This Week in Healthcare — Brussels (#13, 2026)
Parliament draft opinions on health funding in cohesion policy; Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan report reviewed; medical devices regulatory simplification discussed.
April 05, 2026 to April 11, 2026
Parliament draft opinions on health funding in cohesion policy; Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan report reviewed; medical devices regulatory simplification discussed.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on Public Health (SANT): On April 14, the European Parliament's Committee on Public Health (SANT) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Amending Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746 as regards simplifying and reducing the burden of the rules on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/123 as regards the support of the European Medicines Agency for the expert panels on medical devices and Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 as regards the list of Union harmonisation legislation referred to in its Annex I; Chair’s announcements.
- Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Amending Directive 2004/37/EC as regards the addition of substances and setting limit values in its Annexes I, III and IIIa; Chair’s announcements.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Amending Regulations (EC) No 1272/2008, (EC) No 1223/2009 and (EU) 2019/1009 as regards simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products; Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Empowering France to accede to the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles; *** End of electronic vote ***.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; ------; Amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards the market stability reserve for the buildings, road transport and additional sector.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 16, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; ------; Amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards the market stability reserve for the buildings, road transport and additional sector.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 16, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: ECA Special Report 11/2026: Innovation Fund - High potential, but slow progress and little impact on emissions reduction.
EP Committee Work
Committee on Public Health issues draft opinion on health priorities in new EU cohesion fund regulation
On 7 April 2026, the Committee on Public Health (SANT) published a draft opinion regarding the proposed regulation for the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for 2028-2034 (COM(2025)0565 – C10-0179/2025 – 2025/0240(COD)). The rapporteur, Victor Negrescu, called for health to be treated as a programmable priority within national and regional partnership plans, with dedicated chapters and funding for healthcare system resilience, workforce challenges, and access to services. The opinion proposed that at least 4% of the envelope be dedicated to public health objectives, and that eligible measures include addressing workforce shortages, infrastructure, and territorial disparities. The text also recommended support for non-profit organisations and operational funding mechanisms for public health delivery.
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety drafts opinion on regional development fund for 2028-2034
On 9 April 2026, the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) released a draft opinion on the proposal for a regulation establishing the European Fund for Regional Development and the Cohesion Fund for 2028-2034. Rapporteur Jana Nagyová’s draft opinion addressed support for regional health infrastructure, environmental protection, and climate adaptation. The draft includes measures for improving access to health services and tackling regional health inequalities, with emphasis on the integration of environmental and health objectives in cohesion policy programming.
Committee on Public Health to debate Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and regulatory burden for medical devices
On 14 April 2026, the Committee on Public Health (SANT) scheduled a meeting to consider the draft report on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with rapporteur Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Renew, RO). The agenda also includes a presentation by Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi regarding the Commission’s December 2025 proposal to amend Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and 2017/746. This legislative proposal aims to simplify and reduce the regulatory burden on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, while maintaining a high level of public health protection. The session will include reporting on a recent SANT mission to Cyprus and a presentation of the legislative file by rapporteur Oliver Schenk (EPP, DE).
