On 11 October, Frédérique Ries, MEP (Belgium), wrote to Health Commissioner Kyriakides urging her to revise the Commission's position on operating grants in the field of health and to reintroduce these as part of the 2022 EU4Health Work Programme. Ms Ries reminded the Commissioner that operating grants had consistently demonstrated their significant added value to the EU health programme and ensured the sustainability and continuity of work for health NGOs. In addition, other Commission Directorates had maintained operating grants for NGOs in their areas. She concluded by noting that that the Commission’s approach had left health NGOs facing an uncertain future at a time when health was prominent on the European agenda, with a budget which was significantly higher compared to previous Health Programmes.
This initiative by Frédérique Ries follows an open letter on 2 June signed by 57 MEPs and 22 European organisations which outlined the importance of the policy contributions of health NGOS and called for the reinstatement of operating grants as a funding mechanism for them. Despite assurances of support for civil society at a meeting between NGOs and the Commissioner on 30 July, no resolution has been reached to date which led Ms Ries to call yet again on the Commissioner for the return of operating grants.
