At the meeting, Estonia voiced strong support for France’s proposal to develop a systemic European approach to countering health misinformation. The proposal calls for closer cooperation between the EU, digital platforms, Member States, and civil society to limit the spread of false information on sensitive topics such as vaccination, cancer, chronic diseases, and mental health.
“Misinformation isn’t just misleading – it’s dangerous and can be deadly. Children are dying in Europe from diseases we have vaccines for, like measles. The problem isn’t access to medicines – it’s lack of trust. And that trust is being deliberately and strategically undermined,” said Minister Joller. “Health misinformation is also a weapon – one that countries like Russia have used for years in a systematic and coordinated effort to divide societies, including in Estonia.”
We should consider the proposal to establish a European centre for monitoring misinformation and to include the issue of misinformation in the EU’s crisis preparedness strategy. Minister Joller emphasised that the European Union must respond with greater speed and determination.
“Falsehood spreads faster than the truth. We must be able to act before the damage is done. Europe cannot afford to let science-based health policy be buried under algorithms and trolls,” she emphasized.
The meeting also included an update on the ongoing negotiations of the EU pharmaceutical package. Estonia reiterated the need to better address the needs of smaller Member States.
“On average, new medicines reach the Estonian market more than two years later than in larger countries. Over 80% of newly authorised EU medicines don’t reach our market in the first years at all. Innovation that doesn’t reach patients fails its purpose. Medicines must also reach smaller markets on time,” said Minister Joller.
Estonia also joined 12 other Member States in a joint call for the European Commission to accelerate the revision of the tobacco products directive. The focus is on new nicotine products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, which are designed and flavored in ways that appeal especially to young people.
“We cannot allow nicotine products with strawberry flavor, pink packaging, and TikTok-style advertising to go unregulated. The tobacco industry is deliberately targeting youth – and we must push back together,” said Joller.
Estonia supports a ban on all flavorings and scents, including menthol, in tobacco and nicotine products. The country also advocates for harmonized packaging design rules to make these products less attractive to young people.
Today’s meeting also covered topics such as child and adolescent mental health, alcohol and tobacco policy, and the proposed regulation on critical medicines. Minister Joller also held a bilateral meeting with EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.
According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, Europe saw a record number of measles infections in 2024 – 127,350 cases, the highest in the past 25 years and double the number from 2023.
