Keeping Sapri maternity hospital open and safeguarding essential services in small European towns and communities

Question for written answer E-002386/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Valentina Palmisano (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left) Subject: Keeping Sapri maternity hospital open and safeguarding essential services in small European towns and communities Sapri’s maternity hospital covers 17 municipalities alone in health district 71 – a border area between Campania, Basilicata and Calabria that is already suffering from demographic decline, poor infrastructure and regional marginalisation. Its closure risks preventing people from having access to essential care and increasing territorial inequalities. It also contradicts EU policies to combat demographic decline and ensure the vitality of small communities. Resolution 2020/2039 (INI) stresses the need for targeted investments to stop depopulation and support birth rates, while Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan promote universal access to health services, which is key to a sustainable demographic fabric. In the light of Article 3 TEU, Article 9 TFEU and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 21): 1. Will the Commission ensure that EU funds are made compatible with the protection of essential health services, such as maternity hospitals? How? 2. Can Italy use EU funds (NRRP, ESF +, ERDF) to combat population degrowth and ensure the continuity and vitality of these small communities? 3. Does it consider it appropriate to promote EU guidelines...