On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section III – Commission
SANT-AD-779460
Committee on Public Health · Rapporteur: Kateřina Konečná
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The Committee on Public Health's opinion on the 2024 EU budget discharge calls on the Commission to address errors and improve health spending effectiveness, particularly in EU4Health and digital health.¶¶¶ It regrets the €1 billion cut to EU4Health, urges reversing it, and calls for better implementation, transparency, and focus on prevention, mental health, and vulnerable groups.¶¶ It welcomes progress in crisis preparedness, cancer, digital health, and rare diseases, but stresses the need for targeted support and data protection.¶¶¶ It notes HERA's achievements and calls for improved coordination, communication, and parliamentary oversight.¶¶¶ The committee concludes that discharge can be granted to the Commission for public health expenditure in 2024.¶
Committee position. The Committee on Public Health proposes that discharge be granted to the Commission for 2024 public health expenditure, while calling for corrective actions and improvements.¶
Key points
- Regrets that 2024 budgetary expenditure is materially affected by error, with an estimated error rate of 3.6%, and stresses that health spending must be effective and deliver measurable improvements.¶
- Calls on the Commission to fully implement ECA recommendations on digital health, improving guidance, monitoring, and ensuring data protection, cybersecurity, and interoperability.¶
- Strongly regrets the €1 billion cut to EU4Health for 2025-2027 and calls on the Commission and Council to reverse it in the next MFF and annual budget.¶
- Calls for a stronger EU4Health focus on health promotion, disease prevention, mental health, non-communicable diseases, and a gender-sensitive approach.
- Notes that EU4Health implementation was partial (64.5% commitments, 29.3% payments) and calls for improved transparency, streamlined procedures, and support to smaller Member States and civil society.¶
- Notes that crisis preparedness and response took about 64% of the EU4Health 2024 budget, strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to health emergencies.¶
- Welcomes progress in EU4Health implementation, with milestones met, and highlights advances in crisis preparedness, disease prevention, cancer, and rare diseases via ERNs.¶
- Acknowledges EU4Health's contribution to InvestEU with €110 million for EIB investments in life-science projects, and calls for transparency and broad access.¶
- Notes direct grants for surveillance systems attracted 23 proposals with €87 million, and the AMR joint action with €50 million engaged all Member States.¶
- Calls for more resources for community-based mental health services, focusing on children, youth, LGBTIQ+ persons, and precarious workers, and addressing psychosocial risks.¶
- Calls on the Commission to leverage EU4Health to make healthcare careers attractive, addressing staff shortages and burnout, especially in underserved regions.¶
- Regrets the discontinuation of operating grants for health civil society organisations under EU4Health 2025 and calls for stable support mechanisms.¶
Who is affected
- The Commission and Council are called to reverse EU4Health cuts and improve implementation.¶¶
- Smaller Member States and civil society organisations would benefit from targeted support and simplified procedures.¶
- Health workers and patients in underserved regions would see improved working conditions and digital health benefits.¶¶
- HERA is called to improve coordination, communication, and parliamentary oversight.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 3.6% overall error rate in 2024 expenditure¶
- €1 billion cut to EU4Health for 2025-2027¶
- 64.5% of commitments and 29.3% of payments executed under EU4Health¶
- 64% of EU4Health annual budget for 2024 spent on crisis preparedness¶
- €110 million InvestEU top-up for EIB investments¶
- 23 proposals with €87 million for surveillance systems¶
- €50 million for AMR joint action
- €77.4 million for ERN grants and €18.75 million for joint action¶