What does it truly mean to put patients at the heart of Europe? On 7 April, as the world marks World Health Day, we are reminded that health is not an abstract principle: it is a lived reality. It is the difference between hope and despair, between access and inequality, between innovation and stagnation.

After more than two decades without major reform, the European Union has now taken a decisive step. Following intense negotiations across more than 400 legislative articles, the EPP Group has led the way in achieving what many once considered out of reach: the most ambitious overhaul of EU pharmaceutical legislation in a generation. This is not merely an EPP legislative success; it is a commitment fulfilled.

Our target has been clear from the beginning: to build a regulatory framework that puts patients first, while ensuring that Europe remains a global leader in innovation and our national healthcare systems are economically sustainable. These goals are not contradictory; they are inseparable.

These figures are not just statistics, they are a call to action.

One of the reform's central pillars is improving access to medicines for all Europeans. No patient should be left behind because of geography or market dynamics. Whether it is a child battling cancer or someone living with a rare disease, this reform strengthens incentives to develop treatments where none exist today.

According to the EPP Group, strategic autonomy in health is no longer optional; it is essential. In this view, we reinforced the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical sector. Less bureaucracy, clearer rules, and a strong push for 'Made in (or with) Europe' medicines will help anchor production and innovation on our continent.

Moreover, antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing health threats of our time, demands urgent action. With harmonised prescription requirements and clear warning labels, we are taking decisive steps to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.

Not slogans, but solutions; not promises, but progress.

So, what does it truly mean to put patients at the heart of Europe? It means delivering real change, fair and forward-looking, so that every citizen, in every Member State, can access the medical care they deserve. Not slogans, but solutions; not promises, but progress.