Commissioner-designate Olivér Várhelyi has been stripped of oversight over reproductive and sexual rights as well as health preparedness following an evaluation by EU lawmakers. An assessment of Várhelyi’s suitability for taking over the health and animal welfare portfolio in the next EU executive arm arrived on Wednesday evening (20 November), two weeks after his at the European Parliament. At the time, MEPs expressed dissatisfaction with his answers and subsequently postponed their decision, seeking further clarification in writing.
During the hearing, Várhelyi argued that abortion is primarily a constitutional and human rights issue rather than a health matter, asserting that it falls under the jurisdiction of individual EU member states. This statement sparked criticism, with MEPs contending that reproductive rights are integral to the EU’s health policy framework. In addition to sexual and reproductive rights, MEPs decided to remove Várhelyi’s oversight of the European Commission’s service for health preparedness (DG HERA), which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to address future health crises and prevent a repeat of the mistakes made during that time.
However, Várhelyi retains control over food and animal welfare competencies, which were also under scrutiny, as well as other health-related areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and tobacco legislation. MEPs have prepared a formal request to European Commission President Ursula von.