Member States' Initiative to Reinstate Operating Grants for Health NGOS Under EU4HEALTH
EPF supports member states' initiative to reinstate operating grants for health HGOs under EU4HEALTH.
The European Patients’ Forum (EPF) applauds the initiative launched by France and backed by several Member States calling for the reinstatement of operating grants for health non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under the EU4Health Programme from 2026 onwards.
In a non-paper shared around the discussions on the EU4Health Work Programme 2026, France has raised concerns about the removal of operating grants in 2025 and underlines the importance of structural funding for health NGOs at EU level. EPF notes the initiative has received support from several other Member States, including Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain, reflecting a shared recognition of the importance of structured civil society participation in EU health policymaking.
This initiative also comes in the context of the recent involvement of the European Ombudswoman regarding the discontinuation of operating grants. The Ombudswoman found that the Commission’s failure to communicate in a timely and transparent way with NGOs on the withdrawal of grants was not in line with good administration standards. The Ombudswoman has requested a written reply from the Commission by 15 May 2026.
Operating grants enable health NGOs to contribute to EU policy making processes. While action grants support time-limited projects within a rigid research-oriented framework, operating grants ensure coordination of European networks, representation of vulnerable communities in EU stakeholder fora, member consultations to inform policy implementation, and dissemination of EU health initiatives at national level. This includes, for example, EPF’s collaboration with the European Medicines Agency and support to the European Commission on identifying patients for health technology assessment (HTA) processes under the HTA Regulation.
The overall budget required for operating grants remains limited in the context of EU4Health (approximately €9 million per year; €23.8 million committed for 2022–2024). However, their contribution to structured patient and civil society participation has risen sharply. The recent mid-term evaluation of EU4Health recognised the added value of stable, multiannual cooperation frameworks.
The removal of operating grants has already had serious consequences, with organisations closing their Brussels offices and slashing entire programmes due to resource constraints. In the medium term, it risks weakening participation mechanisms, disrupting organisational capacity, and creating disparities in representation across Member States. It may also increase reliance on private funding sources, which could leave critical public health priorities insufficiently addressed and create challenges in meeting eligibility thresholds for participation in certain EU structures.
“Operating grants are essential for sustained and meaningful patient involvement at European level,” said Valentina Strammiello, Interim Executive Director of the European Patients’ Forum. “They ensure the independent expertise and coordination needed for consistent engagement in EU health policymaking, especially at a time when many important EU health legislation and policies for patients and public health are currently being implemented and negotiated.”
EPF therefore calls for the reintroduction of structural funding for health NGOs in EU4Health from 2026 onwards, as well as a predictable and stable funding framework under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034).
EPF remains committed to constructive dialogue with EU institutions to ensure that patient organisations can continue to contribute effectively to European health policy development.