Health was a marginal topic of the State of the Union address the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen gave to the EU Parliament on 13 September 2023. Her speech was focused on the strategical goal to build a geopolitical Union and on currently open challenges, including the green and digital transition and climate changes. President von der Leyen mentioned the starting of the Health Union and the goal of a greater independence in crucial sectors like energy, chips and raw materials among achieved results. Among the ongoing legislative priorities in the remaining time are a series of Clean Transition Dialogues with industry. The Commission also appointed Mr Mario Draghi to prepare a report of the future of European competitiveness.
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA) positively commented the SOTEU speech. According to EFPIA, the future challenge is to reconcile the Commission’s commitment do whatever it takes to keep the EU’s competitive edge with the policy in practice. A goal that should include the ongoing revision of the pharmaceutical legislation, those current form might further damage the competitiveness of the pharma sector, according to EFPIA.
Source: European Commission, EFPIA