Debate contributions by Vlad VASILE-VOICULESCU

Madam President, dear colleagues, what if we learned today that as of 1 March, patients in Europe would run out of half of their basic medicines? It sounds impossible, but it's not. We live in a world of threats, sanctions, breaking supply chains overnight. Strategic dependencies can be used as weapons. I saw that with Russian gas. People don't know what you've learned here: 80% of the basic medicines used in Europe depend on raw materials and production outside the European Union. The Critical Medicines Act that we are proposing here today is a response of European strategic autonomy. It clearly defines these medicines, strengthens production, creates common stocks and a real solidarity mechanism between Member States. At my proposal, this mechanism is also open to the Republic of Moldova, as a candidate country through joint procurement and cooperation. It is a balanced text, but above all it is an act of European security.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union mechanism for the rule of law is not just bureaucracy, it is our early warning system for something, namely the political capture of the justice system. This happened in Poland, where the European Union applied Article 7 and the European Court of Justice applied penalties of EUR 1 million per day for the disciplinary regime that affected the independence of judges. It happened in Hungary, late indeed, where budgetary conditionality was used. The Council decided to suspend more than €6 billion of cohesion funds. In Romania, the signals point to a different risk, not a direct political capture, but a capture from within the system. When tens of thousands of cases close through the prescription mechanism, cancelling hundreds or thousands of years of accumulated work of policemen, honest magistrates, when whistleblowers and professionals who had courage are left without protection, when institutions seem rather quick to solve plagiarism and thefts of politicians, than to do justice for citizens and public money, public trust in justice collapses. Vaclav Havel said that the rule of law is not an end in itself, but a condition of human dignity. Montesquieu warned that there was no more dangerous tyranny than that exercised under the guise of the law in the name of justice. These days, hundreds of Romanian magistrates and tens of thousands of Romanians are saying the same thing in the streets.

Madam President, we have a proposal for a plan against cardiovascular disease, and I want to congratulate the Commissioner. The European Union's cardiovascular plan is not about papers, it's about lives. My father had his first heart attack when he was over 35. I was a child and for years I lived in constant fear that one day I would lose him. This fear never really goes away. That's why I know that cardiovascular disease isn't just statistics, it's stories about people and their families. Europe needs to do more on prevention. The Commissioner said about 1.7 preventable deaths in the EU. Too many lives are lost because we intervene too late. We need earlier checks, better screening and screening, care and recovery that reaches everyone, not just the lucky ones. 1.7 million preventable deaths. If we're honest, prevention also starts with what we eat: less sugar, less ultra-processed products, clear labelling and real support for healthy choices, healthy choices that must be easy, not just a luxury. 700 000 people, of preventable deaths in the EU, due to tobacco alone. We definitely need to be tougher on the tobacco industry. Europe is the region with the highest prevalence of tobacco consumption globally. 50% of smokers die prematurely, i.e. 14 years younger. 40% of all women who smoke worldwide are in the European region of the World Health Organization.

Mr President, we often talk about the safety of Europe in recent years, and it is good that we do so at least now, in the 12th hour. The safety of Europe and Europeans starts with protecting borders, but also with something very simple inside those borders: a patient who receives his treatment on time, whether in Bacau, Budapest, Berlin or Bruges. Today, our strategic autonomy in medicines is fragile. 80% of pharmaceutical ingredients imported into the European Union come from just five countries and China alone covers 45%. The production of medicines has moved out of Europe and dependence is now dramatic. For generic medicines, the basis of everyday treatments, between 60 and 80% of the substances used in Europe are manufactured in India and China. Over 80% is the percentage when it comes to antibiotics. This is no longer just about an economic branch, this is about security. We do not have to be at war to experience the lack of medicines, shortages of certain medicines are no longer exceptions, they are found in any country to the west, to the east, richer or less rich. Several EU countries have regulations on stockpiles of medicines, ranging from a few weeks to a few months of stockpiles. But here's another race: If each country saves itself, it can drown the others. Large drug stocks in Germany, France, Denmark may mean that patients in Romania, Cyprus, Hungary run out of drugs for the next day or week. We have adopted legislation here for a safer Europe, a Europe that is safe not only at its borders, but also for every patient.

Madam President, cancer is not only a health issue, it's also a test of our European values. Behind every statistic, there is a mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, a friend. And far too often the chances of survival depend on the type of insurance they have, on their social status or the country they live in. In Romania, screening rates are among the lowest in Europe, as in other Central and Eastern European countries. The gap is unacceptable. We must keep the fight against cancer a European priority. From EU4Health to cohesion and research programmes, every euro should drive innovation, early detection and equitable screening across the European Union. Every woman, whether in Bucharest, in Sofia or in Paris, deserves the same chance to live. As a man, I stand as an ally because women's health is not only a women's cause, it's a European cause. And Europe must protect, not by words, but by action, standing with every woman, in every country, in every moment. This is what our European Health Union should look like.

Mr President, dear colleagues, in Romania, we have already seen what heatwaves mean – that means elderly people fainting at bus stops in Bucharest, farmers watching their crops burn, workers in Spain and Italy collapsing under the sun. These are not statistics. They are our neighbours, our families. Last summer, in just 12 European cities, heatwaves killed over 2 300 people. I can only imagine what the true number across the continent is. Beyond the lives lost, hospitals overhit, children missing school, and harvests are destroyed. We cannot wait. We must invest in homes that stay cool, in farmers who need resilient crops, in irrigation, and in health systems that can protect the most vulnerable. We must plant trees that can survive the new climates. These are the trees that will provide shelter for our kids. We must accelerate the green transition. The planet has run out of patience. Our people, though, are still expecting us to act.

Madam President, we usually don't have time for stories here. I'll start today with a story: On September 21, 2016, I was Minister of Health in Romania. 2016! The National Institute of Public Health then informed me about an increase from 7 to 675 confirmed measles cases in Romania. Since September 21, 2016, we have declared a measles epidemic in Romania. Since then, the measles epidemic in Romania has not ended. Several governments, led by socialists, followed. Those socialists, the same socialists who today refuse to support the only pro-European candidate in the presidential race. And today, according to the World Health Organization, Romania leads the ranking of measles cases reported in 2024 - over 30,000. The following countries are Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. If the European Union, ladies and gentlemen, is doing something in the field of health, then one of the priorities must be infectious diseases. In my country, the vaccination rate against measles with the first dose is 78%, with the second is 62%. Only four EU countries, across the European Union, reach the 95% recommended threshold. These countries deserve congratulations and these countries are: Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia. But of all measles cases across the European Union, 87% come from Romania in 2024, 87%! In the European Union, ladies and gentlemen, and throughout the world today, a battle is being waged against truth and against science. I have seen in Romania, I have seen in other states around the globe how scientific truth is trampled on by politicians and other forces in society. If we want a European Union that truly protects citizens, then, ladies and gentlemen, this is the battle we must win. Responsible political forces and honest civil society must act firmly against criminal disinformation with medical forgeries, because most extremist forces that we are talking about today, most political forces that grow on lies and disinformation, political forces that we are fighting here and in our countries, let's be honest, have grown on the back of the most traumatic planetary event of the last decade. And that was definitely the pandemic. If we lose science and truth as the fundamental basis of reality, society itself, all our societies will not be able to survive.

Mr President, Commissioner, the budget is not primarily about money, it is about priorities; Hence our concrete proposals for this budget. The EU budget must help companies to be more competitive in a single European market. It must also provide security throughout Europe and have a visible and concrete impact on people's lives, in better hospitals, affordable housing, modern schools, so that populist lies and blame on foreigners, immigrants, others are not successful. Look at the first round of the presidential election in Romania if you still needed any proof. For a patient with a rare disease, the most important thing is that his treatment does not depend only on the budget of the country in which he was born, but that the patient's family feels European solidarity. Europe needs not only vision, but also honest connection with people. If we want Europeans to believe in the future of the Union, we must show them that they are at the heart of this future.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in today's Europe, a child diagnosed with a rare disease has completely different chances of life, depending on the country in which he was born. In some Member States, there are simply no resources for diagnosis or treatment – sometimes precisely because we are talking about rare diseases and lack the necessary experience. It can't exist. Families are left to fight alone. We urgently need a European action plan for rare diseases, one that allows real access to treatment in other Member States, where the necessary expertise is available. Europe, together, can often do what the Member States alone will never be able to do. I therefore ask the European Commission to work with Parliament and all the parties involved to build this plan, because the European Union means not only the freedom to travel, but also the freedom to receive the right treatment on time, no matter where you live. Let's build! We already have a solid foundation, we have the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, we have the Regulation on the coordination of social security systems. Let's build together on this foundation! The lives of these children cannot wait.

Mr President, we have, here, a first legislative product of the new Commission, and I thank the Commissioner for keeping his word for the first 100 days. I would also like to thank all those who contributed, especially those from Critical Medicines Alliance. Today we have a necessary step to protect patients in Europe from the crisis of essential medicines. In Romania, we have witnessed alarming situations: Romanian oncology hospitals – not least paediatric oncology – frequently report the lack of essential medicines for different types of cancer, thus compromising children’s chance and adults’ chance of a fair treatment. Hospitals in Satu Mare in Romania have recently faced a lack of hydrocortisone. Also, many antiepileptic drugs are still lacking, especially for children and not only. This law proposes strategic independence, coordination of stock policies, European production and coordinated procurement and can indeed decrease dependence on global supply chains and increase access to medicines for Europeans. However, without clear implementation mechanisms, adequate budgets and sanctions for non-compliance, this act risks remaining only a declaration of intent.

Madam President, congratulations to the rapporteurs, congratulations to the Commission on today's achievement. Today, the European Union is doing more than reaffirming its support for the Republic of Moldova. Today, the European Union is taking a decisive step for the future that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova deserve. A future of prosperity, real reforms, an economy that creates opportunities for all. Where Russia tries to fool with false propaganda, Moldova chooses Europe, and Europe keeps its word. Through this 2 billion euro program we invest not only in infrastructure, energy, but also in the future of every child, in the safety of every family, in the power of every entrepreneur who believes in a European Moldova. We know that the challenges are great, but we also know that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have demonstrated over and over again that they have the courage and determination to go forward. Today, the European Union not only supports, but believes in Moldova. The facts prove it. The future is in your hands, dear citizens of the Republic of Moldova, we are close.

Mr President, Commissioner, the lack of doctors and, in general, of medical staff in hospitals and beyond is already a reality, and a dramatic one. In 2024, the Emergency Hospital for Children in Brasov, Romania's sixth city, had three wards with a single doctor and another ward, the nephrology ward, which closed after the only doctor in that ward retired. It is a single dramatic example illustrating the dangerous situation of lack of health workforce in Romania, but also in the European Union. About 1.2 million doctors, nurses and midwives should find work, they should come to the health systems in the European Union in the coming years. This is the deficit already in 2022. Twenty out of 27 European countries have already reported shortages in their health workforces, with more than a third of doctors and nurses aged 55 or older moving into retirement. It's a silent crisis for now, but it's already life-threatening. We need a plan drawn up by the Commission, the Member States, debated here in Parliament and together with the Council, and we need to remember that the lack of doctors and nurses will soon become a matter of urgency.

Madam President, today I speak to you not only as a politician, but also as a citizen of Bucharest, the capital with the highest seismic risk in the European Union. In 1977, a devastating earthquake of more than 7 on the Richter scale claimed more than 1,500 lives and injured more than 11,000 people. It is certain that such an earthquake will happen again. Today, almost 50 years after that, half of the schools in Romania were built before 1977. It also accounts for nearly 10,000 schools and probably half of Romania's hospitals. That means that 2 million children and tens of thousands of patients are at seismic risk in my country. If an earthquake like the one in '77 struck again, the consequences would be catastrophic. No single European country can cope with such a disaster on its own. From rapid interventions and medical care to shelters and reconstruction, we urgently need reinforced European coordination mechanisms. I call on Parliament, both the European Commission and the national authorities, to increase investment and prepare.

Mr President, the mental health crisis in our continent casts a long shadow across Europe. As you named it, Commissioner, it's a silent epidemic. Few problems, though, are more serious and threatening than the mental health issues of our children. While the medical aspect of it is paramount, I want to approach the crisis from a societal point of view, intrinsically linked to the scourge of child poverty. Europe is not poor on average, but there are still loads of instances where hunger, insecurity and the lack of opportunity are daily realities. This is the experience of too many children across Europe living in extreme poverty, and the stress of pure existence has a profound impact on their developing minds. Research shows a clear link between child poverty and increased risk of mental health problems. These children face higher rates of anxiety, depression, addictions and behavioural disorders. They are more likely to experience social exclusion and struggle academically. And this isn't just a personal tragedy for these children, it's a crisis for our society. These children are our future and their mental health well-being affects their ability to learn, to form healthy relationships and to contribute to our communities. Eradicating extreme child poverty is not just an act of compassion, it's an investment in a healthier society. We need social safety nets, ensuring families have adequate financial support and access to essential services. We need to invest in early childhood development. And we need to address inequalities.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, the European Union's medical device landscape is undergoing a major transformation. The old rules simply weren't equipped to handle the incredible advances that we've seen over the last couple of years. Let's think sophisticated software, nanotechnologies, 3D printing: game changers that demand a modern regulatory framework. On the other hand, if we're honest, past incidents have raised serious safety concerns. We need stricter regulations to ensure patient safety is paramount. That's where the Medical Devices Regulation should come in. At present, we're facing a bottleneck in notified bodies, increased complexity and costs for manufacturers, and delays in implementing the Eudamed database. Revising the Medical Devices Regulation will boost industry competitiveness, investment and research. As a liberal, all of these are close to my heart because I think medical industry advancement is the key to providing quality medical services to our patients. At the same time, medicine is not just an industry and a business. I will support regulation that favours the medical industry as long as I can see a clear guarantee that all advancements are in our patients' best interest.