Decision
An EU health workforce crisis plan: sustainability of healthcare systems and employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector
- Effect
- Adopted
- Result
- 514 for · 61 against · 33 abstained roll call
- Date
- 17 September 2026, 13:14–13:18
- Kind
- Resolution
More facts (9)
- Margin
- by an overwhelming majority
- Dossier
- 2025/2062(INI)
- Source
- Committee report by Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza
- Topics
- HealthJobs, social affairs & equality Assigned by a model, not checked by hand.
- Votes
- 23 votes · 5 roll calls · 3 amendments
- Requested by
- S&D (1 roll call) · Members (1 roll call, 2 split votes, 1 separate vote)
- Sitting
- Thursday 17 September 2026
- Final vote
- 196143
Result
The final vote and what it means for this kind of decision.
Final vote: 514 for, 61 against, 33 abstained (roll call).
Adopted by an overwhelming majority.
Parliament adopted the text as its official position.
Before the final vote, MEPs decided on 3 amendments (3 rejected) and 19 parts of the text voted on separately (19 adopted).
Backed by The Left, Greens, S&D, Renew, EPP, ECR and Patriots; opposed by ESN.
Groups
| Group | For | Against | Abst. | No vote | Majority line | Clear line | Cohesion | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Left | For 36 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 8 of 44 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| Greens | For 49 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 4 of 53 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| S&D | For 113 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 22 of 135 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| Renew | For 52 | Against 10 | Abst. 5 | No vote 11 of 78 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 0.66 | |
| EPP | For 144 | Against 11 | Abst. 1 | No vote 28 of 184 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 0.88 | |
| ECR | For 59 | Against 8 | Abst. 5 | No vote 12 of 84 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 0.73 | |
| Patriots | For 44 | Against 8 | Abst. 17 | No vote 15 of 84 | Majority line For | Clear line Divided | Cohesion 0.46 | |
| ESN | For 1 | Against 20 | Abst. 3 | No vote 3 of 27 | Majority line Against | Clear line Against | Cohesion 0.75 | |
| No group | For 16 | Against 4 | Abst. 2 | No vote 6 of 28 | Majority line — | Clear line No line | Cohesion — |
Voted against their group, 44
Members who voted otherwise than a clear line (at least two thirds of the votes cast, at least 10 members voting) of the group they sat in that day. A group without a clear line is divided and not counted.
Renew line For · 10 voted against, 5 abstained of 67 who voted
Voted against (10)
- Abir AL-SAHLANI Sweden
- Anouk VAN BRUG Netherlands
- Bart GROOTHUIS Netherlands
- Christine SINGER Germany
- Emma WIESNER Sweden
- Engin EROGLU Germany
- Jeannette BALJEU Netherlands
- Joachim STREIT Germany
- Karin KARLSBRO Sweden
- Malik AZMANI Netherlands
Abstained (5)
- Asger CHRISTENSEN Denmark
- Marie-Agnes STRACK-ZIMMERMANN Germany
- Moritz KÖRNER Germany
- Morten LØKKEGAARD Denmark
- Svenja HAHN Germany
EPP line For · 11 voted against, 1 abstained of 156 who voted
Voted against (11)
- Alexander BERNHUBER Austria
- Alice TEODORESCU MÅWE Sweden
- Angelika WINZIG Austria
- Arba KOKALARI Sweden
- Aura SALLA Finland
- Henrik DAHL Denmark
- Jessica POLFJÄRD Sweden
- Lukas MANDL Austria
- Niels Flemming HANSEN Denmark
- Reinhold LOPATKA Austria
- Tomas TOBÉ Sweden
Abstained (1)
- Andrea WECHSLER Germany
ECR line For · 8 voted against, 5 abstained of 72 who voted
Voted against (8)
- Beatrice TIMGREN Sweden
- Charlie WEIMERS Sweden
- Cristian TERHEŞ Romania
- Dick ERIXON Sweden
- Emmanouil FRAGKOS Greece
- Galato ALEXANDRAKI Greece
- Kristoffer STORM Denmark
- Sebastian TYNKKYNEN Finland
Abstained (5)
- Bert-Jan RUISSEN Netherlands
- Jessika VAN LEEUWEN Netherlands
- Maciej WĄSIK Poland
- Michał DWORCZYK Poland
- Sander SMIT Netherlands
ESN line Against · 1 voted for, 3 abstained of 24 who voted
Voted for (1)
- Sarah KNAFO France
Abstained (3)
- Petar VOLGIN Bulgaria
- Petras GRAŽULIS Lithuania
- Roberto VANNACCI Italy
Countries
The final vote by national delegation.
Votes by country (27 delegations)
| Country | For | Against | Abst. | No vote | Cohesion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Belgium | 18 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 |
| Bulgaria | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.68 |
| Cyprus | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | — |
| Czechia | 14 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0.90 |
| Germany | 63 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 0.65 |
| Denmark | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0.31 |
| Estonia | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Spain | 50 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0.84 |
| Finland | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.73 |
| France | 71 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1.00 |
| Greece | 5 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0.18 |
| Croatia | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| Hungary | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0.90 |
| Ireland | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — |
| Italy | 61 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0.89 |
| Lithuania | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.86 |
| Luxembourg | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Latvia | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Malta | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — |
| Netherlands | 16 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0.36 |
| Poland | 42 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0.79 |
| Portugal | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.00 |
| Romania | 20 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0.86 |
| Sweden | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0.25 |
| Slovenia | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Slovakia | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.79 |
Members
Each member’s recorded position on the final roll call, in the group they sat in that day. Filter by country, group, position or name.
Debate speakers and how they voted
| Member | Group | Speeches | Spoke | Final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN Spain | Patriots | Speeches3 | 17 Sept 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | Abstained |
| Loucas FOURLAS Cyprus | EPP | Speeches2 | 17 Sept 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Gabriele BISCHOFF Germany | S&D | Speeches2 | 17 Sept 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Cristian TERHEŞ Romania | ECR | Speeches2 | 17 Sept 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | Against |
| Ana MIRANDA PAZ Spain | Greens | Speeches2 | 17 Sept 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Ruggero RAZZA Italy | ECR | Speeches2 | 17 Sept 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | No vote recorded |
Show the other 47 speakers
All votes on this decision, 23
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Separate vote on paragraph 1 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 2 | Amendment 1, adding text after paragraph 1 A10-0168/2026 – Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza – After § 1 – Am 1 | Roll call | 195 for, 373 against, 29 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Members |
| 3 | Separate vote on paragraph 2 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
Show the other 22 votesShow the other 20 votes
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Amendment 1, adding text after paragraph 1 A10-0168/2026 – Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza – After § 1 – Am 1 | Roll call | 195 for, 373 against, 29 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Members |
| 3 | Separate vote on paragraph 2 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Paragraph 5 — part 1 of 3 Part voted on: “Underlines that safe staffing levels, good working conditions and the right combination of professionals in the healthcare workforce are essential for patient safety, quality of care and staff well-being; calls moreover on the Commission to propose a Council recommendation setting out common principles for safe, evidence-based and high-quality staffing for the whole healthcare workforce, anchored in patient safety outcomes, social dialogue and collective bargaining and risk-based assessment while fully respecting the diversity of healthcare system models; calls for such a recommendation to recognise unsafe staffing levels as an occupational hazard;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 5 | Paragraph 5 — part 2 of 3 Part voted on: “calls on the Commission to consider the need for an obligatory framework to this end which comprises workload controls and doctor-to-patient/nurse-to-patient ratios, including in high-acuity settings and measures to relieve the physical, psychological and administrative burden faced by healthcare workers, aiming to reduce errors and strengthening overall healthcare system performance, while recognising the need for flexibility for health organisations to adapt to labour-market realities and workforce planning priorities without compromising quality of care or patient safety;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 6 | Paragraph 5 — part 3 of 3 Part voted on: “calls on the Member States to adopt, implement and regularly review national legislative frameworks thereafter, including minimum thresholds and benchmarks on safe staffing, as well as minimum consultation times that are sufficient to ensure an accurate assessment and appropriate care of patients with increasingly complex clinical profiles, also in the light of the expansion of treatment options, where applicable; calls for national approaches to be based on evidence, clinical context, social dialogue and collective agreements, ensuring transparent reporting on quality and safety indicators;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 7 | Separate vote on paragraph 6 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 8 | Separate vote on paragraph 17 A10-0168/2026 – Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza – § 17 | Roll call | 487 for, 45 against, 66 abstained Adopted | Requested byroll call: S&D; separate: Members |
| 9 | Separate vote on paragraph 20 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 10 | Separate vote on paragraph 21 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 11 | Separate vote on paragraph 23 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 12 | Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 29 A10-0168/2026 – Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza – After § 29 – Am 2 | Roll call | 189 for, 387 against, 23 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Members |
| 13 | Paragraph 33 — part 1 of 5 Part voted on: “Stresses the need for a coordinated approach by the, the WHO and the EU to monitoring the flow of healthcare workers, promoting ethical rules for international mobility and preventing brain drain;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 14 | Paragraph 33 — part 2 of 5 Part voted on: “stresses that, where international recruitment is needed, it should not be considered the only tool for the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems, and should be regarded as a complementary measure, and must comply with ethical principles as set out in the WHO Global Code of Practice, so as to prevent creating or exacerbating workforce shortages in countries of origin and to improve relevant monitoring;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 15 | Paragraph 33 — part 3 of 5 Part voted on: “recalls that such recruitment should also be carried out in full respect of national health systems and workforce sustainability;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 16 | Paragraph 33 — part 4 of 5 Part voted on: “welcomes the inclusion of certain categories of healthcare professions in the list of EU-wide shortage occupations as part of an array of measures addressing labour shortages in the EU,” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 17 | Paragraph 33 — part 5 of 5 Part voted on: “in the context of the recently adopted EU Talent Pool Regulation;” | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested bysplit: Members |
| 18 | Separate vote on paragraph 37 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 19 | Separate vote on paragraph 51 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 20 | Separate vote on paragraph 53 | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 21 | Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 55 A10-0168/2026 – Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza – After § 55 – Am 3 | Roll call | 197 for, 400 against, 9 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Members |
| 22 | Separate vote on recital AH | Show of hands | Adopted | Requested byseparate: Members |
| 23 | Final vote — text as a whole A10-0168/2026 – Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza – Motion for a resolution (as a whole) | Roll call | 514 for, 61 against, 33 abstained Adopted |
Roll calls requested by S&D, Members · split votes by Members (2) · separate votes by Members.
Text
The text voted on.
AI: What this vote decides Written by AI from the official text — check the source
The report responds to a health workforce crisis in the Union, where shortages of doctors, nurses, carers and other healthcare professionals are deepening and becoming structural.
It sets out measures under six pillars: employment and working conditions, regional inequalities in access to care, recruitment and training, digital transformation, financing and planning, and ethical labour models.
Parliament adopted the text as its official position, meaning it states Parliament's stance on how to address the crisis and support sustainable healthcare systems.
The report calls for better implementation of the Professional Qualifications Directive, expanded education and training pathways, and use of ESF+ and cohesion funds to support national plans.
AI: The text in short Written by AI from the official text — check the source
Parliament's resolution on an EU health workforce crisis plan calls for a long-term European healthcare workforce strategy to add at least one million professionals over the 2028-2034 funding period.
Dossier
Where the dossier stands and its other decisions in plenary.
2025/2062(INI) · Own-initiative report
Parliament adopted the text on 17 September 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
Show the 5 steps of the dossier
- Referred to committee · 13 March 2025 (done)
- Committee work · Report adopted 3 June 2026 (done)
- Tabled for plenary · 11 June 2026 (done)
- Plenary vote · Adopted 17 September 2026 (done)
- Parliament’s position · Final (done)
Lead committee: SANT · Authors: Loucas FOURLAS (EPP), Ruggero RAZZA (ECR)
Connections
What this decision touches: the procedural chain, the same text, running issues, votes that split the chamber the same way.
Show 12 connections: Running issue: European Pillar of Social Rights · Other decisions of the part-session on SANT dossiers · Final votes that split the chamber the same way
Running issue: European Pillar of Social Rights
- Issue European Pillar of Social Rights Running issue · EU initiative 17 Sept 2026
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- Decision Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers: application EGF/2025/008 BE/Liberty - Belgium Budget decision · report by Matthias Ecke 29 Apr 2026 Passed
Other decisions of the part-session on SANT dossiers
- Decision An EU cardiovascular diseases strategy Resolution · report by Romana Jerković 16 Sept 2026 Adopted
Final votes that split the chamber the same way
- Decision European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: workers affected by imminent job displacement New EU law · report by Liesbet Sommen 28 Apr 2026 Passed
- Decision Implementation of the Council Recommendation on a Bridge to Jobs – Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee Resolution · report by Hristo Petrov 15 Sept 2026 Adopted
- Decision European Social Fund Plus post-2027 Resolution · report by Marit Maij 11 Mar 2025 Adopted
- Decision Draft amending budget No 1/2025: entering the surplus of the financial year 2024 Budget decision · report by Victor Negrescu 9 Jul 2025 Passed
- Decision Gender pay and pension gap in the EU: state of play, challenges and the way forward, and developing guidelines for the better evaluation and fairer remuneration of work in female-dominated sectors Resolution · report by Irena Joveva, Mirosława Nykiel 11 Mar 2026 Adopted
Sources & citation
Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.
- Official sources
- Data source
- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Retrieved
- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2026). “An EU health workforce crisis plan: sustainability of healthcare systems and employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector”. Decision, 17 September 2026. votingId 196143, document A-10-2026-0168, reference 2025/2062(INI). EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2026-09-17/3 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Official sources: Roll-call votes, sitting of 17 September 2026 (European Parliament), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-09-17-RCV_EN.html; Results of votes, sitting of 17 September 2026 (European Parliament), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-09-17-VOT_EN.html. Data: EP Open Data API: decisions of the sitting MTG-PL-2026-09-17, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/meetings/MTG-PL-2026-09-17/decisions?format=application%2Fld%2Bjson (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-decision-2026-09-17-3,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{An EU health workforce crisis plan: sustainability of healthcare systems and employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector}},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-17},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2026-09-17/3}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2026-09-17/3},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Decision. votingId 196143, document A-10-2026-0168, reference 2025/2062(INI). Official source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-09-17-RCV\_EN.html, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-09-17-VOT\_EN.html. Data: EP Open Data API: decisions of the sitting MTG-PL-2026-09-17 (CC BY 4.0)}
}