Europe’s lawmakers focused on health at home and abroad, chemical safety, and transatlantic ties. They backed plans to rebuild the EU’s care workforce, warned against cuts to global health, and urged tougher action on toxic waste. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed moving beyond trade towards a broader alliance with the EU.

Health workforce: targets, funding, and retention

Co-rapporteurs and Commissioners described a severe staffing crunch in healthcare, citing shortages, burnout, and “medical deserts.” MEPs debated EU targets, better pay and conditions, and how to stop brain drain. Rapporteur Ruggero Razza called for adding at least one million health workers by 2034 and exempting key health investment from fiscal limits 1. The Commission pointed to recovery funding and programmes that upskill nurses and support planning 2. Centre-left voices pressed for safe staffing, fair pay, and action on psychosocial risks and gender gaps 3.

Global health resilience: cuts, capabilities, and accountability

Lawmakers called for sustained investment in health systems in partner countries, early warning, and local manufacturing. Barry Andrews warned that aid cuts undermine resilience, urging stronger multilateral action and primary care 4. Commissioner Jozef Síkela highlighted billions mobilised for systems, manufacturing and crisis response 5. Greens warned that funding cuts could cost lives if not reversed 6. Conservative speakers stressed sovereignty, transparency, and support that builds independence.

EU–Canada: from trade to a wider alliance

Mark Carney urged Europe and Canada to build “collective resilience,” proposing to go beyond CETA and even consider associate membership as part of a deeper alliance 7. He outlined joint work on critical minerals, defence production, AI and compute, energy security, space, and payments to secure strategic autonomy 8.

Protecting people from toxic substances: enforcement and redress

MEPs pressed for stronger cross-border action against illegal waste and PFAS contamination. Romana Jerković cited the scale and delays in cleaning up illegal waste in Gospić, Croatia 9. The Commission said import controls and audits have been stepped up, backed by new expert pools and training 10. Tomislav Sokol proposed a permanent Europol group for waste crime, rapid EU help for remediation, linked waste-tracking systems, and collective redress for citizens 11.

Outlook

Parliament’s push links workforce reform at home with resilience abroad and sharper tools against environmental crime. The mooted EU–Canada upgrade could add economic and security weight if it turns into concrete projects.