ENVI vote risks derailing action to prevent disease and strengthen health resilience

Tonight, the EP’s ENVI committee is set to vote on an objection to the EU LIFE work programme 2025-2027. The LIFE programme is the EU’s only programme financing action for health, nature and climate protection, especially at local level. For over three decades, LIFE has supported over 6,000 projects, many of which have led to tangible health improvements, e.g. through cleaner air. A modest amount of the LIFE programme is allocated for operating grants for NGOs. HEAL is concerned that a group of center-right Parliamentarians aims to derail the programme’s execution in their rally against civil society. 

People’s health is threatened like never before from the climate change, biodiversity and pollution crises. The science on health impacts and cost from this triple crisis is robust and keeps growing.  

The LIFE programme is the EU’s only funding programme for environment and climate action and has been highly successful. It is based on the LIFE regulation and has been agreed upon by the co-legislators of the EU, including the European Parliament. Since 1992 it has co-financed over 6,000 projects, especially at local level. This includes financial support for clean air projects by regional and local authorities in Poland and Bulgaria or strengthening health resilience in climate adaptation in Hungary and the Netherlands. Last but not least, environmental ministries receive support for capacity building, e.g. the Bulgarian Ministry.  

For the 2021-27 period, LIFE has a total budget of 5.43 billion EURs (approximately €771 million annually), with the majority of this financing being spent on projects. Only a modest amount of the LIFE programme has been allocated for operating grants for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – 15.5 million annually, to participate in the development, implementation and enforcement of EU environmental and climate policies. 

With tonight’s vote, a group of center-right MEPs aims to derail the continued execution of the EU LIFE programme on the basis of unfounded claims on NGO financing which have been spun with no evidence to back them up.  

Through two motions to object to the implementing act of the LIFE programme, MEPs risk derailing the continued implementation of the whole programme, including all projects, all support to environmental ministries and local authorities. They’re holding the whole programme hostage in their attempt to curtail civic space.  

Tonight’s vote follows an exchange in the European Parliament in January and insinuations brought forward in the EP’s Committee on Budgetary Control that civil society engages in “subversive actions” and “interferes with the democratic decision-making process”.  

We are highly concerned about tonight’s ENVI vote as yet another attempt to curtail the unique role of civil society organisations in EU policy deliberations. Our alliance, like many other civil society organisations, brings forward independent science on the health threat from climate change and pollution. Together with our members, representing the public interest, we highlight key legislative gaps, we bring forward the voices of those most at risk, and remind EU decision-makers of their commitment to prevent disease through environmental and climate action. A group of center-right MEPs aims to push through their biased agenda, which threatens people’s health across the EU. We urge MEPs to follow the facts and not derail already agreed action in the LIFE programme.

Genon K. Jensen, HEAL’s Executive Director