EU ministers say that implementing an appropriate fee structure that is more in line with actual costs will promote innovation in the pharmaceutical sector while ensuring “fair access” to safe and effective medicines for patients.

The ENVI committee says the regulatory work done by national regulators on behalf of the European Medicines Agency must be properly remunerated to ensure “world-class pharmaceutical supervision."

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.