The European Ombudsman has asked the European Commission to explain why it did not inform civil society organisations, in timely and transparent way, about the effect of budget cuts in the EU4Health programme.
This follows a complaint lodged by civil society organisations from the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, who highlighted that health sector civil society organisations had signed Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) with the Commission under the EU4Health programme in 2024, expecting the Commission to publish calls for operating grants for 2025.
Following the revision of the EU long-term budget 2021-2027 decided by the Council with budgetary cuts affecting the programme, the Commission decided not to publish any calls but failed to inform the organisations who had signed FPAs. Despite civil society organisations contacting the Commission on multiple occasions in 2024 and 2025 seeking clarification, they did not receive an answer. Only following the intervention of the Ombudswoman, did the Commission respond to these concerns.
Based on the Commission’s reply, the Ombudsman noted that, while the Commission was not obliged to publish calls in 2025 for operating grants even if FPAs existed, it still has a duty to communicate in a timely and transparent way with stakeholders on decisions that directly affect them. Failure to do so was noted as not being in line with the principles of good administration.
The Ombudsman emphasised that if the Commission had kept the NGOs informed of relevant developments in a timely manner, they could have planned their activities accordingly and made informed decisions on how to manage their budget.
The Ombudsman also pointed out that that the budgetary cuts affecting the EU4Health programme were known to the Commission as early as December 2023. Despite this, the Commission signed FPAs with the NGOs in October 2024, without giving any indication as to whether cuts to the programme could affect the provision of grants. In addition, FPA holders were requested to amend their agreements in line with new institutional guidance in April 2025, again with no mention of how operating grants may be affected.
The Ombudsman has asked the Commission to provide a written reply to their assessment of the issue by 15 May 2026.
More information on the complaint is available at: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/case/en/70535
