Speeches

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.