Dear Health and Food Safety,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents related to lobbying. I am interested in certain 2025 meetings between MSD Pharma representatives and the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi and/or their cabinet members.

The meetings concerning which I would like to access documents are as follows:

1.
Date 04 Nov 2025
Location Berlin
Subject Access to medicines
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
• Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)
Minute
MSD gave overview of the current challenges affecting the pharma sector. The MFN pricing policy introduced by the US administration puts companies under pressure to factor these developments into their global pricing policies. Strong dialogue is needed to avoid serious impacts. Commissioner took note of the concerns raised.

2.
Date 18 Sep 2025
Location Brussels
Subject Taking stock of transatlantic trade relations in the field of pharmaceuticals
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
Minute
At the meeting MSD shared its analysis on the state of play of EU-US relations in the field of trade policy related to pharmaceuticals. MSD underlined the need of continued close dialogue between the respective counterparts to mitigate potential impact on safe supply of medicines.

3.
Date 04 Sep 2025
Location Brussels
Subject Taking stock of pharma affairs and current EU-US relations
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
Minute
The parties had and overview of the negotiations on the pharma reform and critical medicines act. They also agreed that eventual negative impact of development of EU-US trade relations should be avoided and mitigated via close cooperation.

4.
Date 10 Jul 2025
Location Brussels
Subject Cardiovascular Action Plan, EU-US relations
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
Minute
MSD presented its suggestions to the upcoming EU Cardiovascular Action Plan, with special regard to prevention and early detection, that were taken note of. In addition, they shared their views on the state of play on the EU-US trade negotiations highlighting the need for continued efforts to find an agreement.

5.
Date 18 Jun 2025
Location Washington
Subject EU pharmaceutical policy
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
• Laszlo Andrejko (Cabinet member)
Minute
Upon their request, the Commissioner met the representatives of Merck Sharp & Dohme. The discussion focused on the current developments and trends as regards the EU pharmaceutical policy.

6.
Date 12 Jun 2025
Location Brussels
Subject Competitiveness of EU pharma sector
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
Minute
MSD presented it position for a more streamlined regulatory framework that is more conducive to pharmaceutical research and development. The parties also exchanged views on the state of play of the negotiations on the pharmaceutical package. MSD expressed its hope that the upcoming biotech act will create a competitive framework for the biotech sector.

7.
Date 14 May 2025
Location Brussels, Belgium
Subject Taking stock of ongoing pharmaceutical policy initiatives
Cabinet Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
Attending
• Laszlo Kristoffy (Cabinet member)
Minute
The parties discussed the most pertinent pharmacy policy related matters in the context of the geopolitical developments. In particular had exchange on the Critical Medicines Act and the pharmaceutical reform. The discussion explored the challenges related to creating a regulatory environment that supports a competitive, innovation friendly, financially sustainable and patient centred pharma sector.

In particular, I would like to request access to the following documents:

1. All correspondence (including e-mails, letters, attached documents and enclosures, SMS and any other type of messages processed through phone applications – e.g. WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram etc., recorded voice messages) received by / exchanged between on the one hand Commissioner Várhelyi and their cabinet teams, and on the other hand representatives of Merck Sharp & Dohme Europe Belgium SRL (MSD) in relation with the abovementioned meetings.

2. Any records, detailed minutes, notes and other reports of these meetings / discussions, including documentation submitted by the parties and official responses.

To the extent possible, my preference is to receive documents in electronic format. Documents that cannot be sent in electronic format should be sent to 10 Pozsonyi Street Budapest, H-1222, Hungary, office of Direkt36 Nonprofit Kft. Should you transmit documents by regular post, I kindly ask you to announce it to me in advance by e-mail.

I would also be grateful to receive the documents in batches, as soon as they are identified and available to send.

Yours faithfully,

Zsuzsanna Wirth

Dear Health and Food Safety,

it looks like your response is delayed, beacuse by law, you should have sent your reply by January 12, 2026. Please be so kind as to answer promptly.

Yours faithfully,

Zsuzsanna Wirth

Dear Health and Food Safety,

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for sending your answers has expired. As you have advised me before, the extended time limit for your response expired on 4 February 2026.

Please be so kind as to send me the requested documents as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Zsuzsanna Wirth

Dear [email address],

I've been waiting for a very long time for your reply. The extended deadline has expired for two weeks now. I'd like to ask that you provide the requested documents in batches. As I have stated in my initial FOI request, I'd like to receive them in batches, which helps my work. As soon as any of them is identified and available to send, please do so and please don't keep documents back until all of them become available.

Yours sincerely,

Zsuzsanna Wirth