European Parliament seeks stronger safeguards and expanded funding for health in next EU budget
Discussions around the EU’s next long-term budget (2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework) have accelerated in recent weeks, with increasing concern among policymakers and health stakeholders over the future of dedicated EU health funding.
The debate began to intensify on 15 April, when the European Parliament’s Budget Committee adopted its interim position on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The committee reaffirmed health as a strategic priority and warned against weakening the objectives of the current EU4Health programme within the European Commission’s proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). While the proposal does not preserve EU4Health as a standalone programme, it called for €10 billion to be earmarked specifically for health objectives and for long-term, predictable funding for civil society organisations.
Momentum continued to build on 23 April, when reports emerged that the European Parliament’s health committee (SANT) was pushing for a substantially larger health envelope within the Competitiveness Fund. The committee proposed more than €20 billion in total health-related allocations across different sections of the fund, including approximately €10 billion for EU4Health-type public health programmes, €5.5 billion for industrial competitiveness in areas such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, alongside additional funding for digital health and health preparedness.
At the same time, concerns persisted over the Commission’s proposal to merge health funding into a broader competitiveness framework. Public health organisations and several policymakers warned that health priorities risk being overshadowed by industrial and economic objectives if dedicated protections are not secured.
Parallel discussions were also taking place within the Council of the EU. A draft text circulated by the Cypriot Presidency on 23 April argued that key EU4Health priorities not explicitly covered in the future budget should still be protected within the Competitiveness Fund, including preparedness, stockpiling, surveillance, and medical countermeasures.
On 28 April, the European Parliament formally adopted its interim MFF position in plenary, including support for approximately €10 billion for EU4Health-related programmes—roughly double the size of the current EU4Health budget. The position also included increased support for civil protection and health preparedness.
Most recently, on 7 May, the Parliament’s health committee adopted its opinion on the Competitiveness Fund, again backing more than €20 billion in health-related funding across multiple funding windows. Health committee rapporteur Radan Kanev described the vote as helping secure a “strong anchor” for health within the future Competitiveness Fund ahead of negotiations led by the Parliament’s industry committee.
The debate now moves into the next phase of negotiations between Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, where the future structure—and political priority—of EU health funding will be decided.
