Sittings · Document
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 – all sections
Committee on Public Health · Rapporteur: Michalis Hadjipantela
The Committee on Public Health calls on the Committee on Budgets to incorporate its suggestions into the 2026 EU budget resolution, focusing on strengthening public health systems, increasing funding for key health initiatives, and addressing health inequalities.¶¶ It demands adequate funding for prevention, mental health, digital health, research, and preparedness, while opposing cuts to EU4Health and Horizon Europe health research.¶¶ It also calls for aligning cohesion funds with health objectives, supporting cross-border care, and ensuring transparent, result-oriented spending.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for practical solutions to build stronger, more resilient, accessible, and affordable public health systems, with adequate resources for implementing key health legislation.¶
- Urges recognition of public health as a sector of strategic autonomy, prioritizing investments in underserved regions and addressing social determinants of health.¶
- Calls for alignment of national recovery and cohesion funding with EU health objectives, including investments in local infrastructure, stockpiles, and training.¶¶
- Highlights the need for global health cooperation with WHO and welcomes the Commission's preparedness strategy for future health threats.¶
- Welcomes the proposed 17.6% increase in EU4Health budget for 2026 but regrets the Council's proposed cut of €97.3 million, calling for an agreement that increases the draft budget allocation.¶
- Stresses that decreases in the Cohesion Fund harm health-related categories and calls for a targeted EU programme to improve access to health and telemedicine in remote regions.¶
- Calls for transparent, result-oriented spending with focus on mental health, digital health, AMR, and non-communicable diseases, and for synergies with ESF+ for upskilling healthcare professionals.¶
- Underlines the need for dedicated funding to combat AMR and to improve working conditions and retention of healthcare professionals, especially in underserved areas.¶¶
- Reiterates the importance of cross-border healthcare and patient mobility, calling for increased funding for interoperability of national health systems.¶
- Calls for budget lines for digital transformation in health, including AI and robotics, with a human dimension and focus on children.¶
- Emphasizes the need for funding and regulatory support for innovative medical technologies, stockpiling, joint procurement, and crisis preparedness.¶
- Commends progress of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and calls for prioritising childhood cancer support, tackling health disinformation, and supporting European Reference Networks.¶
Who is affected
- Member states and the Commission, which must allocate resources and implement health priorities.¶¶
- Healthcare professionals, who need better working conditions, training, and retention measures.¶¶
- Patients, particularly those needing cross-border care, transplants, and access to innovative treatments.¶¶
- Small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in health and biotechnology, which need support for innovation.¶¶
- Civil society organisations and NGOs working on health, which need adequate and predictable funding.¶
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