EU Health Coalition response to the European Commission’s proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)

The EU Health Coalition, representing 55 organisations from across Europe’s health and life sciences community, takes note of the European Commission’s proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034, also known as the EU long-term budget.

While we welcome several positive elements in the proposal, we are concerned that health no longer appears to be a strategic and cross-cutting priority of the European Union, backed by a clearly defined and protected budget. In this context, we reiterate our call to policymakers to establish health as a strategic pillar and a priority area for substantial investment — essential for Europe’s preparedness, competitiveness, economic prosperity and scientific innovation, as underscored by the Draghi report, and fundamental to the wellbeing of its population.

We welcome the prioritisation of health promotion and disease prevention across the life course, anchored in the One Health approach, and the emphasis on non-communicable diseases.  The focus on strengthening the efficiency and resilience of health systems—through digitalisation, improved use of health data, and the development of health and bioeconomy technologies—is also highly welcome. Equally important is the commitment to improving the availability and accessibility of medicines and medical devices, including for underserved populations (e.g., children and rare disease patients), as well as advancing health security and preparedness policies. These are critical elements that align with the Coalition’s calls for more integrated and forward-looking health strategies at EU level.

Greater ambition, investment, and clarity are needed

However, we are concerned that health seems confined to a policy window, rather than embedded as a strategic pillar across the long-term budget, despite being fundamental to individual and societal wellbeing. The lessons of the past years, coupled with ongoing demographic and environmental health challenges, are a reminder that resilient health systems, a skilled workforce, strong life sciences research, and digital innovation deployed at scale remain essential for Europe’s prosperity and competitiveness.

We are particularly concerned that the proposal for the long-term budget lacks a clear commitment to ring-fenced funding for public health, health research and the enabling ecosystem, and does not include sustainable funding mechanisms for patient organisations. Despite the crucial role these stakeholders play in ensuring health policies remain grounded in the needs of European patients and communities.

What’s needed

For the next MFF to deliver on the EU’s health and innovation goals, we urge the EU legislators to:

1) Elevate health and life sciences as a strategic and cross-cutting priority across the EU budget.

2) Ensure a clear, ring-fenced budget for health research and innovation, including support for multi-country clinical trials, health systems preparedness, investment in resilient and sustainable health systems through prevention, early detection and integrated care (including  support for vulnerable populations), digital infrastructure, and skills development, providing a stable ecosystem for stakeholders in health to plan, collaborate, and deliver projects and solutions that improve health outcomes across Europe.

3) Significantly increase EU investment in health and research, recognising their central role in securing Europe’s resilience, global competitiveness, and long-term prosperity.

4) Guarantee predictable and sustainable funding for civil society organisations to support inclusive, people-centred health systems and the implementation of EU legislation, for example by amplifying patients’ voices in the EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA) regulation and EMA regulatory processes.

5) Develop governance mechanisms to ensure coherence between the long-term budget and related health and industrial policy frameworks—ensuring that funding aligns with Europe’s long-term health goals, citizens’ needs, and preparedness priorities. Given the scale of investment required, this means:

• Providing adequate resources for initiatives such as the European Health Data Space (e.g. health ICT, research, infrastructure, capacity building, stakeholder engagement).
• Aligning with major reforms, including the revision of the General Pharmaceutical Legislation and the implementation of the Medical Devices Regulation and the In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation, the latter by strengthening notified bodies, improving coordination between regulatory agencies, digitalisation, clinical capacity, and faster patient access.
• Advancing broader strategies such as the Union of Skills agenda and the European Life Sciences Strategy to bolster Europe’s scientific and industrial competitiveness.

The EU Health Coalition stands ready to work with all institutions and stakeholders to ensure the next EU long-term budget truly reflects the full societal, scientific, and economic value of health.