by Giuliana Miglierini
The hearings of the Commissioners-designate before the relevant committees of the European Parliament closed with the confirmation of all the names proposed by President Ursula von der Leyen, even with some negotiations on some mandates.
We resume the main contents of the hearing of Olivér Várhelyi, the Hungarian representative designed to lead the Health and Animal welfare sector, together with the ones of the executive vice-president for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, and the new Commissioners Ekaterina Zaharieva (Research and Startups), Hadja Lahbib (Crisis Preparedness, and Jessika Roswall (Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy). The new Commission started working on 1 December 2024, after the plenary vote of the EU Parliament on 27 November.
The Commissioner for Health and Animal welfare
Olivér Várhelyi has a long-standing experience within European institutions, including the role of Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement (2019-2024). Was also Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU (2015-2019) and led the Commission’s Unit for Industrial Property Rights in the DG for Internal Market and Services (2008-2011).
His hearing before the ENVI and AGRI committees, with participation also of the ITRE and SANT ones, has been the only one to close with the request of a second round of questions for written answers (the hearing dedicated webpage, where you can find all the documentation).
Mr. Várhelyi’s confirmation also entered the political negotiations regarding two executive vice-presidents, Italian Raffaele Fitto (Cohesion and Reforms) and Spanish Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Clean, Just and Competitive Transition). The procedure closed on 20 November, confirming the new Health and Animal welfare commissioner, but with some relevant changes to his proposed portfolio.
Specifically, the responsibility for the DG HERA (the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority) was transferred to the Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. Mr. Várhelyi will maintain the responsibility of the DG Santé and the open dossier of the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation, as well as competencies over medical devices and animal welfare. The final evaluation letter also specifies that competences on sexual and reproductive health rights will be transferred to another Commissioner.
Born in Szeged, town also of two Nobel Prize winners (Albert von Szent-Györgyi, discoverer of vitamin C, and Karikó Katalin, inventor of the mRNA vaccines), Olivér Várhelyi make a quite positive impression in his hearing with respect to the more technical issues impacting the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, while he was far less confident, for example, in the defense of abortion and protection of reproduction rights.
In his speech, Mr. Várhelyi underlined his commitment to making the EU an innovation powerhouse while focusing on key strategic sectors, i.e. digital health, pharmaceuticals, biotech and medical devices. He also recognised the need to shorten procedures and diminish costs, a frequent request coming from industrial stakeholders.
Olivér Várhelyi also marked the intention to continue building the European Health Union in order to provide joint solutions to particular health issues, as occurred during the Covid pandemic. Preventive health is a priority, to be tackled, for example by means of a new Plan for European Cardiovascular Health. Just a few words were reserved for health determinants and mental health, and the impact of social media and excessive screen time on well‑being.
Greater attention was given to the availability of medicines to EU citizens, including the security of supply chains, and the growth of clinical research in the EU. Mr. Várhelyi illustrated the basic pillars to build a stronger and competitive European industry. In this instance, he indicated the intention to reach a balanced compromise agreement with the Parliament and Council on the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation. As for medical devices & in vitro diagnostics, the new Commissioner confirmed the need to ensure that the regulatory framework does not have an unintended effect on innovation and availability of products. He announced short-term measures to reduce administrative burden and simplify procedures within the current framework, and the intention to be ready for the review of the MDR and IVDR regulations in 2025.
Olivér Várhelyi also mentioned the proposal of a Critical Medicines Act within the first 100 days of his mandate, a key measure to reduce structural dependencies in the pharmaceutical supply chains. The Critical Medicines Act could also support innovative manufacturing technologies and the creation of market incentives by joint procurement to address market failures, with attention to orphan and rare diseases and new antibiotics. As said before, the Critical Medicines Act has then been moved under the responsibility of the Commissioners for Crisis Preparedness.
During the hearing, Olivér Várhelyi also addressed the European Health Data Space as a part of the approach to digital health, and the need to continue the efforts to fight antimicrobial resistance. He also mentioned the intention to work on a European action plan on the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers, in collaboration with the Executive vice‑president for Security, Democracy and Values.
In the additional Q&As, Olivér Várhelyi confirmed the intention to work very closely with the European Medicines Agency and national authorities to boost public confidence in vaccines. The possibility of granting faster temporary emergency marketing authorisations at the EU level to address public health emergencies based on a robust assessment by the EMA was also mentioned.
The Commissioner Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality
Hadja Lahbib from Belgium is the new Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality. She served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of the Belgian Federal Government since 2022. Mrs. Lahbib gave the hearing before the DEVE, FEMM, LIBE and ENVI committees, with the participation also of the EMPL and SANT committees. We focus only on aspects relevant to the pharma and life sciences sectors.
Improvements in crisis management are a central objective of Mrs. Lahbib’s portfolio, which she intends to tackle by empowering Europe to anticipate, prevent and prepare for crises. A key tool towards it should be the announced EU Preparedness Union strategy to support Member States, focused on taking a proactive, all‑hazards approach to crises, boosting coordination across sectors and across governments, and getting the whole of society involved. Already existing instruments supporting European solidarity will also be reinforced, including the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre and the rescEU strategic reserve (as well as a European Civil Defense Mechanism). Mrs. Lahbib also indicated the intention to evaluate whether a preparedness law could help to achieve better coordination between the EU and Member States.
As for public health, Hadja Lahbib announced a new strategy to support medical countermeasures to address public health threats. The strategy would include joint procurement and stockpiling, as well as securing the availability of medicines from research to manufacturing. The new Commissioner also mentioned the role of HERA in ensuring preparation for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, including the availability of appropriate medical countermeasures.
Mrs. Lahbib also confirmed her commitment to a strong EU humanitarian action based on humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. In this instance, the plan is to have the private sector play a greater role in the provision and scaling-up of technologies, so as to improve the financing aspects.
The Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
Ekaterina Zaharieva was part of the Bulgarian National Assembly in 2017-2024 and served also as Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2017-2021) (link to the dedicated webpage). She gave her hearing before the ITRE and CULT committees.
Mrs. Zaharieva is in charge of a key portfolio supporting research and innovation, two fundamental aspects to improve the EU competitiveness. The achievement of this objective would require strategic investment of more resources in a more coordinated way. The new Commissioner mentioned, for example, the potential of generative AI, estimated to add €2-4 trillion to the industrial sector including pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. She also recalled the lower European R&I investments compared to those of the US, China and Japan.
The building of the European Research and Innovation Union will be based on five key priorities, starting from strengthening the European Research Area by means of a new ERA Act and reaching the 3% GDP target for R&I. The lack of coordination across different national funding systems should also be addressed, and the fifth freedom of movement of researchers, scientific knowledge and technology should be supported. Ekaterina Zaharieva also indicated the need to ensure investment in research and technology infrastructures.
The European Research Council is the tool chosen to fund excellent research, coupled with the mobilisation of more private investments in R&I, especially targeted to European startups and scale-up companies so as to stop their move to more convenient countries. Mrs. Zaharieva also expressed the intention to expand and enhance the European Innovation Council in order to facilitate access to capital, especially for disruptive and high-risk ventures. This line of action should include improved cooperation with the European Investment Bank and with the Trusted Investors Network.
The regulatory and administrative burden will be addressed by a comprehensive startup and scale-up strategy and forum. According to Mrs. Zaharieva, R&I efforts will be concentrated and coordinated in key technologies and areas with disruptive potential, including biotech. The new Commissioner also announced for 2025 a new European strategy to promote life sciences by 2040, and a strategy to increase the uptake of AI in sciences. In this instance, a European AI research council will also be created.
Ekaterina Zaharieva mentioned the intention to work on an ambitious budget and an increase of R&I spending for the next framework programme that will follow Horizon Europe. At the international level, the new Commissioner intends to promote a balanced approach to international research and innovation, based on reciprocity and protecting European strategic autonomy and economic security.
The Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy The Swedish Jessika Roswall is the new Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, a portfolio that will include also responsibilities for Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), the REACH regulation and the Waste Water Treatment directive. Mrs. Roswall served as Minister for European Affairs in the Swedish government since 2022. She gave her hearing before the ENVI, ITRE, IMCO and AGRI committees.
Jessika Roswall underlined the importance of delivering clear results to protect nature and climate while creating tangible benefits for citizens and real economic opportunities for the industry. Among the priorities, Mrs. Roswall mentioned the circular economy, a key part of the Clean industrial deal, and the importance of achieving the goals of decarbonisation and industrialization of the European economy, contained in the Commission’s Political Guidelines.
Focusing only on targets more relevant to pharma and life sciences, the new Commissioner announced the proposal of a chemical industry package in 2025, including the revision and modernization of the REACH regulation. Other planned actions include the use of perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) and the substitution of hazardous chemicals.
Mrs. Roswall gave less clear answers on the possibility of better addressing the promotion of recycling (and not only re-use) as a part of the packaging regulation. As for the increase in the demand for critical raw materials driven by electrification and the possibility to make the secondary raw market material less costly, Mrs. Roswall indicated this is an opportunity within the single market.
Implementation and simplification of the administrative burden, without deregulation, is another announced key priority, with special attention to SMEs. Furthermore, the achievement of the objectives described by Jessika Roswall during the hearing would require a new approach to financing and public funding, including the possibility of issuing nature credits, or the use of the Just Transition Fund or funds from both the current and next Multiannual Financial Frameworks.
The new Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
Stéphane Séjourné from France is the new Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. He covered the role of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in the French government (2024). He gave his hearing before the ITRE, IMCO, ENVI and ECON committees, with the participation also of INTA, EMPL, BUDG and JURI committees.
In his speech, Stéphane Séjourné highlighted the need to safeguard direct and indirect jobs while implementing the green transition and ensuring the EU’s strategic autonomy. The new vice-president of the Commission announced the proposal in early 2025 of a pact for Clean Industry, based on the work already done by the Parliament on the regulations for a net-zero industry and critical raw materials.
Mr. Séjourné recalled the need to decarbonise and industrialise at the same time, and to use the greatest potential and socio-economic impact to target the most strategic sectors to allow them to face international competition. For each strategic sector, including biotech and chemicals (“the industry of industries”), Stéphane Séjourné has announced the presentation of an action plan.
A Single Market Strategy is also expected within the first 200 days of his mandate. Furthermore, Mr. Séjourné indicated the intention to support the industrial policy with improved simplification, increased investment and better strategical action, so as to support the creation of value and jobs without risks of deregulation. An SME passport has also been announced to rapidly assess the legal status of small and medium enterprises.
Stéphane Séjourné has also addressed the need for greater private investments, something that according to the new vice-president will require a real union of savings and investment. The new European Competitiveness Fund should be part of the EU budget for 2028-2034. Major projects of common interest are expected to help the simplification of procedures and the use of available funds. Mr. Séjourné also indicated the intention to revise rules on public procurement according to a better consideration of quality, sustainability and resilience criteria and a best bidder approach.
As for trade policies, the new Commissioner announced the intention to map critical technologies, accompanied by a dependency indicator.