Emma Pirnay
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Health reporter @politicoeurope • CPCJ @nssrnews
Say hello: epirnay@politico.eu
Articles by Emma Pirnay
Belgium postpones terrace smoking ban
People in Belgium will be able to smoke at restaurant terraces for a little while longer after the government announced it would be delaying its outdoor ban planned for early 2027. The federal government planned to prohibit smoking outside cafés and eateries as a public health measure from Jan. 1 , spearheaded by social democrat Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke.
POLITICO Pro: EU trade chief hints at future response to Trump’s drug pricing policy
The European Commission will discuss drug pricing concerns raised by EU countries and pharmaceutical companies as they navigate U.S. pressures, Brussels’ trade chief told POLITICO today. Ireland invited several ministers — including from Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy — alongside industry to discuss their life sciences sector and the impact of Washington’s pressure on European countries to pay more for medicines.
La course à la direction de l'OMS met à l'épreuve son financement et ses relations avec les États-Unis
L’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) est en quête d’un nouveau dirigeant, qui devra relever l’immense défi de gérer ses pressions financières et institutionnelles. La date limite de dépôt des candidatures pour succéder au directeur général Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a été fixée au 24 septembre ; six candidats se sont présentés.
WHO leadership race tests funding and US ties
The logo of the WHO is seen on panel in front of the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) [Photo by Robert Hradil/Getty Images] The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking for a new leader, who will face the immense challenge of navigating its financial and institutional pressures. Nominations to succeed Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus closed on 24 September, with six candidates throwing their hats into the ring.
Critics call US probe into German drug pricing unjustified
President Donald Trump stands in the oval office for a press conference next to Marty Makary, head of the FDA until May 2026 [Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
EXCLUSIF : L'UE souhaite que vous vous fassiez dépister plus tôt pour les maladies cardiaques
L’UE souhaite que la plupart des citoyens bénéficient d’un dépistage plus précoce des maladies cardiaques et d’autres pathologies associées, grâce à des outils numériques tout au long de leur vie, selon un nouveau document obtenu par Euractiv. Bruxelles a lancé fin 2025 un plan visant à réduire le principal fardeau sanitaire de l’Union : les maladies cardiovasculaires.
EXCLUSIVE: EU wants you checking for heart disease earlier
A woman is checking her blood pressure at home [Photo by Thomas Banneyer/picture alliance via Getty Images] The EU wants most citizens to be screened earlier for heart disease and other overlapping conditions, using digital tools across their lifetimes, according to a new document obtained by Euractiv. Brussels launched a plan in late 2025 to curb the bloc’s biggest health burden, cardiovascular disease.
Poland urges EU to freeze wastewater pollution rules
An aerial view of wastewater treatment and recycling facilities [Photo by Sergen Sezgin/Anadolu via Getty Images] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
Pharma, patient groups want a slice of the EU budget
Big Pharma wants a say in the budget, but is pushing against the EU's corporate taxes [Photo by Caglar Oskay/NurPhoto via Getty Images] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
SOTEU: Von der Leyen’s health vision leaves questions unanswered
Ursula von der Leyen delivering the State of the Union speech [European Union , 2026] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations
EU says no easy way forward on stalled WHO pandemic agreement
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during hantavirus press briefing in Spain. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
US drug pricing could push EU prices higher, study finds
A pharmaceutical employee is seen behind glass at Bayer facility. [ Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
Alcohol lobby pushes to keep spirits up in Brussels
Warning label on a Dutch beer bottle [Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images] The spirits lobby has uncorked a fresh defence of moderate drinking as the trend towards sobriety gathers pace. “We can consume alcohol in a responsible way,” Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said in a video message on Tuesday. He was one of many high-level speakers who accepted an invitation from Spirits Europe, one of Brussels’ most influential alcohol lobbies.
Spain pushes for ‘access toolbox’ in EU biotech rules
The Spanish government is pushing ahead with a proposed set of changes to tie new perks for EU drugmakers to better patient access. Under the EU’s new Biotech Act, the bloc has suggested speeding up clinical trial approvals and granting an extra year of patent protection for certain biotech drugmakers through a Supplemental Protection Certificate (SPC). Governments have yet to formally discuss the contentious market benefits.
Legal committee opens new front over EU biotech patent perks
S&D MEP Tiemo Wölken. [Laurie DIEFFEMBACQ/© European Union 2026 - Source : EP] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations
EU regulator takes swing at US splitting MMR vaccine
The combined measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. [The Washington Post] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations
MEPs seek safer EU rules for GMOs and organ donation
MEP Adam Jarubas [European Union 2026] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations
Trump announces slate of new pharma deals with midsized companies
President Donald Trump speaks with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla to announce a deal with Pfizer to lower Medicaid drug prices in the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. [Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum.
Dlhší a kvalitnejší život, alebo nebezpečný biznis? Európania čoraz viac vyhľadávajú lieky na dlhovekosť
Pacienti prichádzajú do ambulancie belgického chirurga Sebastiaana Van Cauwenberghea v Bruggách čoraz častejšie s tým, že týždne študovali videá o peptidoch. Sú to krátke reťazce aminokyselín, stavebných blokov proteínov. Článok pokračuje pod video reklamou Článok pokračuje pod video reklamou Títo ľudia majú najčastejšie od 40 do 50 rokov a najčastejšie sa zaujímajú o injekčné látky, ktoré propagujú ich obľúbení influenceri.
El creciente interés de Europa por los medicamentos para la longevidad
La última moda en Europa en torno a la longevidad ha impulsado un mercado gris en línea en rápido crecimiento de sustancias químicas de investigación no autorizadas, impulsado por el revuelo en las redes sociales y la promesa de vivir más tiempo. Para cuando los pacientes llegan a la consulta de Sebastiaan Van Cauwenberghe en Brujas, muchos ya llevan semanas viendo vídeos sobre péptidos, pequeñas cadenas de aminoácidos, los componentes básicos de las proteínas. Suelen tener entre 40 y 50 años.
L’Europe en quête d’immortalité : l’appétit grandissant pour les produits anti-vieillissement
La dernière tendance européenne en matière de longévité a alimenté un marché parallèle en ligne en pleine expansion, dédié aux produits chimiques de recherche non autorisés, porté par le battage médiatique sur les réseaux sociaux et la promesse d’une vie plus longue.
Europas wachsendes Interesse an Medikamenten für ein langes Leben
Der jüngste Hype um Langlebigkeit in Europa hat einen schnell wachsenden Online-Schwarzmarkt für nicht zugelassene Forschungschemikalien befeuert, angetrieben durch den Hype in den sozialen Medien und das Versprechen eines längeren Lebens. Wenn Patienten in die Praxis von Sebastiaan Van Cauwenberghe in Brügge kommen, haben viele von ihnen bereits wochenlang Videos über Peptide – kleine Ketten von Aminosäuren, die Bausteine von Proteinen – angesehen. Sie sind meist in den Vierzigern und Fünfzigern.
Hacking death: Europe’s growing appetite for longevity drugs
Europe’s latest longevity craze has fuelled a fast-growing online grey market for unapproved research chemicals, driven by social media hype and the promise of living longer. By the time patients arrive at Sebastiaan Van Cauwenberghe’s practice in Bruges, many have already spent weeks watching videos about peptides, small chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They tend to be in their 40s and 50s.
Pharma executives pile on US probe into Germany’s drug pricing
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Photo by Filip Singer - Pool/Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations
So bereitet sich Europa darauf vor, die Sonnenfinsternis sicher zu beobachten
Die europäischen Gesundheitsbehörden rufen die Bevölkerung dazu auf, Vorsichtsmaßnahmen zu treffen, um die Sonnenfinsternis am Mittwoch sicher zu beobachten, da gefälschte Schutzbrillen im Umlauf sind und die Bestände an Originalprodukten ausverkauft sind. Millionen Menschen warten darauf, in weiten Teilen des westeuropäischen Festlands eine partielle oder totale Sonnenfinsternis zu beobachten – bei der der Mond die Sonne vollständig verdeckt –, die erste seit 1999.
Así se prepara Europa para ver el eclipse solar de forma segura
Las autoridades sanitarias europeas instan a la población a tomar precauciones para observar con seguridad el eclipse solar del miércoles, ya que circulan gafas de observación falsificadas y se han agotado las existencias de las auténticas. Millones de personas esperan observar un eclipse solar parcial o total en la mayor parte de Europa occidental continental, el primero desde 1999.
Wie sich Europa darauf vorbereitet, die Sonnenfinsternis sicher zu beobachten
Die europäischen Gesundheitsbehörden rufen die Bevölkerung dazu auf, Vorsichtsmaßnahmen zu treffen, um die Sonnenfinsternis am Mittwoch sicher zu beobachten, da gefälschte Schutzbrillen im Umlauf sind und die Bestände an Originalprodukten ausverkauft sind. Millionen Menschen warten darauf, in weiten Teilen des westeuropäischen Festlands eine partielle oder totale Sonnenfinsternis zu beobachten – bei der der Mond die Sonne vollständig verdeckt –, die erste seit 1999.
Comment l'Europe se prépare à observer l'éclipse solaire en toute sécurité
Les autorités sanitaires européennes exhortent la population à prendre des précautions pour observer l’éclipse solaire de mercredi en toute sécurité, alors que des lunettes d’observation contrefaites circulent et que les stocks de lunettes certifiées sont épuisés. Des millions de personnes s’apprêtent à observer une éclipse solaire partielle ou totale – lorsque la Lune recouvre entièrement le Soleil – dans la majeure partie de l’Europe occidentale continentale, la première depuis 1999.
How Europe is readying to watch the solar eclipse safely
A billboard with an image of a solar eclipse ahead of the August 12 total solar eclipse in Spain. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) European health authorities are urging people to take precautions to watch Wednesday’s solar eclipse safely, as counterfeit viewing glasses circulate and legitimate supplies sell out. Millions of people are waiting to observe a partial or total solar eclipse – when the moon covers the sun completely – in most of mainland Western Europe, the first since 1999.
Novo Nordisk announces first EU country for Wegovy pill launch
Three different mg doses of the new Wegovy semaglutide tablets. (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
Industry and patient groups divided over EU biotech plans
An employee pipettes in a laboratory of the biopharmaceutical company Curevac. (Photo by Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
Who will be targeted by Trump’s EU innovative pharma tariffs?
US President Donald Trump announces a US-EU trade deal after a meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
Wealth inequality driving HIV and other pandemics, researchers say
HIV laboratory technician and community worker. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations
Clock ticks on promised EU study of Trump’s drug pricing policy
EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Varhelyi. (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
Spanish vaccine maker urges broader EU incentives for innovation
HIPRA facility in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. (Photo By Kike Rincon/Europa Press via Getty Images) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
INTERVIEW: 'The EU’s Biotech Act is helpful, but not yet the solution,' investors say
Laboratory of a German biotechnology start-up (Photo Illustration by Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Ab corporis deserunt exercitationem in itaque rerum ullam voluptates. Asperiores at consectetur dolores harum magnam maiores possimus quam veniam voluptatum. Alias, iusto laudantium neque perspiciatis similique tenetur! Want to keep reading?
EU shrugs off Trump's latest tariff threat on generics
US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on generic medicines from 2028, despite the products being exempt under the EU’s trade deal with Washington. Early Wednesday, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that generics imported into the US could be subject to 100% tariffs from 1 August 2028, rising to 200% a year later.
La prohibición del uso de las redes sociales en Francia para menores de 15 años supera la votación final
Los legisladores franceses aprobaron el martes una prohibición nacional del uso de las redes sociales para los menores de 15 años, lo que consolida el impulso del país para situarse a la cabeza de la UE en el establecimiento de un límite de edad en el ámbito digital.
La France adopte l’interdiction des réseaux sociaux pour les moins de 15 ans
Les législateurs français ont approuvé mardi une interdiction nationale des réseaux sociaux pour les moins de 15 ans, consolidant ainsi la volonté du pays de se positionner en tête de l’Union européenne en matière de fixation d’un âge minimum pour l’accès au numérique.
Französisches Social-Media-Verbot für unter 15-Jährige wird in der Schlussabstimmung verabschiedet
Frankreich, der fortschrittlichste Testfall der EU für eine gesetzliche Altersgrenze. [Foto: Matt Cardy/Getty Images] Der französische Gesetzgeber hat am Dienstag ein landesweites Social-Media-Verbot für unter 15-Jährige verabschiedet und damit das Bestreben des Landes bekräftigt, bei der Festlegung einer Altersgrenze für die Nutzung digitaler Medien eine Vorreiterrolle in der EU einzunehmen.
French social media ban for under-15s clears final vote
Lawmakers in France approved a national social media ban for under-15s on Tuesday, cementing the country’s push to be the EU frontrunner in setting a digital age limit. The text, voted by 279 in favour and 81 against, stipulates that younger teens won’t be able to create new social media accounts from 1 September, while the ban will apply to existing accounts from 1 January 2027.
Des feux de forêt ravagent des milliers d'hectares en Espagne
Plusieurs incendies de forêt ont réduit en cendres des dizaines de milliers d’hectares dans le centre et le nord de l’Espagne, entraînant l’évacuation de plusieurs centaines de personnes. Un incendie qui fait rage à 100 kilomètres au nord de Madrid s’est propagé, ravageant plus de 13 000 hectares et contraignant plusieurs centaines de personnes à évacuer, ont annoncé dimanche les autorités locales.
La Belgique approuve l'interdiction des importations en provenance des colonies israéliennes
Le gouvernement fédéral belge a approuvé samedi matin, avant la pause estivale, une série de nouvelles mesures, parmi lesquelles une interdiction d’importation visant les marchandises provenant des territoires palestiniens occupés illégalement. Cette mesure avait initialement été proposée à la fin de l’été dernier en réponse à l’offensive militaire intensive menée par Israël à Gaza, mais elle était depuis longtemps bloquée dans une impasse politique.
Los incendios forestales arrasan miles de hectáreas en España
Incendio en Guadalajara. [Foto: Mateo Lanzuela/Europa Press via Getty Images] Varios incendios forestales han arrasado decenas de miles de hectáreas de terreno en zonas del centro y el norte de España, lo que ha obligado a evacuar a cientos de personas. Un incendio forestal a 100 kilómetros al norte de Madrid se ha extendido, quemando más de 13.000 hectáreas y obligando a evacuar a varios cientos de personas, según anunciaron el domingo las autoridades locales.
Waldbrände wüten in Spanien auf einer Fläche von Tausenden Hektar
Waldbrand in Guadalajara, Spanien. [Foto: Mateo Lanzuela/Europa Press via Getty Images] Mehrere Waldbrände haben Zehntausende Hektar Land in Zentral- und Nordspanien verwüstet und Hunderte Menschen zur Evakuierung gezwungen. Ein Waldbrand, der 100 Kilometer nördlich von Madrid wütet, hat sich ausgebreitet, mehr als 13.000 Hektar Land verwüstet und mehrere hundert Menschen zur Evakuierung gezwungen, wie die lokalen Behörden am Sonntag mitteilten.
Wildfires sweep across thousands of hectares in Spain
Area of forest burnt by the fire, as at 18 July 2026, in La Mierla, Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. (Photo By Mateo Lanzuela/Europa Press via Getty Images) Several wildfires have scorched tens of thousands of hectares of land across central and northern areas of Spain, forcing hundreds of evacuations.
Belgien beschließt Einfuhrverbot für Waren aus israelischen Siedlungen
Belgien gehört zu den Ländern, die ein vollständiges Einfuhrverbot befürworten. [Foto: Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images] Die belgische Bundesregierung hat am Samstagmorgen vor der Sommerpause ein Paket neuer Maßnahmen verabschiedet, darunter ein Einfuhrverbot für Waren aus illegal besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten.
Bélgica aprueba la prohibición de las importaciones procedentes de los asentamientos israelíes
Bélgica se encuentra entre los países a favor de una prohibición total de las importaciones, [Foto: Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images] El Gobierno federal belga aprobó el sábado por la mañana, antes de las vacaciones de verano, un paquete de nuevas medidas, entre las que se incluye una prohibición de importación dirigida a los productos procedentes de los territorios palestinos ocupados ilegalmente.
Belgium approves ban on imports from Israeli settlements
The Belgian federal government approved a slate of new measures on Saturday morning before the summer break, including an import ban targeting goods from illegally occupied Palestinian territories. The measure was originally put forward late last summer in response to Israel’s intensive military campaign in Gaza but has long been stuck in a political deadlock.
L'UE rend hommage aux victimes du changement climatique alors que l'Europe fond
Les responsables de l’UE ont rendu hommage mercredi aux victimes de la vague de chaleur record du mois dernier, alors que l’Union s’apprête à dévoiler un nouveau plan visant à atténuer les pires effets du changement climatique. Ces derniers mois ont été marqués par environ 10 000 décès supplémentaires, alors que des vagues de chaleur successives ont balayé de vastes régions d’Europe occidentale.
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