Joint statement: Civil society calls for sustainable funding for EU health civil society
EuroHealthNet has endorsed a statement, together with 186 CSOs from across Europe, calling on the European Commission to restore meaningful, adequate, and sustainable operating grants for EU health CSOs under the 2026 EU4Health Work Programme and beyond.
The statement responds to the challenging situation facing health civil society following the discontinuation of EU4Health operating grants in 2025. Across Europe, CSOs are facing increasing financial pressure and a more challenging operating environment. Sustainable and transparent funding is essential to maintaining an independent, diverse and effective civil society and ensuring that it can play its full role in European democracy. As the EU prepares its next Multiannual Financial Framework, the experience of health civil society raises concerns about the precedent this could set for CSOs across sectors.
EU health and patient advocacy organisations are an essential part of European democracy. They bring the voices and experiences of patients, communities and citizens into policymaking and contribute independent expertise to public health debates and major EU legislation. Like CSOs in other sectors, they help ensure pluralistic, balanced, and evidence-based policymaking.
The signatories therefore join Member States and Members of the European Parliament in calling on the European Commission to restore meaningful, adequate and sustainable operating grants for EU health civil society under EU4Health in 2026 and beyond, and to translate the commitments of the EU Civil Society Strategy into concrete action.
