Good arguments convinced Jean Claude Juncker

Brussels: President Elect of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker announced that after examination of European Parliament’s request the Health Commissioner also in the new Commission will have the responsibility for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This was announced by Manfred Weber, chairman of the biggest political group in the European Parliament (EPP- Christian Democrats) in the group meeting on Wednesday.
In his initial concept Juncker suggested to entrust the polish candidate Elzbieta Bienkowska with the task who will be responsible for internal market and industry. This raised a lot of opposition from experts, in and outside European Parliament. Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety has asked three times for leaving the responsibility with the Health-Commissioner.
“I am very pleased that our good arguments convinced Jean-Claude Juncker”, said Peter Liese, (CDU), medical doctor by profession and spokesman on health of the EPP- Group.


“Although I think Ms Bienkowska is a suitable candidate we have to avoid the appearance that industry interests are more important than health interests in this sensitive area. Of course, in all member states the Health Minister is responsible for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In European Parliament there was not any discussion about, either. Of course, our committee for health is responsible for these dossiers.
It is essential that we finalise the current legislative processes, for example on medical devices. For this I believe, that the designated Health Commissioner is the right man for this job, because being a cardiologist by profession he is familiar with this dossier because of his 2,5 years of experience as Health Minister of Lithuania”, Liese.