France and Germany push for stronger EU pharmaceutical strategy amid global competitiveness concerns
France and Germany have jointly called for major reforms to strengthen Europe’s pharmaceutical sector, warning that the EU is increasingly at risk of losing competitiveness, industrial capacity, and attractiveness as a location for innovation and clinical research .
In a joint declaration signed during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, the two countries argue that Europe faces growing pressure from geopolitical tensions, offshoring, competition from countries such as China and India, and new US policies that could affect access to innovative medicines and pharmaceutical exports. In response, they call for both immediate and long-term measures to strengthen Europe’s pharmaceutical sovereignty, resilience, and innovation capacity.
The declaration strongly supports ongoing EU initiatives including the Pharmaceutical Package, the upcoming Biotech Act, and the Critical Medicines Act. It also places particular emphasis on making Europe more attractive for clinical research by accelerating trial approvals and harmonising regulatory frameworks across member states.
One of the most politically significant elements is the call for a “binding European assessment” for medicines and stronger coordination on benefit assessments. This appears to reopen debate around the EU’s Health Technology Assessment framework, where member states previously resisted stronger centralisation of assessments and reimbursement processes.
The declaration also supports incentives for European-based pharmaceutical manufacturing, stronger intellectual property protections, and balancing environmental regulation with industrial competitiveness. France and Germany further announced the creation of a bilateral ministerial working group focused on preventing shortages and improving access to innovative medicines.
The move reflects broader shifts underway in EU health and industrial policy, where competitiveness, strategic autonomy, resilience, and innovation are becoming increasingly interconnected.
