Alzheimer Europe has joined European health civil society organisations (CSOs) in the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, expressing concern regarding the lack of information on the EU4Health work programme 2025. Nearly three months into 2025, no information has been made available on the EU4Health work programme and operating grants for 2025, nor is there a timeline available regarding their publication and retroactivity. The statement notes the significant financial difficulties for CSOs in planning their activities for 2025, as well as highlighting that operating grants are an essential funding mechanism, enabling organisations engage independently and meaningfully in EU policy processes. Additionally, it is noted that the late publication of the Work Programme means that a significant part of the year 2025 may not be covered, and that any organisations participating in the various workstreams of the Programme will have less time to implement activities that would have normally taken place over an entire year.
The statement asks the European Commission:
• To publish the EU4Health working programme as soon as possible, including a substantial increase in Operating grants amounts given more CSOs received Framework Partnership Agreements.
• To implement a simplified and faster application process for CSOs that have received a Framework Partnership Agreement, given the amount of effort that has already gone into the application. CSOs invested significant time and resources in applying Framework Partnership Agreements.
• To implement operating grants retroactively, on an annual basis. The allocated grants for 2025 must cover activities implemented by health civil society organisations from January 2025, as the Framework Partnership Agreements cover the whole year.
• To propose additional funding opportunities for CSOs that were not eligible for the Framework Partnership Agreements or could not apply.
• To already prepare for the EU4H 2026 WP so CSOs are not placed in a similar situation in 2026.
The full statement is available at: https://eu4health.eu/concerns-over-the-lack-of-information-on-the-publication-of-the-2025-calls-for-operating-grants-under-the-eu4health-programme
