In a groundbreaking milestone for psychedelics in Europe, a cross-party MEP Action Group for the Medical Use of Psychedelics was launched at an expert roundtable on 24 May.
The group’s launch results from two years of advocating from campaign groups such as Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA) and Psychedelics EUROPE.
Its key focus is to accelerate the preparation of the regulatory landscape for psychedelic medicines in the EU Single Market.
Further areas of focus will include:
- Raising awareness of best practices.
- Promoting discussions around cost-effectiveness.
- Advocating for a harmonised EU policy and regulatory framework.
- Fostering drug policies based on scientific evidence and human rights, to remove barriers to scientific research and access.
- Providing input on key European legislative dossiers such as the EU’s Comprehensive Approach To Mental Health.
Currently, the Co-Chairs of the group include: Alex Agius Saliba, Malta, S&D; Frédérique Ries, Belgium, Renew; Mikuláš Peksa, Czechia, Greens-EFA; Sara Cerdas, Portugal, S&D.
Members so far include: Alviina Alametsä, Finland, Greens-EFA; Jarosław Duda, Poland, EPP; and, Robert Biedroń, Poland, S&D.
Speaking at the round table, MEP Alex Agius Saliba, Malta, S&D, stated: “Traditional treatments, while invaluable, do not provide adequate solutions for everyone. It is for these individuals that we gather here today to introduce a new era of mental health treatment. […]
“We aim to guide the policy discourse on this vital topic, advocating for the safe, ethical and regulated use of these promising treatments.”
Tadeusz Hawrot, Founder and Executive Director of PAREA, described the development as a “pivotal moment in European mental health policy” highlighting that three EU institutions are moving full steam ahead “to give long-overdue priority to improving mental health care of EU citizens.”
Hawrot told Psychedelic Health: “The European Commission is about to unveil its mental health strategy, the European Parliament has begun working on its own mental health report, and the Council of the EU is committed to continually prioritizing mental health via EU presidencies.
“This week, the European psychedelic medicines community is adding to this momentum. Marking the European Mental Health Week, the MEP Action Group for the Medical Use of Psychedelics has been launched.
“This marks a significant step forward in Europe’s recognition and harnessing of the potential of psychedelic therapies for brain health conditions.
“The Group currently comprises 10 MEPs from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Malta, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal.”
He concluded that the next steps for the group include further growing its membership, providing input to relevant EU initiatives such as the mental health strategy and pharmaceutical revisions and organizing a public policy meeting in the Parliament in the fourth quarter of this year.
