Oliver Varhelyi

Europe News

Commission presents plan to boost cybersecurity in healthcare sector

The European Commission has presented a new action plan to enhance the cybersecurity of the healthcare sector amid a rise in ransomware attacks.

15/01/2025

Health news

Race against time for EU’s Critical Medicines Act

Wanted in the first 100 days of the new legislative mandate, doubts linger over whether the European Commission will unveil the Critical Medicines Act on time.

19/12/2024

Europe News

Health Commissioner touts swifter reform of EU medical devices rules

EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi has signalled that revisiting the EU’s medical device regulations is inevitable, marking a shift from the previously cautious stance of the European Commission.

03/12/2024

Health news

MEPs strip Hungarian Commissioner of key health competencies

Commissioner-designate Olivér Várhelyi has been stripped of oversight over reproductive and sexual rights as well as health preparedness following an evaluation by EU lawmakers.

20/11/2024

Health news

Hungary’s Várhelyi confirmation delayed over women’s health concerns

It’s not over yet for Orbán’s pick as EU Commissioner: His confirmation has been postponed as he failed to impress MEPs, slipping on reproductive and sexual rights.

07/11/2024

Europe News

‘Existential threat’: Moscow’s shadow looms over EU's enlargement push

Recent ballots in Georgia and Moldova have shown how the Kremlin is working to counter the EU’s eastern expansion.

30/10/2024

Radio Schuman

Can an unpopular Orbán ally oversee the EU’s health policy?

Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unexpectedly named Hungary's Olivér Várhelyi as her Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, provoking mixed reactions — to say the least.

26/09/2024

Health news

The EU's new Hungarian health Commissioner is in for a rocky ride

Olivér Várhelyi, the controversial pick of Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán, has been handed a highly technical role by Ursula von der Leyen. What does it mean for EU health policy if he's rejected by the European Parliament?

18/09/2024

Europe Decoded

Dirty laundry: Which EU Commissioners are in danger of being rejected?

Some nominees for European Commissioner might soon see their aspirations go down in flames for mistakes made in the past.

10/09/2024

Europe News

Orbán picks Várhelyi for EU Commissioner despite past controversies

For the past five years, Oliver Várhelyi has been often criticised for breaking ranks with the Commission and aligning his views with Orbán's government.

29/07/2024

Europe News

Hungarian hold on EU enlargement must end: Moldova delegation chair

Siegfried Mureșan says that putting the EU executive’s enlargement portfolio in the hands of Viktor Orbán’s man in Brussels has been a ‘problem’ over the past five-year mandate.

20/06/2024

Georgia

EU's Várhelyi says mix-up led to Georgian PM's death threats claim

Georgian PM Irakli Kobakhidze claimed on Thursday that European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi mentioned the recent attack on Slovakia's Robert Fico in an attempt to persuade him to drop the contentious "Russian law".

24/05/2024

Europe News

73 MEPs want Commissioner to resign after fiasco over Palestinian aid

More than 70 Members of the European Parliament have asked for the resignation of Olivér Várhelyi, the Commissioner who last week misleadingly announced the suspension of "all payments" to the Palestinian authorities.

17/10/2023

Europe News

Commissioner went solo with suspension of EU funds for Palestinians

The European Commission scrambled on Tuesday to explain the contradictory messages sent by their officials regarding the bloc's aid for the Palestinian territories in reaction to the unfolding Israel-Hamas war.

10/10/2023

Europe News

Tunisia can 'wire back' EU money if it doesn't want it: Commissioner

Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner for enlargement and neighbourhood, has said Tunisia is free to "wire back" the €60 million in EU funds that were transferred earlier this week.

05/10/2023

Europe News

Ukraine has met two of the seven conditions for EU accession talks

The European Commission has delivered a first update on Ukraine's progress in its path towards EU membership.

22/06/2023

Europe News

Outrage as Enlargement Commissioner is caught calling MEPs 'idiots'

Olivér Várhelyi was heard asking "how many idiots are still left?" during a Q&A session with lawmakers.

15/02/2023

Europe News

Brussels backs Bosnia as candidate to join EU... but with conditions

The country will be asked to implement reforms related to judiciary, corruption, migration management and media freedom.

12/10/2022