The European Commission’s continued delay in publishing the EU4Health 2025 Work Programme is sparking serious concern across the European health community. Four months into the year, no call for operating grants has been issued—leaving many health NGOs, in a precarious situation.

To address this, Digestive Cancers Europe – DiCE joined 34 other European health NGOs in signing an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging immediate action. The letter highlights the urgent need to adopt the 2025 Work Programme and ensure full-year operational funding for civil society organisations holding Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs). The call to action can be read in full here.

Without funding, civil society organisations risk downsizing, losing staff, and interrupting vital work in areas like cancer, mental health, pandemic preparedness, and health equity. As the letter makes clear, this is not a technical delay—it’s a political decision with tangible consequences.

Despite reassurances from a Commission spokesperson that the programme is expected to be adopted “soon,” recent reports suggest health NGOs should not expect any funding this year from DG SANTE. This has only intensified concerns about the European Commission’s commitment to a strong European Health Union.

At DiCE, we believe that a resilient public health landscape in Europe cannot exist without a strong, stable, and supported civil society. The EU4Health Programme was created to strengthen Europe’s health systems. For that to happen, the institutions must honour their commitments—and fund the very partners helping them deliver on their promises.

The cancer community – the patients, survivors, carers and their families know all too well the value of civil society. Our work brings the voice of patients into policymaking, builds bridges between institutions and communities, and keeps governments accountable to the people they serve. During the COVID-19 pandemic, civil society mobilised quickly to deliver vital services and information. Today, as we face overlapping health crises — from non-communicable diseases to mental health challenges — this role is more crucial than ever.

Delays like this not only undermine our operational capacity; they erode Europe’s health resilience at a structural level.

Together with our partners in the Civil Society Alliance, DiCE is calling for:

• Immediate adoption of the 2025 EU4Health Work Programme.
• Full-year operating grants for all civil society organisations with valid FPAs.
• A clear, transparent commitment from the next European Commission to uphold the value of civil society in delivering EU health priorities.

We stand with our partners in calling on the European Commission to act swiftly and restore trust, stability, and continuity to EU health policy implementation.

Author:

Ivan Ratkovic