Last week saw Renew Europe facilitate a major revision of EU pharmaceutical legislation for the first time in 20 years.
A strong outcome was delivered in the final trilogue on the EU Pharmaceutical Package, marking a historical step forward for patient access across Europe. This move fortifies European competitiveness in pharmaceutical innovation amid intense geopolitical competition.
The agreement builds on Renew Europe’s efforts to deliver on the Draghi Report, on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy. The outcome secures reforms to advance patient access, tackle medicine shortages and boost Europe’s strategic autonomy in the pharmaceutical sphere.
Europe can use this package to lead global health innovation and ensure that no patient is left behind. These reforms strengthen the EU pharmaceutical ecosystem and will impact millions of lives across Europe.
The agreement:
- Ensures faster and fairer access and availability of medicines for patients across all EU Member States, and addresses persistent shortages
- Creates stronger incentives for innovation in rare diseases, benefiting the 36 million Europeans living with a rare condition, many of whom will gain access to life-saving medicines for the first time
- Makes Europe the first region in the world to put in place market incentives for the development of new antibiotics, a powerful response to the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
- Reinforces a patient-centric, competitive and sustainable pharmaceutical ecosystem, ensuring Europe remains an attractive region for research, development and the production of innovative medicines.
Stine Bosse MEP (Moderaterne, DK), Vice Chair of the Committee on Public Health and Renew Europe shadow rapporteur on the Regulation said:
“This historic reform marks a decisive step forward for patients across Europe. It ensures faster and fairer access to medicines as well as strengthens innovation. With this agreement, Europe can continue to lead globally in pharmaceutical innovation while delivering tangible benefits to all patients across the EU.”
Vlad Voiculescu MEP (USR, RO), Renew Europe coordinator on the Committee on Public Health and shadow rapporteur on the Directive added:
“The revised pharmaceutical package strengthens equity and public health across the continent. By tackling medicine shortages and supporting innovative treatments for rare diseases, it ensures that patients in all Member States have timely access to safe and affordable therapies.”