EU-maatregelen voor de behandeling en voorkoming van ziekten zoals kanker, hart- en vaatziekten, neurologische aandoeningen en mazelen (debat)

  Przewodnicząca. – Kolejnym punktem porządku dziennego jest oświadczenie Komisji w sprawie unijnych działań dotyczących leczenia i profilaktyki takich chorób jak nowotwory, choroby układu krążenia, choroby neurologiczne oraz odra (2025/2696(RSP)).

  Costas Kadis, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, in a strong European Health Union we should work to protect EU citizens from diseases, promote healthy living and foster innovation that supports these goals. The Commission is committed to delivering a European Health Union that helps improve the health of all our citizens, no matter where they live in the European Union.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the EU. Many of these deaths are premature. In the EU, 24 % of deaths among men before the age of 65 and 17 % of deaths among women before the age of 65 are due to cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders share common risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking and obesity.

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, accounting for around 15-20 % of dementia cases in Europe. The Commission has started work on an ambitious and robust EU cardiovascular health plan. It will draw inspiration from the success of Europe's Beating Cancer plan. Like the cancer plan, we will look at addressing key issues like prevention, early detection and screening, and treatment and care. We see a key role for innovative and personalised tools, including the European health data space, as well as new technologies like digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The cardiovascular plan will also build on existing efforts, in particular the Healthcare Together initiative, which helps Member States and stakeholders take action on non-communicable diseases.

The second leading cause of death in the EU is cancer. The cancer plan was adopted in 2021, backed by significant EU funding. We published a review of the cancer plan in February which showed that 90 % of its actions have either been concluded or are ongoing in the area of prevention. This includes the Council recommendation on vaccine‑preventable cancers. This aims to encourage higher uptake of vaccinations against HPV and hepatitis B.

Moreover, the Council recommendation on smoke- and aerosol‑free environments is a step towards a tobacco‑free generation by 2040. To build on this, we will evaluate and revise the EU's tobacco legislation to enable every cancer patient to access high quality diagnosis and treatment. Member States will this year set up an EU network of comprehensive cancer centres under a joint action funded with EUR 90 million.

The European Health Union is also about tackling infectious diseases. Measles is a serious disease and highly contagious. The recent spike in measles cases in Europe has already caused several deaths in Romania this year, yet measles can be avoided through vaccination. The outbreaks experienced by some Member States over the last 12 months can be linked to vaccination coverage below recommended levels, so I encourage everyone to ensure that they and their families are protected against this life‑threatening disease. The Commission will continue to work with Member States to improve vaccination coverage. We will also promote robust vaccination programmes and secure supplies of vaccines in the EU.

As we build our European Health Union, we should put innovation at its heart. One promising avenue is biotechnology. Biotechnology could help us to better identify diseases, step up prevention, develop new, increasingly personalised medicines and provide new ways to develop, test and administer treatments. But the EU is not yet making the most of biotech. EU companies are not competitive enough and face too many barriers when it comes to turning ideas into products. This is why the Commission will propose a European Biotech Act. It will help companies bring products from the lab to the factory and onto the market.

The Biotech Act will complement the ongoing revision of the pharmaceutical legislation. This already includes many measures to streamline and modernise the regulatory framework for medicines, especially for breakthrough therapies. Innovation will be a driving principle of the upcoming targeted review of the Medical Devices Regulation. The new rules will be more fit for the purpose. They will deliver medical devices to the patients in a more timely manner, and will create a more competitive environment for our industries.

On breakthrough technologies, we have adopted regulatory pathways to quickly reach patients, especially children and rare‑disease patients, without compromising safety. Europe is losing ground in the field of clinical trials. Therefore, we will carry out an assessment of the current legislation and amend it to provide for a more efficient framework to make Europe a world leader in medical research and innovation.

Honourable Members, we are better able to face public health challenges if we act together. This is why the Commission is committed to building a strong and innovative European Health Union. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to receiving your views.

  Tomislav Sokol, u ime kluba PPE. – Poštovana predsjedavajuća, povjereniče, kolegice i kolege, Europska unija je kroz godine pokazala da zajedničkim djelovanjem može postići velike rezultate za zdravlje naših građana. Jedan od najvažnijih primjera je europski plan za borbu protiv raka koji predstavlja prvu sveobuhvatnu strategiju protiv ove opake bolesti, od prevencije i istraživanja preko liječenja do poboljšanja kvalitete života osoba koje su preboljele rak.

Sljedeći korak je donošenje europskog plana za kardiovaskularne bolesti koje su vodeći uzrok smrtnosti u Europi. On mora imati jasno definirane ciljeve, konkretno financiranje i jasan vremenski okvir za provedbu. Samo tako možemo postići stvarni napredak i smanjiti teret koji ove bolesti predstavljaju za naše zdravstvene sustave, gospodarstvo i obitelj.

Uz to, inzistiramo, kao što smo više puta rekli na ovoj govornici, na donošenju europskog plana za rijetke bolesti jer su oboljeli od rijetkih bolesti i njihove obitelji predugo bili na margini zdravstvenih politika, često prepušteni sami sebi, suočeni s nedostatkom dijagnoza, terapija i sustavne podrške. Za 95 % njih još uvijek ne postoji lijek i vrijeme je da se to promijeni.

Na kraju, građani od nas s pravom očekuju konkretan europski plan za neurološke bolesti koji bi svakako trebao uključiti i mentalne bolesti koje su u dramatičnom porastu, osobito među mladima.

Da bismo sve ovo ostvarili zdravstvo mora ostati prioritet i u okviru sljedećeg sedmogodišnjeg proračuna jer ulaganje u njega nije trošak, već jedna od najisplativijih investicija, što pokazuju brojne studije. Ne smijemo dopustiti da se zdravstvo utopi u različite proračunske programe jer bi to značilo da se vraćamo u vrijeme kad je ono predstavljalo marginalnu temu u EU institucijama.

Kolegice i kolege, zdravstvo mora ostati prioritet u djelovanju EU‑a i pozivam na zajedničko djelovanje svih političkih grupacija da se to i ostvari.

  Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, the rise of certain non‑communicable diseases in the European Union is increasingly concerning. If we fail to act and learn from past experiences, like the COVID‑19 pandemic, we risk facing new outbreaks and epidemics.

Twenty years ago, the European Union made a commitment to eliminate measles – to be measles‑free. Yet we are still far from that goal. The situation is further aggravated by growing societal scepticism, fuelled by misinformation and spread of unproven claims. In 2024, measles cases in the EU surged dramatically with over 32 000 reported diagnoses. This sharp increase highlights serious gaps in vaccination coverage, as 86 % of those infected had not been vaccinated.

In an age where measles is entirely preventable through vaccination, it is unacceptable that this disease continues to spread, especially knowing that measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. To prevent further outbreaks, it is essential to ensure that at least 95 % of the population is vaccinated.

Unfortunately, vaccination rates remain insufficient in many European countries. Governments must prioritise strong vaccination campaigns and actively combat vaccine hesitancy to protect public health. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine remains the most effective tool to prevent measles, and we must also work to harmonise vaccination schedules across Member States to ensure this.

This is why it is crucial to foster collaboration among Member States, recognising that in the Schengen zone, where people can move freely across borders, disease can easily spread between countries. Additionally, the shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in regions with insufficient medical staff, particularly nurses, further contributes to lower vaccination rates. The recent outbreaks in Romania, along with nearly 20 preventable deaths, serve as a stark reminder to the urgency of this issue. These tragic losses highlight the need for immediate actions.

HERA must also address the state of crisis preparedness and take steps to prevent the situation from escalating further. In a world where vaccines are widely available, measles should no longer be a threat. As cases continue to rise, collective action is urgently needed to protect vulnerable populations.

  Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, en nombre del Grupo PfE. – Señora presidente, señor comisario, señorías, Europa no puede mirar hacia otro lado cuando hablamos de excelencia en salud. Nuestra cultura ha estado siempre orientada al desarrollo de la ciencia y las humanidades. Hemos formado generaciones de investigadores y profesionales sanitarios con talento, guiados por el compromiso con el bien común.

Tenemos una responsabilidad de liderazgo, no solo por capacidad, también por principios, para que la salud esté guiada por el deseo de sanar, de proteger la vida, de acompañar y aliviar el sufrimiento, para que esté al servicio de la persona, y no de intereses ajenos a ella.

Es imprescindible recordar que el cáncer se cobra la vida de casi 1,3 millones de personas en la Unión Europea al año. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares siguen siendo la principal causa de muerte y los trastornos neurológicos afectan a más de siete millones de personas. Debemos, como Europa, avanzar conjuntamente, compartir buenas prácticas entre Estados miembros. Apostemos por una Europa de cooperación, que intercambie experiencias eficaces y que se apoye mutuamente, siempre teniendo en cuenta las particularidades y necesidades de cada país.

Los próximos años pueden ser revolucionarios para la medicina. Las nuevas herramientas —como la biotecnología o la medicina personalizada— ya hacen posible que nos enfrentemos a enfermedades que antes eran intratables. Sin embargo, su potencial se ve limitado por un marco regulatorio que dificulta transformar la investigación en soluciones reales para los pacientes. Las pymes, que lideran la innovación, se ven especialmente afectadas, también por la falta de financiación en las primeras etapas del desarrollo. Si queremos que Europa avance en salud y en innovación, necesitamos un entorno coherente y favorable que facilite la inversión y acelere la llegada de nuevos tratamientos a los pacientes.

Por supuesto, se exige también una apuesta igualmente clara por los cuidados. Tenemos la posibilidad de ofrecer opciones esperanzadoras a todos aquellos que sufren enfermedades, no solo en cuanto a diagnóstico y a tratamiento, sino también en cuanto a acompañamiento.

No es casualidad que cuanto menos se valora la vida, más se deterioran los sistemas sanitarios. En España, tenemos problemas gravísimos: listas de espera interminables, falta de profesionales sanitarios —y los que hay tienen que hacer jornadas maratonianas de trabajo—, miles de personas que mueren esperando acceder a cuidados paliativos... Pero, claro, ¿quién va a querer invertir en salud si no valoramos la vida? Resulta espeluznante pensar que hay países —como España— en los que la única alternativa que se ofrece a las personas con enfermedades graves sea la muerte, sea la eutanasia. No podemos resignarnos a un modelo sanitario que mida su eficacia por costes o por ideologías, sino por su capacidad de cuidar, de sanar, de respetar profundamente la vida humana en todas sus etapas.

Frente al sufrimiento, nuestra respuesta debe ser más humanidad, más compromiso, más inversión en salud, investigación y también cuidados paliativos. Si Europa quiere ser referente en innovación, también debe ser referente en el respeto a la dignidad de la persona.

  Aurelijus Veryga, ECR frakcijos vardu. – Kolegos. Sveikata yra ne viskas, bet be sveikatos viskas yra niekas. Deja, dažnu atveju tą suprantame pavėluotai. Gaila, kad ir šiandien plačios ir labai skirtingos sveikatos temos – infekcinės ir lėtinės neinfekcinės ligos, kurioms reikalingi labai skirtingi sprendimai, yra suplaktos į vieną diskusiją. Labai gerai, kad Europos Komisija turi ambiciją šioje kadencijoje išplėsti veiklą, įtraukiant ne tik onkologinių ligų, bet ir širdies kraujagyslių ligų įveikos planą. Ir šioje kadencijoje bus ne viena proga pademonstruoti mūsų rimtą nusiteikimą imtis šių sveikatos problemų sprendimo. Pradėkime nuo to, kad jokiomis aplinkybėmis nebegalima leisti pasikartoti, kad būtų sumažintas finansavimas sveikatos programų ir mokslinių tyrimų finansavimui. Norėčiau tikėti ir tikėtis, kad išlaidos sveikatai sekančiame MFF neliks paskutinėje vietoje, kaip ši diskusija plenarinėje sesijoje, nes visada atsiranda svarbesnių reikalų. O nuveikti reikia labai daug. Ir nors sveikata yra šalių narių kompetencija, tačiau yra sričių, kur bendras veikimas galėtų prisidėti prie visų šalių narių problemų sprendimo. Turėsime ieškoti sveikatos specialistų trūkumo problemos sprendimų. Iš siūlymų, kuriuos šiandien girdžiu, jie ne tik nespręstų problemas, bet jas gilintų. Labai džiaugiuosi Komisijos ambicija dėl ypatingos reikšmės vaisto akto, kuris gali ir turėtų sukurti galimybę vaistų gamintojams sugrįžti ir veikti Europos Sąjungoje, o bendri vaistų pirkimai gali pagreitinti inovatyvių vaistų prieinamumą valstybėse narėse, ypač mažosiose, kurios šiuo metu yra nepatrauklios kaip mažos rinkos. XXI amžiuje onkologiniai pacientai skirtingose šalyse turi skirtingas galimybes gauti gydymą ir pagalbą, o kai kurie yra priversti net bylinėtis, kad tokią pagalbą gautų. Tai yra nepriimtina. Šiandien daug ir pagrįstai kalbame apie gynybos pajėgumų didinimą ir saugumo stiprinimą. Tačiau realybė yra tokia, kad negebama užauginti sveikos jaunosios kartos. Ir nemaža dalis jų dėl sveikatos problemų yra netinkami karinei tarnybai. Šioje kadencijoje turėsime galimybę peržiūrėti Tabako produktų direktyvą, ir noriu tikėti, kad ją peržiūrint sveikata bus prioritetas ir kad užteks išminties tvarkytis su Europa užplūdusi naujais produktais, tokiais kaip elektroninės cigaretės, nes jau šiandien turime daugiau nei pakankamai duomenų, kad jos nesprendžia, o kuria naujas sveikatos problemas.

  Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, în numele grupului Renew. – Doamnă președintă, de obicei nu avem timp de povești aici. O să încep astăzi cu o poveste: pe 21 septembrie 2016 eram ministrul sănătății în România. 2016! Institutul Național de Sănătate Publică m-a informat atunci despre o creștere de la 7 la 675 de cazuri de rujeolă confirmate în România. Din 21 septembrie 2016 am declarat epidemie de rujeolă în România. De atunci, epidemia de rujeolă din România nu s-a încheiat. Au urmat mai multe guverne conduse, culmea, de socialiști. Acei socialiști, aceiași socialiști care astăzi refuză să sprijine singurul candidat pro-european din cursa pentru prezidențiale. Iar astăzi, conform Organizației Mondiale a Sănătății, România conduce clasamentul cazurilor de rujeolă raportate în 2024 - peste 30 000. Următoarele state sunt Kazahstan, Federația Rusă, Azerbaidjan și Marea Britanie.

Dacă Uniunea Europeană, doamnelor și domnilor, face ceva în domeniul sănătății, atunci una dintre priorități trebuie să fie bolile infecțioase. În țara mea, rata de vaccinare împotriva rujeolei cu prima doză este de 78 %, cu a doua este de 62 %. Doar patru țări din UE, din întreaga Uniune Europeană, ating pragul de recomandat de 95 %. Aceste țări merită felicitări și aceste țări sunt: Ungaria, Malta, Portugalia și Slovacia.

Dar din totalul de cazuri de rujeolă în toată Uniunea Europeană, 87 % provin din România în 2024, 87 %!

În Uniunea Europeană, doamnelor și domnilor, și în întreaga lume astăzi se duce o bătălie împotriva adevărului și împotriva științei. Am văzut în România, am văzut și în alte state de peste tot de pe glob cum adevărul științific este călcat în picioare de politicieni și de alte forțe din societate. Dacă vrem o Uniune Europeană care protejează cu adevărat cetățenii, atunci, doamnelor și domnilor, asta este bătălia pe care trebuie să o câștigăm. Forțele politice responsabile și societatea civilă onestă trebuie să acționeze ferm împotriva dezinformării criminale cu falsuri medicale, pentru că cele mai multe forțe extremiste de care vorbim astăzi, cele mai multe forțe politice care cresc pe minciună și dezinformare, forțe politice pe care le combatem și aici, și în țările noastre, haideți să fim onești, au crescut pe spinarea celui mai traumatic eveniment planetar din ultimul deceniu. Și acesta a fost, cu siguranță, pandemia.

Dacă pierdem știința și adevărul ca bază fundamentală a realității, societatea în sine, toate societățile noastre nu vor putea supraviețui.

  Tilly Metz, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, dear Commissioner, when we speak about diseases like cancer, heart conditions, neurological disorders or measles, we don't speak in abstract terms – we are speaking about our neighbours, our parents, our children. Every one of us has a story. Every one of us knows someone affected. That's why our response must be human, bold and forward-looking.

Let's start with the obvious: prevention works, and yet it's still the most neglected part of our health system. We spend billions on treatment, but far too little on stopping disease before it begins. We need to invest in the conditions that keep people healthy: clean air, clean water, affordable and healthy food, decent housing.

That is why policies like the European Green Deal and the common agricultural policy play a crucial role. Those are not environmental luxuries; they are essential tools for protecting public health.

We need also to address one of the elephants in the room: tobacco. It's still one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in Europe. It's time to stop dancing around this issue. We urgently need to revise the EU's tobacco legislation, including tax rules. Recently, 16 Member States called for a revision – higher taxes, plain packaging, a total ban on advertising, including for newer products like heated tobacco or e-cigarettes. Our legislation must catch up with reality.

Dear colleagues, prevention alone is not enough. We must guarantee affordable and timely access to effective treatment for all, regardless of income or geography. That means making pharmaceutical legislation and innovation conditional on affordability. It means demanding transparency on pricing and research and development costs. Yes, it also means redesigning the way we reward medical innovation so that public investment leads to public benefit.

Finally, we need to stop only reacting to crises and start planning ahead. So Europe needs a comprehensive strategy on non-communicable diseases – we need to stop thinking in silos – that looks across health systems, environment, agriculture and education and social policy.

Prevention and treatment must include protection also for women's health. That is another aspect; a gender-sensitive approach is needed.

So let's act with courage, let's act with care and let's act now, because lives depend on it.

  Milan Mazurek, za skupinu ESN. – Vážená pani predsedajúca, myslíte, že ľudia zabudli, že vám skutočne ľudia odpustili a že si nepamätajú, čo Leyenovej Európska komisia urobila stovkám miliónov obyvateľov Európskej únie počas doby, ktorú ja nazývam doba korona-teroru? Myslíte, že zabudli, že to bola Európska komisia, ktorá vzala stovkám miliónov obyvateľov ľudské práva a rovnako ako v minulosti nacisti či komunisti rozdelila ľudí na hodných a nehodných, na tých, ktorí si mohli ľudské práva nechať, a tých, ktorým boli vzaté? Bol som jeden z tých, ktorý nemohol navštevovať ani telocvične, verejné podujatia a nemohol vychádzať z domu, pretože vaše projekty covidpasov vzali ľuďom práva a keď sa ľudia nezaočkovali, keď ľudia nepodstupovali nezmyselné testy, tak ste im jednoducho neumožňovali žiť normálny život. Spomeňte si na to, koľkým desiatkam miliónov ľudí ste zruinovali ich podnikanie, koľkým deťom ste vzali budúcnosť, koľko sociálnych samovrážd ľudí, ktorých ste dotlačili na dno, ste spôsobili? Koľko zla, násilia a nenávisti ste v spoločnosti napáchali? A to len preto, aby Európska komisia mohla do svojich rúk získať ďalšie práva, ďalšiu kontrolu nad životmi slobodných ľudí, obmedziť národné štáty a robiť si nechutný miliardový biznis cez esemesky prostredníctvom pani Leyenovej. Gigantický konflikt záujmov, ktorý v tomto pléne stále nebol vyšetrený, na ktorého vyšetrenie čakajú občania vo všetkých členských štátoch. Len vy kryjete zločinnosti tejto Európskej komisie. A potom, keď tu predstúpite a poviete, že vy chcete predchádzať chorobám, že vy chcete chrániť zdravie ľudí a hovoríte, že chcete podporovať napríklad fyzickú kondíciu? Vy, tí istí ľudia, ktorí zakazovali ľuďom športovať, ktorí prikazovali ľudí trestať len preto, že chceli ísť cvičiť, športovať či behať niekde na verejnosť. Kto vám má po tom všetkom ešte veriť? Každý zmýšľajúci občan už vidí, že kedykoľvek, keď Európska komisia začne hovoriť o tom, že by mala získať ďalšiu kontrolu, právomoci a možnosti pre to, aby chránila ľudí, tak je v skutočnosti presný opak pravdou. V skutočnosti chcete kompetencie a možnosti pre to, aby ste mohli opätovne robiť svoje biznisy. Aby opätovne niektorí vyvolení mohli rozkrádať peniaze daňových poplatníkov a chcete ďalšiu kontrolu a moc, aby ste ľuďom mohli vziať ich práva a uvrhnúť ich život do absolútnej totality, pretože to je skutočná podstata a charakter tejto Komisie. Museli by mi skutočne ruky dolámať, aby som hlasoval za ďalšie právomoci a kompetencie či rozpočet pre takúto Európsku komisiu.

  Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, across Europe, millions of citizens are affected by diseases that could be prevented, treated earlier and managed better if we act together.

That is why I fully support the EU's stepped-up efforts on health, particularly in tackling cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases and preventing avoidable illnesses like measles. Cancer alone claims nearly 1.3 million lives in the EU each year, but through initiatives like Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, we are finally taking a coordinated approach and investing in research, screening, early detection and better access to treatment across Member States.

I am proud that Irish researchers, institutions and clinicians are playing a key role in this. Cardiovascular and neurological diseases are among the leading causes of disability and death in Europe. Yet too often, they do not get the attention they deserve.

We need targeted strategies, strong support for cross-border research, and public-awareness campaigns that reach citizens in every region, including rural communities, like many in my own constituency in Ireland South.

Let us be clear. The resurgence of measles in parts of Europe is both tragic and preventable. We must not allow misinformation to roll back decades of progress in public health. Vaccination saves lives. Full stop. We must ensure that no matter where you live in Europe, you have access to the care you need.

  Christophe Clergeau (S&D). – Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire, la révolution que j'appelle de mes vœux, c'est la révolution de la prévention. Car soigner est indispensable et il faut le faire mieux, mais ce n'est pas une fin en soi. L'objectif, c'est de bien vivre et de bien vieillir, en bonne santé. Cela passe par la prévention, qui est le meilleur des investissements, tandis que la non-action, au contraire, se traduit par des millions de morts et par des milliards d'euros de dépenses inutiles.

Alors oui, nous avons besoin des grands programmes de santé publique existants – comme celui contre le cancer – ou annoncés par la Commission. Pour nous, la priorité, c'est un grand programme pour la santé mentale et un grand programme pour la santé des femmes.

Cependant, nous devons avant tout prévenir les maladies en agissant sur les déterminants de la santé. Agir contre la pauvreté, la précarité, le mal-logement, la précarité énergétique et alimentaire, le rationnement des soins. Agir contre le tabac et la malbouffe: ce sont des catastrophes sanitaires qui résultent de décennies de lobbying et de manipulation par les grands intérêts économiques. Il nous faut impérativement réviser la directive sur le tabac pour combattre les fausses alternatives à la cigarette, qui sont des dangers majeurs pour la santé publique. Nous avons aussi besoin d'un programme législatif concernant l'alimentation, pour combattre les pratiques et les produits dangereux, mieux informer les consommateurs et interdire – oui, interdire! – la publicité pour la malbouffe.

Enfin, nous devons agir contre les effets cumulés de notre environnement sur nos organismes, cette cause émergente de l'explosion des maladies chroniques, des cancers, mais aussi des maladies dégénératives ou des maladies de la douleur. Alors oui, les pollutions, les pesticides, les produits chimiques, les PFAS sont un cocktail terrible qui ruine notre santé. Dans ce domaine, c'est la santé qui doit être la ligne directrice de notre action. Nous sommes à la veille de choix politiques drastiques: prévenir, prévenir et prévenir, c'est le seul choix possible pour le bien-être des Européens.

  Manuela Ripa (PPE). – Frau Präsidentin! Krebs und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen gehören zu den Gesundheitsgefahren unserer Zeit. Gut ist: Viele dieser Erkrankungen sind vermeidbar. Ein zentraler Hebel dabei ist gesunde Ernährung. Doch gesunde Ernährung darf kein Luxus sein. Wenn wir es ernst meinen mit der Vorsorge, dann müssen wir gesunde Lebensmittel günstiger machen, zum Beispiel durch die Senkung der Mehrwertsteuer auf Obst und Gemüse. Gleichzeitig müssen wir ungesunde, stark verarbeitete Produkte angehen. Denn sie belasten nicht nur unseren Körper, sondern auch unser Gesundheitssystem und damit die Allgemeinheit.

Besonders schutzbedürftig sind unsere Kinder. Werbung für ungesunde Lebensmittel, die sich gezielt an sie richtet, muss nicht sein. Kinder sollen lernen, was ihrem Körper guttut, nicht, was sich am besten verkauft. Genauso wichtig ist der informierte Verbraucher. Wer gesund einkaufen will, braucht klar verständliche Nährwertkennzeichnungen.

Doch wir müssen auch über psychische Erkrankungen sprechen und hier über den übermäßigen Konsum sozialer Medien, gerade bei Jugendlichen. Studien zeigen, dass ständiges Scrollen, Reizüberflutung und digitaler Stress das Risiko für Depressionen und Konzentrationsprobleme erhöhen können. Deshalb müssen wir auf europäischer Ebene dringend dafür sorgen, dass unsere Kinder besser geschützt werden. Dazu gehört Aufklärung in der Schule, aber auch Aufklärung der Eltern und eine stärkere Verantwortung der Plattformen. Süchtig machende Algorithmen ebnen den Weg zu einer neuen Volkskrankheit, und das schon in sehr jungen Jahren. Gesundheit ist mehr als die Abwesenheit von Krankheit. Sie beginnt mit Bildung, Schutz und den richtigen politischen Rahmenbedingungen für ein gesundes Europa.

  Laurent Castillo (PPE). – Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues, tout le monde parle de prévention, mais trop peu la mettent en œuvre. Pourquoi? Parce que ses effets prennent du temps et trop d'élus préfèrent des résultats immédiats. Pourtant, c'est là que tout commence: mieux vivre, désengorger les hôpitaux, réduire les coûts. 1 euro investi en prévention, c'est jusqu'à 6 euros d'économies. Prévenir, c'est voir loin.

Si certains États manquent de courage, alors soyons exemplaires à l'échelle européenne. Après le plan cancer, engageons-nous avec la même ambition contre les maladies cardiovasculaires. Lançons un vrai plan européen de lutte contre l'obésité. La santé des Européens n'est pas un slogan, c'est un combat. Et ce combat commence par la prévention.

Zgłoszenia z sali

  András Tivadar Kulja (PPE). – Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, I'm a bit disappointed to see so few of us here in person for this debate, especially as we are talking about diseases that pose an increasing burden on our ageing society across Europe.

Cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological conditions cause the death of more than 3 million Europeans each year. In the case of cardiovascular diseases alone, 1.3 million of these deaths could be avoided with better prevention, early detection and access to modern, affordable healthcare.

That's why, along with the European Beating Cancer Plan, we also need strong support and funding for the European Cardiovascular Health Action Plan. To achieve our goals, we must have a truly holistic approach to recognise how physical, mental and brain health are deeply connected.

We have a great responsibility: people are counting on us to act on healthcare, and we also see that where healthcare is declining, extremism is growing. Strengthening healthcare not only helps people, it also protects democracy.

  Lukas Sieper (NI). – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Menschen Europas, verehrter Herr Kommissar! Ich danke Ihnen und den ganzen Kollegen hier für die wichtige Arbeit. Ich möchte zum Abschluss noch einmal das Licht auf zwei Aspekte werfen, die auch angesprochen wurden: Das eine ist die Aufklärung, und das andere ist auch die psychologische Betreuung, die im Umfeld von Krankheiten relevant werden kann.

Wir haben da gerade ein leuchtendes Beispiel gesehen bei der Rede des Kollegen Mazurek, der offensichtlich aufgrund mangelnder Aufklärung nicht den Mut hatte, eine wichtige Impfung vorzunehmen, und aufgrund dessen dann gezwungen war, über eine lange Zeit zu Hause zu bleiben, dem sozialen Leben entrissen war und bis heute sichtbar schwere Nachwirkungen davonträgt. Ich denke, wir müssen alle zusammenarbeiten, um den Menschen in Europa die Gesundheit zu geben, die sie verdienen, weil Gesundheit etwas ist, was uns alle angeht.

  Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă (NI). – Doamnă președintă, da, îi acuzi pe alții că sunt bolnavi mintal dar tu nu te duci să te cauți.

Este impardonabil că permiteți aici jignirea unui coleg, în condițiile în care numai dacă ești medic și numai dacă s-a consultat la tine ai posibilitatea să îți expui un punct de vedere. Din punctul meu de vedere, ca avocat, eu l-aș baga direct în închisoare pe domnul care a vorbit înainte de Mazurek. Este impardonabil ceea ce acceptați, aceste jigniri.

Doi la mână, vorbiți de prevenție. Nu veți face niciodată prevenție, pentru că dumneavoastră aveți relații cu Big Pharma. Și acestea au reieșit foarte clar în cazul vaccinării anti-Covid, un vaccin experimental. Dacă vă interesa, în conformitate cu articolul 5 din Convenția de la Oviedo, toate vaccinurile erau experimentale. Eu însămi am luat informațiile de pe site-ul Pfizer și Modena și toate celelalte producătoare.

Vreau să vă spun că, pe cât acuzați dumneavoastră Cuba de dictatură, Cuba a reușit să eradicheze rujeola, în timp ce în Europa este explozie de rujeolă. Foarte interesant. Da, dați cu bastonașul, că pe noi ne interziceți, iar pe ai dumneavoastră îi lăsați. E rușinos ce faceți cu afacerile cu vaccinuri.

(Koniec zgłoszeń z sali)

  Costas Kadis, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members, thank you. I will be very brief.

First, let me thank you for your insight. It is obvious also from this discussion that diseases, both infectious and non-infectious, are a key public health challenge. During this mandate, the Commission will step up work on promoting health and preventing diseases. We will also ensure that innovation does not stay in the laboratory but can reach and help patients.

To this end. As I mentioned in my introductory remarks, the Commission intends to propose a European Biotech Act. Together, we can work towards better policies, programs and initiatives that support patients.

In turn, that will also reduce the social and economic costs of these diseases. And I'm sure our conversations on this important topics will continue.

  Lukas Sieper (NI). – Madam President, my personal statement will be quite short. I hope the colleague over there listens.

I just want to tell you that I am, in fact, in psychological treatment, because you can go to therapy here in Parliament for free. I think, in this toxic work environment, with the long hours that we have, it's good for everyone.

So, go to the medical service, go to therapy like I do. Highly recommended.

  Przewodnicząca. – Zamykam debatę.