EMA Head Calls for More EU Powers on Drug Access
The European Union should play a greater role in ensuring access to new medicines, said Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
She argued that the EU should be given greater authority in an area currently handled by individual member states, particularly in ensuring the availability of new medicines after approval. “We need more Europe”, Cooke said at the Reuters Pharma Europe 2026 event in Barcelona.
She highlighted the need for stronger EU-wide coordination in healthcare and access to innovative medicines. At present, decisions on how new treatments reach patients remain largely with national governments.
Cooke said a greater role for the EU could help ensure medicines are more widely available to patients across member states.