EU4Health Civil Society Alliance: concerns about restrictions on civil society’s activities
The EU4Health Civil Society Alliance has expressed concerns about funding restrictions faced by civil society organisations (CSOs) in environmental and climate action. These CSOs are typically funded through operating grants from the EU LIFE programme. Under the new guidelines, these funds can no longer be used to develop and implement policy and advocacy activities targeting EU policymakers. The new guidelines could significantly limit the activities of CSOs in the EU and create a highly concerning precedent with risks for other policy areas.
Operating grants under EU funding programmes allow CSOs to participate in policymaking processes. They help bring expertise and convey the voice of the citizens, vulnerable groups, and communities they represent to the policymaking process. CSOs are essential to a vibrant democratic civic space and ensure that every citizen’s “right to participate in the democratic life of the Union” is upheld in practice.
The Civil Society Alliance is also concerned about the impact and developments this could have for CSOs in other policy areas, including health. Indeed, as of today, health CSOs still do not have information on the operating grants provided under the EU4Health programme for 2025, as the EU4Health Work Programme still has not been presented.
The EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, therefore, calls for the EU to reconsider the limitations set on the LIFE programme and for transparency and a clear timeline for the publication of the EU4Health 2025 Work Programme.
About EU4Health
EU4Health is a pan-European alliance of European, national and grassroots level health organisations, of which EuroHealthNet is a member. Coordinated by a group of European level health umbrella NGOs, the group shares a vision of a Europe where all people are as healthy as they can be throughout their lives. The campaign aims to ensure that EU action on health remains strong post COVID-19.
