The Council of the EU has broadly accepted the European Commission’s proposal for a new, cost-based fee and remuneration system, but has suggested giving the European Medicines Agency’s management board – and hence the member states – a bigger role in future fee changes.

The publication of a draft EU Regulation governing the fees paid by the pharmaceutical industry to the European Medicines Agency is the latest step in a long process aimed at ensuring that the payment system better reflects the actual costs of the regulatory work carried out or coordinated by the EU regulator.

The two countries want the European Commission’s proposals to be more closely examined for their possible negative effect on pharmaceutical investment decisions. The industry federation EFPIA says it is surprised more EU member states aren’t taking the same stance.