Brussels, 6 November 2024
Two European Parliament committees questioned Olivér Várhelyi, Hungarian candidate for the Health and Animal Welfare portfolio, on Wednesday evening.
In his opening remarks, Várhelyi said he would work to improve citizens’ health by building on the EU Health Union, prioritise preventive health measures, ensure the availability of necessary treatments and medicines, and guarantee that clinical research remains and grows in Europe. He committed to apply the “One Health” approach, which balances the health of people, animals, and the environment.
Critical medicines, fight against cancer and cardiovascular diseases
The Commissioner-designate stressed his commitment to help conclude work on the EU pharmaceutical reform and complement it with a new Critical Medicines Act. Mr Várhelyi will also propose a new European Biotech Act, as an enabler of innovation, and launch a revision of EU medical devices legislation and tobacco products rules.
He emphasised the importance of implementing the EU Beating Cancer Plan and promised a similar initiative to tackle cardiovascular diseases. If confirmed, he will work on various pressing health issues facing, including mental health issues among youth, and combating antimicrobial resistance. He will also ensure proper application of the existing legislative framework, especially the European Health Data Space and the rules on cross-border health threats.
EU food security and animal welfare standards
Highlighting the Commission’s forthcoming “Vision for Agriculture and Food”, Mr. Várhelyi pledged to mitigate pesticide risks, promote non-chemical alternatives, and maintain the EU’s high food safety standards, reassuring consumers that imported foods meet strict EU criteria.
If confirmed, he said he would talk to farmers about ways to improve animal welfare and end the “cage age”. He also committed to increasing the availability of viable alternatives to pesticides for farmers.
MEPs asked questions on a range of topics, including EU vaccine authorisation, sexual and reproductive rights, patient rights and discrimination, cross-border healthcare barriers, equitable access to healthcare, and strengthening the EU’s health sector competitiveness.
They also asked about planned concrete actions on ensuring a food supply in the EU, the labelling of agricultural products, novel food, and preventing and controlling outbreaks of animal diseases.
You can watch the video recording of the full hearing.
Next steps
The chairs and political group coordinators of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development will meet without delay to assess the performance and qualification of the Commissioner-designate.
Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published.
The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg.