On Friday (20 June), the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) met to discuss several health topics. The Critical Medicines Act was the first item to feature on the agenda. This marked the first formal exchange of views among Member States on the proposed legislation. While Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi signalled a commitment to bringing the Act to completion by the close of the year, the incoming Danish Council Presidency has indicated it does not anticipate concluding negotiations within that timeframe.
Some Member States perspectives are as follows:
–Ireland expressed support for the CMA’s industrial policy goals but emphasised that reshoring manufacturing is insufficient to guarantee supply security. Irish Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, welcomed elements related to international partnerships and enhanced coordination mechanisms with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), including the MSSG and SPOC. However, she cautioned against adding administrative burdens on companies and called for a careful balance between joint procurement frameworks and national reimbursement systems.
–France emphasised the importance of integrating environmental criteria into public procurement and advocated for financial incentives to enhance production capacity. French Health Minister, Geneviève Darrieussecq, noted that while the legislation encourages Member State financing, it lacks clarity on how.
-Czechia called for stronger European coordination to prevent insufficient public spending, as well as more coordination in stockpiling and voluntary procurement.
-Spain supported the proposal, particularly its focus on joint procurement, which it believes will enhance the EU’s collective purchasing power.
–Italy welcomed efforts to improve local production of critical medicines and cautioned against procurement decisions solely on price.
–Belgium stressed the need to accelerate the vulnerability analysis and need to ensure there is adequate funding available.
–Germany highlighted the need for production incentives within the EU and expressed concern that the proposal does not take generic medicines enough into account.
–Cyprus voiced its strong support for collaborative procurement as well as the MEAT criteria. Additionally, Cyprus recommended broadening the scope of collaborative procurement from 9 to 3 Member States as well as broadening it to include any medicines that Member States are having access challenges to.
The initial reactions from Member States to the Critical Medicines Act reflect a broad consensus on the importance of strengthening pharmaceutical resilience within the EU but also reveal differing national priorities. However, joint public procurement, EU-level coordination, and adequate funding appear to be a priority for all.
