EBN-EU leaders surprised health stakeholders by shifting €1 billion from Europe’s largest health program to support Ukraine’s aid package. A segment of €10.6 billion from the €50 billion plan for Ukraine, endorsed during a special summit on February 1, will fund by redirecting money from other areas in the bloc’s long-term budget, aiming to minimize the impact on national budgets.
Expressing satisfaction, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stated, “I’m very satisfied that we got 80% of the funding we asked for. We had difficult choices to make, but we achieved a very good result.”
As part of this reallocation, €1 billion will be deducted from the €5.3 billion funding line for EU4Health, a program responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU4Health program, halved in 2020 from its original proposal, aims to strengthen crisis preparedness and address long-term health challenges.
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola voiced concerns about the decision, stating, “This package withdraws money from programs our citizens depend on.” She urged the EU to increase funding for health and research, not decrease it.
The decision shocked health stakeholders, with Milka Sokolovic of the European Public Health Alliance calling it a “shockingly shortsighted decision.” Claudia Louati of the European Patients Forum expressed disappointment, stating, “These cuts are extremely disappointing and difficult to comprehend.”
Health civil society organizations, including EPHA and EPF, urged the European Council to reverse the decision in a letter, but their call seemed to be ignored. Louati highlighted the importance of continued advocacy to keep health and patients’ access to care high on the political agenda, especially with the European elections approaching.
