MEPs delay confirmation of Orban's commission pick citing concerns over women's health

Following a three-hour hearing, European lawmakers opted on Wednesday night to defer their decision on Olivér Várhelyi's nomination as EU Commissioner for health and animal Welfare, questioning his refusal to acknowledge women's health as an EU competence. 

Under the Parliament’s rules, committee chairs and coordinators meet behind closed doors after a hearing to vote on whether they think commissioner candidates  are up to the job.

Once MEPs finalise the additional questions in a meeting today, Várhelyi will have 48 hours to respond. Group leaders are expected to evaluate his replies next Monday (11 November) to decide if they are satisfied or if a further hearing is needed.

Várhelyi, a member of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, was already considered a controversial nominee for the health role due to his lack of experience in the field.

Some responsibilities in his portfolio might now be reallocated to other commissioners to clear the path to his confirmation. Four MEPs from various political groups told Euronews that Várhelyi risks losing oversight of reproductive health and animal welfare in particular.

A Christian Democrat and a Liberal lawmaker, speaking anonymously, said that the Hungarian demonstrated technical preparation, showing he prepared well for the hearing especially on health topics.

MEPs considered some of his responses evasive, however, particularly on sensitive political questions, when he said the EU lacked competence to handle certain questions.

Abortion

The most contentious was women’s health, keenly watched by MEPs since his party Fidesz has opposed broader access to abortion in Hungary.

Asked if he considered sexual and reproductive health a key part of the EU’s Health Union, Várhelyi said that abortion related more to constitutional and human rights issue than health  and that, as such, it falls under the jurisdiction of individual member states.

French socialist MEP Christophe Clergeau disagreed, arguing that reproductive rights fall within the scope of the EU’s health competencies.

He said that the EU could launch a comprehensive women’s health plan, modeled on the Beating Cancer Plan, including access to reproductive health services.

Appointing a Fidesz-aligned Commissioner to oversee reproductive rights is “a total red line”, French liberal MEP Pascal Canfin told Euronews, indicating that MEPs would struggle to accept his involvement in this area.

Women and vaccine controversies

Others MEPs voiced concerns about Várhelyi’s limited support for women’s health and LGBTQ+ inclusivity in health policy. The atmosphere in the hearing grew tense when some MEPs accused him of ignoring the rights and challenges faced by women and LGBTQ+ individuals in healthcare.

“Why do you think I’m not an ally of women? I live with four women—my wife and three daughters. Don’t you consider me an ally of women?” Várhelyi answered defensively

Emma Fourreau, a left-wing MEP from France, described Várhelyi as “a misogynist remote-controlled by Viktor Orbán.”

Várhelyi also faced questions about Hungary’s decision to authorise Russian and Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, bypassing European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval, a move that contradicted the EU's collective stance.

Liberal MEP Canfin said Várhelyi’s inability to distance himself from this decision by Orbán had fed into MEPs delaying supporting his bid to become Commissioner.

Policy announcements

Várhelyi pledged to present the much anticipated Critical Medicines Act to address severe shortages of medical devices and drugs within the first 100 days of his mandate, if confirmed.

He also announced plans for a European initiative on cardiovascular health, including strategies for diabetes and obesity prevention. “Our plan should help us develop and make available new and personalised prevention and treatment options for Europeans,” he stated.

On EU medical device regulations, Várhelyi indicated a willingness to revisit the framework even in the short term. "I will intensify the ongoing work evaluating the current legislation with the aim of being ready with the review next year,” he said.

The Hungarian identified tobacco as a major health risk, signaling the EU’s upcoming review of the Tobacco Directives. Várhelyi assured that the Commission “won’t be shy” toward tobacco in this review.

Regarding cell-based meat, Várhelyi deferred to the EU Food Safety Agency (EFSA) for scientific assessment, but he acknowledged the need of an ethical debate surrounding the technology.

He suggested that, similar to genetic modified organisms (GMOs), EU countries could adopt an opt-out system for cell-based meat, allowing those who oppose it to avoid it.

Animal welfare questions also surfaced, with Várhelyi promising to explore improvements in animal transport conditions. Green MEP Thomas Waitz, however, expressed doubts about Várhelyi’s commitment, calling his responses on the issue unsatisfactory and raising serious doubts about his suitability for the role.