Seven EU countries vote against Commission's 2026 health programme over NGO funding cuts
The European Commission's EU4Health work programme for 2026 faced a divided vote among EU member states, with seven countries voting against, ten abstaining, and ten supporting. The main point of contention was the Commission's proposed cuts to operating grants for civil-society health organizations, which several member states and NGOs argued would weaken health advocacy. Among the opposing countries were Malta, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and likely Slovenia. The Commission failed to secure the required majority for approval. The vote occurs amid broader restructuring, including the planned merger of EU4Health into the European Competitiveness Fund and a nearly 20% budget cut from €5.3 billion to €4.1 billion. Possible next steps include referring the matter to an appeal committee or amending the programme for a new vote. NGOs such as the European Patient Forum and EURORDIS welcomed the outcome as a positive signal for independent health advocacy.
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