EU Health Coalition calls upon the European Council to increase the total Horizon Europe budget to €120 billion
19.06.19
Ahead of the European Council Meeting (20-21 June), the EU Health Coalition calls upon Member States to adopt a Multiannual Financial Framework as well as a Horizon Europe budget which echo Europe’s ambition for innovation in research.
Horizon Europe plays a significant role in fostering a coherent, internationally competitive European research landscape. Therefore, €120 billion dedicated to Horizon Europe, as proposed by the European Parliament, coupled with an increase in national funding for research is required to address major challenges Europe is facing.
We support the European Parliament decisions and Pascal Lamy’s High Level group recommendations to help Europe maintain its position as a key player in research at the global level and foster European health research through increased funding under Horizon Europe.
A robust budget for health research should be secured along with appropriate funding allocated to the Health Cluster within Horizon Europe. The EU finances only one-tenth of the public research investment, but is the major funder of impactful, collaborative and transnational research(1). Horizon Europe’s proposed budget should make full use of the research potentials as well as requirements within Europe. Collaborative research is needed to foster knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship and partnerships between academia and industry, and to maintain Europe’s competitiveness.
Background information
Within the EU Health Coalition, a dedicated Research and Innovation policy group has proposed recommendations with the aim to enhance the health research landscape in Europe. The proposed recommendations call for an increased EU budget for health research, setting-up a cross-sectorial health research Public Private Partnership and better coordination and support for health research.
The EU Health Coalition was created after the 1st EU Health Summit, which took place in November 2018, to ensure continued cooperation between stakeholders in the field of health. The EU Health Summit addressed emerging and persisting challenges such as the burden of chronic diseases and the consequences of an ageing population for the health sector. Simultaneously, the summit discussed new innovations and technologies that show huge potential in transforming healthcare and enhancing sustainable health systems. The EU Health Coalition is composed of patient organisations, EU research-oriented medical societies, industry representatives and other relevant stakeholders that share a common vision for health. More info can be found here.
The statement is endorsed by: