337 of 28 November 2022 concerning the European schedule of occupational diseases C/2022/8472 (OJ L 309, pp. 12–21), which replaced Recommendation 2003/670/EC https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2022/2337/oj/eng. 4 COM(2023) 298 final - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52023DC0298. 5 https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=8649&furtherPubs=yes.”
  EU policy on mental health · EU rules on hazardous working conditions
• 2025-06-26 “E-002582/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements 1 requires the Commission to set maximum amounts for vitamins and minerals to ensure food safety and the free movement of goods. The Commission has engaged with Member States in preparatory technical work. Reports of adverse reactions to food are not systematically compiled throughout the EU. The ongoing work is based on scientific advice on upper safe levels of intake, in line with the methodology prescribed in the related legal acts 2 , and the Commission mandated the European Food Safety Authority to update some of the existing levels on which the calculations for maximum amounts are based. In preparation of the proposal, the Commission will engage with stakeholders in a Call for evidence and in targeted consultations. A staff working document will assess the impacts, including any trade-offs. These will be taken into account to consider mitigating measures, where needed, such as for example suitable transition periods. Harmonisation of existing national approaches may lead to higher or lower permitted levels as compared to previously established national ones. Imported food supplements and their maximum amounts, have to comply with EU food legislation, also in case they are placed on the EU market by digital tools. Member States are responsible to enforce EU food law, including on food supplements. 1 Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements. 2 Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements & Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins, minerals and of certain other substances to food.”
  Nutrition · EU policy on novel foods
• 2025-06-02 “P-002201/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission On 2 April 2025 the United States (US) announced a universal 10% additional tariff on EU exports to the US, to be increased to 20% as of 9 April 2025. On 9 April 2025, the US suspended the 20% increase until 9 July 2025, keeping the 10% in place. Also, the US imposed several additional sectoral import tariffs: 25% on steel and aluminium, increased to 50% since 4 June 2025, and 25% on cars and car parts. So far, the EU has adopted countermeasures only against the 25% US tariffs on steel and aluminium 1 , suspended to allow space and time for negotiations 2 . Should the negotiations fail, the EU is ready to protect EU interests, including by reinstating the suspended countermeasures 3 and introducing further measures to rebalance the other additional US tariffs. To this end a public consultation was launched on the EU response to the US universal tariffs and the US tariffs on cars and car parts 4 . This includes certain medical devices because the US universal tariffs also apply to EU exports of medical devices to the US. The Commission is currently conducting an analysis which will also address the availability of alternatives for the medical devices concerned from domestic capacity and from trade partners such as Switzerland or the United Kingdom. The analysis will be completed with the input received during the public consultation and after further discussion with Member States. 1 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 of 14 April 2025 on commercial rebalancing measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886, OJ L, 2025/778, 14.4.2025, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/778/oj. 2 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/786 of 14 April 2025 suspending commercial rebalancing measures concerning certain products originating in the United States imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882, OJ L, 2025/786, 14.4.2025, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/786/oj. 3 These are set to automatically enter into force again as of 15 July 2025. 4 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1149.”
  EU-US trade relations · Pharmaceutical imports & exports rules
• 2025-04-15 “P-001539/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission 1. The exposure to United States (U.S.) tariffs should in principle be determined by the finished product's country of origin. As the relevant U.S. Presidential Memorandum and executive orders do not provide specific rules for determining the origin of goods, U.S. nonpreferential rules of origin, outlined in U.S. Customs Regulations could be assumed to apply. U.S. non-preferential rules of origin stipulate that: ‘the country of origin is the country of manufacture, production, or growth of any article of foreign origin entering the United States. Further work or material added to an article in another country must effect a substantial transformation in order to render such other country the country of origin’. Substantial transformation requires that a new and different article emerges, with ‘distinctive name, character, or use’. This will not result from minor manufacturing or a combining process that leaves the identity of the article intact. The origin of EU manufactured pharmaceuticals with Chinese active ingredients will therefore depend on whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deems the EU production a substantial transformation. To get legal certainty, a ruling from CBP can be requested. In previous rulings, CBP has held that the simple processing of pharmaceutical products from bulk form into measured doses does not result in a substantial transformation of the product. However, where this involves the combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and the resulting combination offers additional medicinal benefits compared to taking each API alone, CBP has held that a substantial transformation occurred. 2. The same is true for other manufacturing sectors, such as automotive and technology.”
  EU-US trade relations · Pharmaceutical imports & exports rules
• 2025-04-15 “E-001540/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is currently implementing an Action Plan on labour and skills shortages of 20 March 2024 1 . The Action Plan sets out 87 actions or commitments that the EU, Member States and social partners will or should take to tackle these shortages. It contains a call to Member States to develop policies to attract and retain nurses through improving working conditions and mentoring young professionals, with the support of the EU4Health Programme. The collection of data for a survey on the health professionals’ mental health was carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) with EU4Health funding, and its results are planned to be published in October 2025. The WHO will then develop a set of proposed policy actions to protect the mental health of the health workforce, planned for publication before the end of 2025 2 . The Commission’s Expert Group on Health Systems Performance Assessment 3 is mapping various approaches to ensuring safe staffing levels in healthcare. The Commission also helps Member States, including France, in seizing opportunities from the digitalisation of health systems. Among others, the European Health Data Space initiative 4 aims to establish a common framework for the use and exchange of electronic health data. Through the European Semester, the Commission provides country-specific policy advice to support health system reforms, including those related to the health workforce. Substantial EU funding 5 is available to support skills development programmes 6 and planning and forecasting tools 7 . In the context of the Union of Skills 8 and its Skills Portability Initiative, the Commission will explore common rules for recognising the qualifications of third-country nationals, and thus facilitate the integration of non-EU workers into the EU labour markets, including in the healthcare sector. The forthcoming Quality Jobs Roadmap will support progress on the various dimensions of job quality in the evolving world of work. 1 Commission Communication on Labour and skills shortages in the EU: an action plan, COM(2024) 131 final (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52024DC0131). 2 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-waylife/european-health-union/comprehensive-approach-mental-health_en. 3 https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-systems-performance-assessment_en. 4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/ehealth-digital-health-and-care/european-health-data-space-regulation-ehds_en. 5 https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/2024-eu4health-work-programme_en. 6 Erasmus+ programme funded actions: AMR EDUCare https://www.amreducare.eu/, ‘BeWell’ https://bewellproject.eu/, DDS-MAP https://ddsmap.easpd.eu/, DigiCanTrain https://digicantrain.turkuamk.fi/contact-us/, e-Hospital4Future https://eh4future.eu/, EHMA https://hpass.healthworkforce.eu/EU4Health training https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/2022-eu4health-work-programme_en; GESEA Educational Programme https://gesea.eu/ and TRANSiTION https://ehma.org/projects/transition/. 7 EU4Health Programme funded Joint Action Heroes: https://www.agenas.gov.it/ricerca-e-sviluppo/ricercainternazionale/personale-sanitario-ri/heroes-health-workforce-to-meet-health-challenges. 8 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5c5c5399-fa8a-11ef-b7db-01aa75ed71a1.”
  EU competences on health · Public and private sectors role in healthcare services
• 2025-03-20 “E-001185/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The Commission regrets the decision of the United States (US) to impose tariffs on EU exports of steel and aluminium on 12 March 2025, as well as the universal tariffs – which also cover medical devices’ exports to the US –, while welcoming the decision to pause the entry into force of these tariffs for 90 days that was taken afterwards. The Commission sees no justification for tariffs. The Commission has emphasised to the US its wish to work together on common challenges and that the EU is not the problem – but is part of the solution. The Commission’s priority is to avoid disruptions to EU-US trade and to seek negotiated solutions. The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the US, which would be balanced and mutually beneficial. In this sense, in light of the decision by the US to delay its country-specific universal tariffs, the EU has decided to put its countermeasures on EUR 21 billion of US exports on hold for the same length of time. Medical devices are not included in the scope of these EU countermeasures. The EU wants to give negotiations a chance. If, however, the talks are not satisfactory, the EU countermeasures will come into force on 14 July 2025.”
  Pharmaceutical imports & exports rules · EU-US trade relations
• 2025-03-12 “P-001075/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU strongly condemns the deadly attacks against civilians in Syria. On 11 March 2025, the High Representative/Vice-President issued a statement on behalf of the EU strongly condemning the horrific crimes against civilians in the coastal areas and calling for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice 1 . The EU welcomed the commitments made by the transitional authorities, particularly the establishment of an independent investigative committee and called on the transitional authorities to allow the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate all violations. The EU will follow closely the outcomes of the investigations conducted by both national and international mechanisms. The EU consistently supports a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political transition, grounded on the respect for international law, human rights, fundamental freedoms, pluralism and tolerance among all components of society as well as on the values of rule of law and accountability. It urges the involved parties to protect Syrians from all ethnic and religious background without discrimination. In this context, it welcomes the commitments of the transitional authorities in this respect, stressing the importance of these commitments to be followed up with actions. Since 2011, the EU and the Member States have mobilised nearly 37 billion EUR in response to the Syrian crisis, representing the largest donors of humanitarian and stabilisation assistance to Syria and the region. The EU’s humanitarian assistance is delivered through certified partners and based on people’s needs, humanitarian principles and accountability, emphasising transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. The EU’s non-humanitarian assistance is subjected to extensive monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, including third party monitoring. On 24 February 2025, the EU suspended several restrictive measures as part of a gradual, conditional and reversible approach to support an inclusive political transition and economic recovery. At the same time, the Council maintained listings related to the Assad regime 2 . 1 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/03/11/syria-statement-by-the-highrepresentative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-recent-wave-of-violence/pdf/ 2 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6227-2025-ADD-1/en/pdf”
  EU-Syria relations · EU engagement with Christian communities inside and outside the EU
• 2025-02-11 “P-000616/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) plans to visit Yerevan and Baku in the coming weeks. In Baku, the HR/VP intends to discuss matters of mutual interest, address human rights concerns and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus, including with respect to the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The EU is committed to phasing out its energy dependency on Russia, including through the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy and efforts to diversify the supply of energy imports. Azerbaijan plays an important role in these diversification efforts. Armenia and Azerbaijan have made progress in the delimitation and demarcation of their border over the past year, including the delimitation and demarcation of specific border sections in April 2024 1 and agreement on the sequence of future efforts in January 2025 2 . Since 1 November 2024, the ‘Regulation on the Joint Activities’ of the two sides’ respective State Commissions on Delimitation is guiding this process 3 . This is the first interstate document between the two countries since their independence and underscores the progress made in this particular area of the normalisation process. The EU Mission in Armenia is tasked with observing and reporting along the Armenian side of the border with Azerbaijan, contributing to stability and human security and supporting confidence building 4 . It is not mandated to contribute to border delimitation or demarcation. 1 https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2024/04/19/8th_meeting/12606 2 https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2025/01/16/arm_az/13039 3 https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2024/11/01/Arm_Az/12928 4 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/euma_en?s=410283; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02023D016220230220&qid=1739465065211”
  EU-Azerbaijan relations · EU-Armenia relations
• 2025-01-15 “E-000146/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission coordinates internally on all policy and initiatives. With respect to key cross-cutting initiatives, the President of the Commission has decided to set up project groups. She may decide to renew them or set other project groups. 2. The composition of the project group on Preparedness Union reflects the approach in addressing the policy challenge at hand – developing a more integrated, anticipatory and proactive crisis management mode at EU level. Other Members of the College may participate in relevant meetings of the group and contribute to its work. 3. The Political Guidelines for 2024-2029 1 and the mission letter of Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare 2 set out the priorities on health policy. These include work to complete the European Health Union, by further diversifying supply chains, improving access to the most advanced treatments, boosting the competitiveness, resilience and security of health systems and working on strategic inventories. The Commission is working on a Proposal for a Critical Medicines Act to address shortages of medicines and reduce dependencies relating to critical medicines and ingredients, as well as to ensure the security of supply of medicines. The Commission will also step up work on preventive health, in particular for mental health, including at work, and cardiovascular diseases. On all these aspects, it will ensure internal coordination by relying on the processes that are best suited to each situation. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf 2 https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/oliver-varhelyi_en”
  EU competences on health
• 2024-12-10 “P-002844/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission and the Member States’ competent authorities are aware of the temporary constraints to comply with the new labelling requirement in Regulation (EU) 2024/573 1 (the F-gas Regulation) from 1 January 2025 for medicinal products, because of the specific approval procedures related to labels on such products. To prevent this situation from leading to a disruption of supply and to facilitate a uniform application of the rules in the Member States, the Commission has included recital (7) in the Commission Implementing Regulation 2024/2174 2 on the format of the labels stating that the ‘enforcement of the provisions should take into consideration the regulatory processes for changing existing labelling requirements or the process of re-labelling equipment or products already placed on the EU market’. Moreover, the Commission has explained to the competent authorities in the Member States the elements that are relevant to consider when enforcing this provision in a proportionate manner. Finally, the Commission has included a document and a dedicated code in the customs database TARIC (the integrated Tariff of the European Union) which will temporarily enable smooth import of metered dose inhalers even in the absence of the F-gas labelling and the Commission has informed the customs authorities and the economic operators about this measure. With these actions, the Commission aims to ensure that the new labelling requirement will not negatively impact the supply of medicines in the EU. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/00573/oj 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2174/oj”
  EU policy against medicines shortages · Pharmaceuticals regulation in EU
• 2024-11-18 “P-002567/2024 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission All food products in the EU, domestic or imported, must comply with EU food safety rules. These are not negotiable, and hence not subject to negotiations on trade agreements, including the EU-Mercosur. Third countries wishing to export food products to the EU are responsible for ensuring these are hormone-free and must establish control systems ensuring compliance with EU food safety rules. Brazil’s system is regularly audited by the EU. In audit 2024-8087 1 , the Commission concluded that Brazil should improve its system to ensure that meat of bovine animals treated with the 17beta oestradiol hormone (17β) for therapeutic or zootechnical purposes is not exported to the EU and made a recommendation. Brazil confirmed that only meat from male bovine animals would be exported to the EU until the necessary guarantees are in place to ensure that the meat of female bovine animals was not treated with 17β. The Commission is following up closely the actions taken by the Brazilian authorities set out in the recommendations of the abovementioned audit. Recently, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock reaffirmed their commitment to comply with these requirements. Brazilian beef, like other imported meat, is subject to analysis in the EU for hormonal growth promotants. To date, no evidence has shown that beef of animals treated with 17β has been placed on the EU market. The Commission regularly carries out audits in third countries, works closely with Member States’ veterinary authorities that perform controls on food imported into the EU and takes actions in agreement with Member States when needed. It considers that sanitary checks on imported goods ensure a satisfactory level of health risk prevention, including for food imported from Mercosur. 1 Food Audits and Analysis, Brazil 2024-8087 https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4804”
  GMOs
• 2024-09-02 “E-001587/2024 Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the Commission After the initial call for expression of interest open from 16 January to 16 February 2024, the Critical Medicines Alliance 1 was launched on 24 April 2024. The Chairs of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and of the Subcommittee on Public Health of the European Parliament competent in the matter of critical medicines were invited to the event. The inaugural meeting of the Forum took place on 25 April 2024. In accordance with paragraph 6(1) of the Terms of Reference of the Alliance, an invitation was extended to the European Parliament to participate in the Forum on 19 April 2024. The Alliance is open to new members at all stages of its operation including from the European Parliament. 1 https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-emergency-preparedness-and-response-hera/overview/critical-medicinesalliance_en”
  EU competences on health · EU policy against medicines shortages
• “Thank you, madam president, commissioner, dear colleagues. Hantavirus reminds us once again that health crises are not 1 off situations, but ongoing problems that people need to prepare for. I'd like to thank all of those who have been mobilized and and have been involved in protecting our citizens across Europe. We also need to learn the lessons of the past. The COVID crisis showed us our weaknesses and also showed us the, the importance of strengthening our prevention, research, and coordination capabilities. We there's 1 key lesson we need to learn from the past. When there is no transparency, then people start losing trust. When people, lose trust, then the, conspiracy theories. If there is no public trust, then a public health policy will not be successful. We need to be clear. We need to tell the truth. We need to act with transparency. We need to rebuild public trust between institutions and the people of Europe. Thank you very much. Thank you.”
  Transparency of EU medicines governance process
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner, colleagues, there are subjects that we can no longer just make observations about or raise the alarm on. I think nitrous oxide is one is that some continually continue to call it as a laughing gas. This is an unacceptable way. There's nothing prosaic about it. There are tragedies. There are lives that are broken. There are people and families that are thrown into grief that cannot be repaired. There were a number of people whose lives were cut short, for example, Amber and Clémence, two nurses that were going to their services. Jeremy Bolen, who was a firefighter who was leaving His service when he was killed by a driver on the promenade des anglais. All of these people were killed by drivers who were under the influence. And when we say their names, it's not just a question about raising simple stories. We're talking about individuals with families, men, women who had served other people and whose lives were brutally put to an end, torn away from their families. Nothing will ever repair this. Now, these are tragedies and they are not isolated cases. Throughout Europe. We can see that nitrous oxide is on the rise, the use thereof, specifically with young people. The consequences, unfortunately, are known and we have been able to list them here. Problems. Death paralysis. The danger of these substances is no longer something that needs to be Proven. The Commission even has recognized it as a. Considered a reprotoxic. Now we know, however, that it. Access to it is far too easy and that is precisely where our political responsibility comes in.”
  Regulation of drug precursors in the EU
• “Thank you, thank you Chairman. Yes this EU US trade deal apparently represents a capitulation as far as we're concerned. With this deal as with Mercosur for us the French people the European Commission is leading a fiasco. In twenty twenty four the US was the first destination for EU exports, thirty eight point two percent of exports for about hundred and twenty million euros. So after this deal it's encouraging basically our companies to set up in the US to avoid tariffs. Basically to date the six hundred billion additional investments have been announced by European pharmaceutical companies in the US. This deal is a disaster every which way. It's strengthening our health dependency, undermining our industry and we have to stand up and defend ourselves with European preference, simplify our rules, also look at our state aid rules in order to actually strengthen our position on anti coercion rules where possible. We need independent innovative industry in Europe. We shouldn't simply throw in the sponge before we've even tried to stand up to this. And as Churchill was saying to conclude we've got the choice between war and dishonor and we've chosen dishonor but we'll have war anyway. Thank you.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Thank you very much, chair. I would also like to thank the rapporteur for the report and the presentation, in the same vein as plenty of colleagues. I can get behind a lot of the points made by the rapporteur. However, there is a one thing, um, this issue of bringing up certain industries I don't really like. There's a couple of things I would like to add talking about fighting against a sedentary lifestyle and promoting sport. It's been said the excessive consumption is of alcohol is an issue. We have an awful lot of work to do with young people in terms of health education, but also good practice to avoid risk. And then there's the very important issue of mental health, and also strengthening the place of innovation when it comes to fighting cardiovascular diseases. I would like to conclude by talking about the commission's plan that it proposed in December last year. It sets clear objectives, especially ensuring that 80% of obese people receive follow up and receive support. That is very significant. I would like to say thank you very much for the work that's been done, and we will be supporting your report. We will be tabling amendments, but you have our support. Thank you.”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “Thank you. President. Dear colleagues, mental health is one of the major challenges we face this century. One in six people in Europe is suffering from this often in silence or shame. This silent suffering is not equal. It depends on your social status. Unfortunately a person's vulnerability, their solitude, loss of a job, it often affects the most vulnerable. And unfortunately this distress can lead to addictions, alcohol, drugs, smoking and they just make people's lives worse rather than alleviating the problems. It's not just a medical issue, it's an issue of dignity and social justice. The EU must act while not taking the place of the member states but in a way of partnership and support. Investing in mental health is about protecting our citizens and their sovereignty. Thank you.”
  EU policy on mental health
• “We know that the member States action is not enough. Everything that is produced, everyone who produces these products. And if they are able to freely circulate in the market, well, so long as there is a free movement of these products, or so long as they are sold online, well, then they can then it can cross borders easily and therefore our bans will not be effective. That's why 43 colleagues from 18 countries and six political groups, we have called on the Commission. This cross party action states something extremely clearly. This is a duty that we have to protect. And it's not a partisan debate. Reach an annex 17 gives us the legal basis that we need. When there is a substance that presents an unacceptable risk for human health. The European Union must act today. We know this risk exists and yes, it is time to act. My question, therefore, is simple. Commissioner, is the Commission prepared to take this procedure such that the marketing of nitrous oxide for the general public will be banned? All the while protecting the professional and medical uses that are necessary. We cannot let such a huge danger become something that is just prosaic. We must protect our young people and we have the moral and political responsibility to act now before we have other names that would sadly be added to this list of people that we were not able to protect. Thank you.”
  Cannabis consumption
• “We have to ensure our scientific excellence is not restricted to certain handful of centres, but is distributed throughout the EU. So I have two messages. Hearing loss is not a minor inconvenience. It is a serious public health issues. It has impact on isolation, on mental health, on school achievement, on employment And on aging, in good health. With good health, we believe that we need to focus on prevention above all. My second message would be that innovation should be facilitated and made more secure, assessed in an intelligent manner. We need a clear framework safety, traceability, robust clinical results. Yes, but we also need simplicity. We need to simplify access to these new treatments, including implants. And I'll conclude, chair with a question. According to you, what would be the minimal minimum European package which we should adopt for hearing for diagnosis care accessibility for the patient taking an integral approach to this holistic approach, bearing in mind, of course, that Member States have competence for health care provision. Once again, thank you for your contributions here in the European Parliament. You should bring in the Centre of Excellence as closer to the political decision making houses of the EU. Thank you.”
  Medical devices
• “Thank you very much, Madam Director. I'll continue in French. 27 countries of the EEA, as well as the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, the UK and Switzerland have an agency that manages medicines and medical devices at European level. There is a pretty strict division and that continues to exist. The rules for this sector, especially for medical devices, become quite heavy and high, and it becomes quite difficult for the medical devices sector to deal with this fragmented reality, where they have to carry out notification at different levels and it doesn't necessarily align with their capacities. Now, given the role of your agency. They can draw both scientific and technical reports of high quality. So you have SMEs that make up 90% of companies are producing medical devices. Isis. So would it be possible to talk about, uh, combined, uh, management of medicines and medical devices? So my question is the following in terms of the review of legislations, that's that's standing before us when it comes to medical devices, legislation and related issues. Do you have an internal position on this potential new role that you might have to take up, where medical devices and medicines would be dealt with under the same umbrella? Thank you.”
  Medical devices
• “Well, you heard me, Mr. Sergio. Um, you know my position. I'm a medical professor. I've been fighting cancer for more than 30 years. And yes, smoking, alcohol, obesity probably. There are other factors as well. And I'm not an anti-vaxxer. Is that if that's what you're trying to say. There are other environmental factors that need to be taken into account. Smoking. Alcohol. Obesity? Yes. But everything that has been proven by science. I am, above all, a scientist.”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “Yes. Thank you very much, Commissioner. And thank you for coming along to our meeting. And just like Mr. Sokol, I'd like to thank you for the quality of your work and for a listening ear. Since you've taken up your post, what about? I'm talking about Miss Clements, who was a, um, a nurse, Jeremy, who's a firefighter. And they have lost their lives. Uh, who, uh, they were run over by somebody who was under a driver who was under the influence of nitrous oxide of some kind of drug. So obviously, we want to protect young people, do something about mental health, improve road safety. We want to do these things. But today we don't really know where we are. Because moving on to the second part of my question, which is a cross party question discussed in March in plenary. Is the Commission going to ban the sale and import of nitrous oxide into the European Union, apparently from February 2027? But a lot has to be done for this statement to be turned into practice. We know that within the context of reach, the Commission had said that a validation would have to be carried out and be ready by April 2025. This has not happened. So perhaps you can say something about this validation procedure.”
  Regulation of drug precursors in the EU