What next for the oncology community after the EU elections?
Though
the EPP (Group of the European Peoples' Party (Christian Democrats)
remains with the largest number of seats. Yet, it is fairly reduced with
parties such as the Green and the Liberals having a greater say in the
decision-making process at the Parliamentary level. It means
that the two groups that have been setting the scene over the last
years, EPP and Socialists and Democrats, will no longer be in the
driving seat. Consequently, if the EPP would like to keep the importance placed on cancer they will have to push for this together with other parties.
Overview of what’s interesting for the oncology community in a nutshell.
- Romania
EPP MEP Adiana-Ioana Valean, who is the most recent chair of the ENVI
committee (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) is returning to
the parliament
- The
Dutch MEP Bas Eickhout, lead candidate the Greens in the European
elections already took a position on the need to put an end to endocrine
disruptors and called for a deep role for the EC on key health
priorities, such as access to medicines and hormone-disrupting chemicals
- MEP
champions on the medical device regulations such as German EPP MEP
Peter Liese and Croatian S&D MEP Bilijana Borzana are returning
MEPs whose presence will be missed include:
· Slovenian
EPP MEP Alojz Peterle, also president of the MEPs Against Cancer Group,
and Belgian ALDE MEP Lieve – Wierinck have not been re-elected, who
have both been driving voices for more research funding, the launch of
the European cancer plan and the repurposing of drugs for cancer
treatment.
· Portuguese
EPP MEPP Jose Inacion Faria and Czech S&D MEP Pavel Poc, both
significant contributors to cancer treatment and hormone-disrupting
chemicals.
· The health technology assessment legislation has lost the lead rapporteur, Spanish Socialist MEP Soledad Caberzon Ruiz
Negotiations will continue in the month of June and a full list of MEPs on key committees is due on the 4th of July in Strasbourg.
The European Parliament 2019
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