EU Commission Reveals €571 Million Health Budget, NGOs Face Cuts

The European Commission has unveiled its long-anticipated budget programme for health, allocating €571 million to the EU4Health initiative for 2025. This announcement, made after months of delays, comes amid significant concerns from civil society organizations regarding deep funding cuts that have already prompted layoffs and halted crucial activities.

The EU4Health programme, initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to bolster public health across the European Union. According to a Commission spokesperson, the delays stemmed from multiple factors, including the transition to the new Commission that took office in December 2024 and the need to adjust for earlier budget reallocations, notably a diversion of €1 billion from EU4Health to support Ukraine, announced in February 2024.

Impact of Funding Cuts on Civil Society

A major point of contention for health NGOs is the complete elimination of operating grants, which have historically supported the core functions of these organizations. Instead, the new programme will only provide action grants for specific projects. A Commission spokesperson stated, “It does not mean that NGOs will not be able to directly participate. It’s just that we are doing the funding now differently.”

For many organizations, this shift is not simply a bureaucratic change but a potentially damaging alteration that threatens their core missions. Milka Sokolović, director general of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), highlighted the severe impact of the funding cuts: “The absence of operating grants has pushed many in our sector into survival mode,” she explained. EPHA has had to reduce its staff by 40% this year due to the funding uncertainty.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Virginie Bros-Facer, CEO of EURORDIS, which represents patients with rare diseases. She expressed disappointment that the EU4Health 2025 Work Programme not only confirms the exclusion of operating grants but also offers limited alternative funding opportunities for civil society groups.

Florence Berteletti from the European Alcohol Policy Alliance noted that operating grants have been recognized for their essential role in fostering meaningful interactions between civil society and EU institutions. She pointed out that these grants represent a mere 1% of the EU health budget, raising concerns about the sustainability of many NGOs.

Wider Implications for Civil Society

The funding shortfall occurs within a broader context of civil society being increasingly sidelined. The Commission’s funding of environmental NGOs has faced right-wing criticism, contributing to an environment that many perceive as becoming more hostile to non-profit organizations.

Sokolović emphasized the importance of funding for NGOs, arguing that it serves to counterbalance the influence of wealthier private interests. “It allows us to act as watchdogs for democracy at a time of democratic backsliding,” she stated. Without sufficient funding, she warned that commercial interests could dominate EU decision-making, undermining the role of civil society.

As the EU’s health priorities have shifted since the launch of EU4Health, many are questioning whether public health remains a true priority for the bloc. The original initiative was designed as the EU’s first standalone health budget, with an allocation of €5.3 billion aimed at reinforcing the health sector. Now, with core support for NGOs dwindling, the question remains whether these organizations can continue fulfilling their vital roles in public health advocacy and action.

As the European Commission implements its budget for 2025, the future of civil society organizations in the health sector appears uncertain, raising significant concerns about their ability to contribute effectively to public health initiatives in the European Union.