The European Commission has presented its proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), covering 2028–2034. Worth nearly €2 trillion, this long-term budget will decide how Europe spends on its top priorities, from competitiveness and defence to climate resilience and migration. For the 200 million people in Europe living with allergy, asthma and COPD, the MFF is more than a financial plan: it will determine whether the EU invests in the healthcare, prevention and preparedness patients urgently need.
EFA responded to two of the six consultations: on civil protection, preparedness and response to crises and on cross-border education, training and solidarity, young people, values, and civil society. In both, we brought the respiratory patient perspective, calling for investments that protect vulnerable populations and support health civil society organisations. In a time of climate change, medicine shortages and the risk of new pandemics, we urged that health remains a visible priority in the EU’s budget.
What is in the new EU long-term budget?
The Commission’s proposal, published between July and September, aims to be flexible and impactful, addressing Europe’s biggest challenges from energy security to competitiveness.
One major shift compared to the previous budget is related to health. The EU4Health programme, which previously represented the budget dedicated to health, has been absorbed into the new European Competitiveness Fund. This leaves no stand-alone pot for public health and represents a missed opportunity to give healthcare the visibility it deserves. However, opportunities remain. Investments in preparedness and crisis response can still support patients with chronic diseases if health is maintained as a priority.
Against this backdrop, EFA has identified three areas where the MFF must act to support the respiratory community: access to care, investment in health systems and prevention of respiratory diseases.
EFA priorities for the MFF
Access to care
Under the MFF’s main feature ‘Driving prosperity via competitiveness, research and innovation’ the EU focuses on health and biotech industry. EFA welcomes this, but stresses that intellectual property barriers must not block access to new treatments. The upcoming EU Biotech Act should ensure innovation translates into real progress for patients with unmet needs.
Investment in health
Health is not a cost but an investment. Under the MFF’s main feature ‘Investing in people, Member States and regions’, the EU wants to maximise the impact of every euro spent. EFA calls for stronger healthcare systems that can cope with ageing populations and rising rates of chronic diseases such as COPD. Preparing now will protect both patients and Europe’s economic resilience.
Prevention of respiratory diseases
Prevention is a key pillar of public health and must be reflected in the budget. Both in the political guidelines of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and in the mission letter of Commissioner for Health Olivér Várhelyi, preventive health emerges as a central priority for the Commission.
Under the MFF’s main feature ‘Fostering education and democratic values’ the EU should support health literacy and access to key information for health decisions, like vaccines.
Regarding the MFF’s main feature ‘Protecting people and building preparedness and resilience to face new challenges’, we welcome the proposed €400 billion crisis mechanism for emergencies such as climate-driven heatwaves, which hit respiratory patients hardest. But preparedness should go further than emergency response. Adaptation to long-term threats like climate change must also be funded.
Finally, under the ‘New own resources to match our common ambition’ a tobacco excise duty is expected to generate around EUR 11.2 billion annually. EFA asks the Commission to communicate on the public health risks of tobacco and to not delay the revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive any further.
As a next step, the decision on the future long-term EU budget and revenue system will be discussed by Member States in the Council, acting by unanimity, with the consent of the European Parliament for the MFF.
For patients, the message is clear: Europe’s long-term resilience depends on investment in health. The MFF is an opportunity to strengthen access, prevention and preparedness and to ensure respiratory health is not left behind.
Read EFA’s response to the consultations here.