Source: European Parliament
13.10.2025
Question for written answer E-004011/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marc Botenga (The Left)
In response[1] to our question E-003081/2025[2] on the impact of EU sanctions on public health, the Commission states that: ‘EU sanctions never target the civilian population, nor food, medicine, emergency supplies, or humanitarian aid.’ However, the issue here is not about the intent, but about the outcome.
An article in The Lancet Global Health[3] notes that all economic sanctions ultimately have an adverse effect on health, both indirectly, through determinants of health such as food security, and directly, by limiting access to medicines and healthcare. Financial sanctions limit, in particular, the possibility to purchase medicines on the international market.
- 1.Do the Commission’s assessments confirm that EU sanctions have an adverse impact on access to healthcare and medicines in the countries concerned?
- 2.How and how often does the Commission assess the impact of sanctions on socio-economic determinants of health in general and on access to healthcare and medicines in particular?
- 3.How successful does the Commission rate EU sanctions as being in relation to their stated policy objectives?
Submitted: 13.10.2025