A coalition of 17 member states, led by Athens and with Berlin’s support, is calling for a revision of the directive to prevent price hikes on medicines.
The strong reaction of the Greek Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, and 16 of his counterparts, has been triggered by the imminent implementation of the new European Directive on Urban Wastewater Treatment, which is scheduled to take full effect on January 1, 2027.
The controversial provision of the directive stipulates that the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries (with the exception of very small businesses) will bear the entire financial burden of removing microplastics generated during the manufacture of their products. Mr. Georgiadis, who was the first to raise the issue, warned that these additional operating costs will inevitably be passed on to retail drug prices, directly burdening patients themselves throughout the European Union.
At today’s meeting of the EU Council of Health Ministers, the Greek position found broad support. A total of 17 countries, led by Germany, supported the request for a significant amendment to the directive and a postponement of its implementation date.
To overturn or amend the decision that has already been made, approval by a majority of the European Parliament is now required. Only if the European Parliament gives the “green light” will the directive be returned to the Council of Ministers for revisions. Otherwise, the measure will be implemented as scheduled beginning in early 2027.
