Interviews

EU must take lead role on pharma, and patient access, says Czech minister

I don’t regret backing von der Leyen, says Greens chief Eickhout

Efforts to simplify EU laws are spinning out of control, under pressure from "nasty" corporate lobbyists and the centre-right EPP, Eickhout argues

INTERVIEW: Oil and gas at risk from EU’s ‘crazy’ methane rules, lobby chief warns

Lobby chief François-Régis Mouton denounced the law that could allow governments to fine oil and gas companies up to 20% of their annual turnover. He warned the penalties could lead oil and gas companies to pull out of Europe.

Belgian MEP Sommen says ‘predictability is vital’ from pharma trilogue

As Commissioner Várhelyi pushes to finalise a pharma deal in 2025, the Belgian MEP sees common institutional approaches emerging, but she cautions against a system that rewards only marginal improvements.

INTERVIEW: Climate commissioner says EU needs to be ‘street smart’ in how it meets green targets

EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra says his plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions to a tenth of 1990 levels is not only feasible, but essential for Europe's economy and security.

Trump’s pharma policy may boost Europe’s medical autonomy, health economist says

Health economist Kostas Athanassakis warns Trump’s drug pricing plan could backfire if it relies on pressuring Europe.

Socialist MEP warns Commission against weakening CAP’s labour protections

“It’s almost an industrial-scale organisation of worker exploitation,” Ceulemans said, describing the living conditions of migrant workers.

Military spending splurge ‘risk factor’ for EU economy, says Denmark

Stephanie Lose told Euractiv that Europe’s defence build-up must be combined with “wise decisions” to lower debt and deficit levels.

EU spending watchdog pours cold water on Commission’s reform-for-cash budget plan

The "main problem" with a recovery-fund style model is "we don't even have a basis for saying whether it worked well or not," the EU's chief auditor told Euractiv.

Europe must reclaim medicine production, focus on prevention

In an interview with Euractiv, Adam Vojtěch, former Czech health minister, warns that dependence on countries like China has become a security issue, especially for essential medicines such as antibiotics.

US Patriot missile maker counts on Europe to increase missile production

“We’re also incrementally increasing our capacity in the United States, but the real step function is the German capacity," Tom Laliberty, the head of land and air-defence systems, said.

INTERVIEW: Phasing out temporary protection for Ukrainians is a good strategy, EU’s new Ukraine envoy Johansson says

But "whether it's successful or not is too early to say, because the situation on the ground in Ukraine is changing every hour, and the war is still ongoing."

INTERVIEW: We can have it both ways on Israel and Gaza, leader of German Greens says

As Europe's Greens near a compromise on Israel and Gaza, Felix Banaszak defended the German Greens' insistence on a nuanced stance on the matter.

Immunology should lead all research, says French biocluster chief

For Denis Bertin, immunotherapy is Europe’s chance to lead in the strategic pharmaceutical sector.

Saab CEO warns EU there’s a ‘premium to pay’ for long-term defence

"If you want an ammunition capability that can ramp up quickly in a conflict situation ... there will be a premium to pay for having it ready," Micael Johansson told Euractiv.

‘Fix ageing health systems now’ says Czechia’s young doctors’ leader

Health systems are failing young doctors, they want patients, not paperwork, says Albert Štěrba, chairman of the Czech Young Doctors Association.

‘Four decades ago, Spain returned to its European home’ says former Spanish ambassador to the EU

In this interview, Ambassador García-Berdoy shares his insights on how Spain’s accession to the ECC brought the Iberian country back to the European and international arena following the end of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.

‘Keep cool’ with the US, Barnier says in interview on trade, China, Brexit and France 

Barnier: "Better to be together in today’s world—with Russian and American aggression, and the rise of China."

With no patents there is no innovation, Bayer’s sustainability chief says

Gene-edited crops "will reach the market in a way that is going to change agriculture," he says.

UK must show EU it ‘can be trusted again’, minister says

Hilary Benn did not give a timeline for a final sanitary and phytosanitary deal to ease trade frictions.

‘We’ve got your back’, Europe will defend pharma sector, says S&D’s Van Brempt

European Parliament lawmakers visiting Washington, D.C. voiced concern about the US Section 232 pharmaceutical sector investigation. They expect the Commission to speak up.

EXCLUSIVE: Cold War spy-turned-MEP defends Moscow trip

Fernand Kartheiser, who faces expulsion from the right-wing ECR group, told Euractiv his trip to Russia was "to break the ice."