The European Ombudsman has launched a formal investigation into how the European Commission handled concerns regarding opinion on potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) delivered by the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER). RF is emitted from modern day telecommunication technologies such as 5G, mobile phones and WiFi.
The inquiry (Complaint 1898/2025/MIK) follows a joint complaint submitted by several NGOs that raised serious concerns about scientific shortcomings in the SCHEER RF-EMF 2023 opinion report that “could not identify moderate or strong level of evidence for adverse health effects resulting from chronic or acute RF EMF exposure from existing technology” at levels below current limits.
However after an in-depth critical review of the SCHEER opinion, the NGOs concluded in an initial complaint to the Commission in February 2025 that the SCHEER assessment is “unreliable and severely biased” and “in stark contradiction with the position of the majority of the independent scientific community on the subject” who conclude there is growing evidence of harmful health effects at levels below existing limits. The NGOs allege that:
- Several members of the SCHEER working group responsible for the opinion had conflicts of interest due to ties to industry or industry-funded research;
- Experts who hold more critical views on health effects from RF exposure were not invited, even though there are many such experts from high-ranking institutions;
- The group failed to adequately consider peer-reviewed studies showing harmful effects of RF-EMF exposure below existing limits.
The Ombudsman does not evaluate scientific content, but she will examine whether the Commission has in place appropriate procedures to ensure independence, transparency, and balanced representation within its scientific advisory bodies. Specifically, the inquiry will assess how the Commission addressed the complainants’ concerns and whether it acted in a transparent and reasonable manner.
Sophie Pelletier, president of PRIARTEM / Electrosensibles de France, welcomes this announcement: “The European Ombudsman has conducted a thorough review of our complaint. She considers our claims to be sufficiently serious to open an investigation and begin by questioning the European Commission about its handling of the appointment of experts. This is an important first step that has just been taken.”
Mona Nilsson, Director of the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation states: “The conclusions of the SCHEER opinion reflect the influence of the pro-industry experts selected to draft it. Disregarding the substantial body of evidence showing harmful effects below current exposure limits serves the interests of the powerful telecommunications sector at the expense of public health. It is of utmost importance that such assessment experts are independent and work in the public interest.
Background Facts and Documents:
- April 2023: The Final SCHEER Opinion on health effects from RF-EMF was published. SCHEER RF-EMF report 2023
- October 2023: Two NGOs publish an in-depth critical review of the SCHEER Opinion. Critique of SCHEER Opinion Report.
- February 2025: Several NGO’s send a formal complaint re the SCHEER Opinion to the European Commission in February 2025. NGOs complaint to European Commission 2025
- June 2025: Several NGOs file a formal complaint to the Ombudsman after a reply from the Commission that failed to adequately address the critique in the complaint.
- October 2025: The Ombudsman decides to open an inquiry into the Commissions handling.
