Pressrum 

A draft law to make smoking less attractive to the young by banning the use of "characterised" flavours such as strawberry or menthol in tobacco products was backed by Public Health Committee MEPs on Wednesday. But they also amended the draft to require health warnings on every side of a cigarette pack and ban slim cigarettes and "attractive" packaging.

Draft legislation agreed with the Council of Ministers to make tobacco products less attractive to young people was endorsed by Public Health Committee MEPs on Wednesday. This legislation, updating the EU Tobacco Directive, would require all packs to carry a health warning covering 65% of their surface. E-cigarettes would be regulated, either as medicinal products, if they make quit claims, or as tobacco products.

Health MEPs quizzed the EMA’s Executive Director on Tuesday on the current situation around COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, as well as the Agency’s future role.

Parliament’s committee in charge of public health questioned Commissioners Kyriakides and Lenarčič on how to best step up the EU’s response and coordination to COVID-19.

A European Citizens’ Initiative petition calling for an EU-wide ban on herbicide glyphosate was discussed on Monday with the petitioners and the European Commission.

Ministers outlined the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.

MEPs will evaluate the funding COVID-19 vaccines purchased in advance with Sandra Gallina, Commission Director-General for Health.

The new EU health programme, worth 5.1 billion EUR, will help to fix shortcomings exposed by COVID-19 and boost quality and resilience of EU health systems.

MEPs call on the Commission to put forward rules to stop EU-driven global deforestation through mandatory due diligence for companies placing products on the EU market.

Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee calls for a fact-based approach to the EU vaccines rollout to avoid disinformation.

European Parliament's President Antonio Tajani reacted to the announcement by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change, on Thursday.

MEPs debated ways to secure a quick and safe supply of COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday, with representatives of pharmaceutical companies, research , and civil society.

A provisional deal on the EU programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) to boost EU action in 2021-2027 was agreed with member states.

The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee calls for more EU self- sufficiency and better-coordinated strategies to tackle medicine shortages.

Environment Committee MEPs are in favour of a pathway towards zero-emission road mobility in 2035 for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

MEP’s agree to increase the EU carbon sinks target for land use, land use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) which would de facto increase EU 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target to 57 %.

MEPs want to extend the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to better anticipate, prepare for and manage future health threats.

The EU environment programme until 2030 must accelerate the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient clean and circular economy, the Environment Committee agreed on Tuesday.

The Internal Market Committee proposed a series of measures to strengthen consumer protection and enhance product safety and sustainability.

Parlamentet arbetar tillsammans med EU-länderna för att se till att andningsutrustning, masker och andra medicinska hjälpmedel som behövs på sjukhus i hela EU finns tillgängligt att köpa.