Reuters NEXT Newsmaker featuring European Medicines Agency Executive Director Emer Cooke

The recording of this interview is now available to watch on demand. 

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) plays a central role in safeguarding public health, overseeing the evaluation, authorization, and monitoring of medicines for more than 440 million people. Cooke's leadership has been marked by an exceptionally demanding period of drug shortages, rapidly advancing medical technologies, heightened scrutiny of regulatory transparency. and the need to strengthen Europe's preparedness for future health emergencies. In response, Cooke has overseen key reforms in regulatory ability, supply-chain oversight, and clinical-trial modernization. 

Reuters European Pharmaceuticals Correspondent Maggie Fick interviews EMA Chief Emer Cooke at Pharma 2026 in Barcelona on how the agency is handling rapid scientific innovation and evolving regulation in Europe. They will discuss regulatory challenges, balancing patient safety, public trust and industry needs, and what's next for medicines regulation, including digital health, real-world evidence, manufacturing resilience and global supply chains.