PAREA submits feedback on the next EU long-term budget

Today, on World Mental Health Day, we call for mental health to be recognised as a cornerstone of societal well-being and future-readiness, and a defining pillar of Europe’s strategic priorities in the years ahead.

PAREA has submitted feedback to the European Commission’s consultation on the EU’s next long-term budget (MFF), focusing on funding for competitiveness.Our core message: mental health should be central to Europe’s innovation and competitiveness agenda. Psychedelic therapies represent where current systems fall short and where reforms are most urgent.

Mental health conditions are now the leading cause of years lived with disability, yet psychiatric innovation has stalled. Patients still rely on decades-old treatments while depression and anxiety reach record levels. At the same time, Europe is losing ground in brain health R&D. Fragmented national pathways, outdated rules that ignore the role of psychotherapy, and limited trial models all slow progress. Even if therapies are approved, many countries lack the infrastructure or workforce to deliver them.

We are calling for a strategic EU response - a moonshot and long-term strategy for mental health, modernisation of regulation and reimbursement, enabling of real-world testing, and building the infrastructure needed for safe and equitable care. Psychedelic therapies highlight these needs clearly but the case for change extends across mental health. By acting now, we can ensure the next generation of mental health treatments are made in Europe and accessible to all who need them.