Written by Nicole Scholz (1st edition),
© Julien Eichinger / Adobe Stock
On 28 May 2020, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on a new health programme (EU4Health) for 2021 to 2027. Announced as part of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument, according to the Commission the EU4Health programme is intended to boost the EU’s preparedness for major cross-border health threats and improve health systems resilience.
Under the proposal, EU4Health would be a stand-alone, dedicated funding programme with a budget of €10.4 billion (in current prices). However, during the ongoing negotiations on the EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2021-2027 period and NGEU, the budget for EU4Health has been reviewed downwards compared with what was originally proposed. According to the 21 July 2020 European Council conclusions, the programme will be allocated €1.7 billion.
Stakeholders broadly welcome the proposal, but generally regret the European Council’s reduction of the financial envelope allocated to it. In a July 2020 resolution on the European Council conclusions, Parliament criticised the proposed cuts to EU4Health. In Parliament, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) is responsible for the file. The rapporteur’s June 2020 draft report proposes several amendments to the Commission proposal. ENVI Members tabled further amendments in July. The committee is expected to vote on the report in October.
In the Council, the proposal is being examined at the level of the working party on public health.
Versions
| Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health – for the period 2021-2027 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 (‘EU4Health Programme’) | ||
| Committee responsible: | Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) | COM(2020) 405 28.5.2020 |
| Rapporteur: | Cristian-Silviu Buşoi (EPP, Romania) | 2020/0102 (COD) |
| Shadow rapporteurs: | Sara Cerdas (S&D, Portugal) Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe, France) Luisa Regimenti (ID, Italy) Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France) Joanna Kopcińska (ECR, Poland) Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, Czechia) |
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
| Next steps expected: | Adoption of report in committee | |
Discussion
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