Breaking news: Positive response from the EU Ombudsman: An investigation will be launched into the EU Commission’s handling of a report from our NGOs on health risks from wireless radiation

We have just received a letter from Teresa Anjinho, the European Ombudsman¹, that she has decided to launch a formal investigation. She will look into how the European Commission has handled concerns expressed by a group of NGOs² about a scientific Opinion issued by the EU institution called SCHEER. This institution³ provides so-called Opinions to the Commission on questions concerning health and emerging environmental risks. The impartiality and accuracy of SCHEER’s judgement is of the utmost importance because future legislation from the Commission may be based un such Opinions.

The investigation by the Ombudsman follows a joint complaint⁴4 submitted by several NGOs that are members of ESC. These NGOs raised serious concerns about the scientific quality of the 2023 SCHEER Opinion Report, which concluded that there “was no moderate or strong evidence of adverse health effects from chronic or acute RF-EMF exposure below current safety limits.”

However, after conducting an in-depth critical review, the NGOs found that the Opinion from SCHEER was “unreliable and severely biased.” They argued that its findings “stand in stark contrast to the position held by most independent scientists on the topic,” who see growing evidence of harm from exposure levels that are currently considered safe.

According to the NGOs, the SCHEER report was flawed for several reasons:

• Conflicts of interest: Some members of SCHEER’s working group had ties to industry or industry-funded research.
• Lack of balance: Experts who have critical views on health effects from RF-EMF were excluded, despite many qualified candidates from reputable institutions.
• Selective evidence: The report failed to consider peer-reviewed studies showing harmful effects at exposure levels below existing limits.

The Ombudsman cannot rule on the scientific conclusions drawn by SCHEER. However, the investigation by the Ombudsman will focus on whether the European Commission ensured that proper procedures were followed. The European Commission must comply with its own EU regulations regarding the appointment of independent and competent experts for scientific assessments. Specifically, the inquiry will assess how the Commission addressed the complainants’ concerns and whether it acted in a transparent and reasonable manner.

Rob van der Boom, Chair of ESC, notes, “We expect this inquiry to pave the way for recognition that SCHEER has not given sufficient attention to the importance of impartiality and independence. It could mark a breakthrough in prompting authorities to acknowledge the growing health concerns related to EMF exposure.”

ESC highly appreciates the effort of our member groups for their contribution which has managed to open the door to the Ombudsman’s office. Especially we want to thank Sophie Pelletier, President of the French NGO Priartem, and Mona Nilsson, Director of Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, for their excellent work in handling this complaint over SCHEER’s faulty Opinion.

Timeline & Documents

• April 2023: SCHEER publishes its final opinion on RF-EMF health effects.
• October 2023: Two NGOs publish a critical review of the SCHEER report.
• January 2024: ESC gives critical feedback to the EU.
• February 2025: Several NGOs submit a formal complaint to the European Commission.
• July 2025: NGOs escalate the complaint to the Ombudsman after receiving an unsatisfactory response from the Commission.
• October 2025: The Ombudsman opens a formal inquiry.

Examples of Scientific Opinions that Contradict SCHEER

ICBE-EMF 2022: “Scientific evidence invalidates health assumptions underlying the FCC and ICNIRP exposure limit determinations for radiofrequency radiation: implications for 5G”

European Parliamentary Research Service (2021): Health Impact of 5G

EMF Scientists Appeal: Signed by 268 scientists

EUROPAEM EMF Guidelines (2016)

The BioInitiative Report

1. European Ombudsman: a government official who investigates and tries to resolve complaints about authorities.
2. NGOs that lodged the complaint: PRIARTEM / Electrosensibles de France, Strålskyddsstiftelsen (Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation), Rådet for Helbredssikker Telekommunikation (Council for Safe Telecommunication) (Denmark), Europeans for Safe Connections, May Day for Health and Freedom (Denmark), Associazione Malattie da Intossicazione Cronica e Ambientale (AMICA APS) (Italy), EHS Foreningen (Denmark), Comitato di Tutela Monte Porzio Catone (Italy), Associazione Italiana Elettrosensibili, Agir pour l’Environnement (France), Associazione per la Prevenzione e Lotta all’Elettrosmog (A.P.P.L.E.) (Italy).
3. SCHEER: Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks.
4. Complaint 1898/2025/MIK