HEAL has signed a letter, initiated by ClientEarth, alongside other organisations, calling for the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis calling to refrain from advancing the proposed deregulatory chemicals omnibus to protect health and the environment.
The EU’s proposed 2040 climate target to reduce domestic emissions by 90% - while allowing up to 3% to be met through international carbon credits – risks undermining health protections. The Health and Environment Alliance calls on member states to strengthen their climate commitments in order to protect health, rather than delay and weaken overdue action.
EU Heads of State will be exchanging on EU defence, competitiveness, and preparedness matters as part of the European Council. HEAL urges them to strengthen health protection and disease prevention as part of EU preparedness and financing priorities, by placing health protection at the centre of EU climate efforts, strengthening legislative efforts to reduce chemicals pollution and stepping up investments in better health, not pollution.
HEAL together with representatives from the medical, scientific, and civil society sectors, is calling on policymakers in Poland to develop a national action plan to reduce the health impacts of harmful chemicals and to support the revision of EU regulations. The appeal was presented on 10 June in Warsaw during the International Conference Preventing Disease by Reducing Exposure to Harmful Chemicals, held under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Polish Minister of Health, and the President of the Polish Supreme Medical Council.
HEAL response to the articles in the German newspaper DIE WELT “Secret contracts and powerful shadow lobbying”, 7 June 2025 These articles include a series of allegations and insinuations which…
HEAL has given input to a consultation on priorities for the next EU long-term budget 2028-2034. The EU budget sets the framework for public spending on EU policies: Now is the time to set the EU on the path for ambitious investments into protection Europeans’ health against climate and environmental threats, especially pollution.
HEAL has sent a letter to the European Parliament’s Public Health Committee (SANT) ahead of the European Commission's presentation on its new Preparedness Union Strategy — “Reinforcing Europe’s resilience in a changing world” to the committee.
The May 2025 vote on the European Parliament’s priorities for the next EU long-term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034) included many important health considerations, including on financing for measures to prevent climate change and biodiversity loss. Unfortunately, MEPs failed to include financing to address pollution and the related health impacts. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) calls on earmarking at least 10% of the next EU budget for zero pollution objectives across various funding instruments.
HEAL and eight more Brussels-based organisations have sent a letter to EU Commission President von der Leyen and all EU Commissioners, urging them to uphold climate, nature and public health priorities in the next EU budget.
Ahead of the upcoming EP plenary vote on 7 May on the 2023 discharge: EU general budget – Commission, executive agencies and European Development Funds, HEAL has sent a letter to MEPs urging them to stand in support of a strong, independent and vibrant civil society.
HEAL has sent a letter to MEPs, regarding their upcoming vote on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.
As the policy deliberations on the next EU budget for 2028-2034, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), have started, HEAL considers it crucial that health protection from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is at the core of spending and investment priorities.
On 23 April, the European Parliament's BUDG committee is set to vote on the BUDG INI report on A Revamped Long-term Budget for the Union in a changing world, the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). HEAL has sent a letter to members of the committee.
This week, two important committees in the European Parliament – ENVI (Environment Climate and Food Safety) and FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) – adopted their opinion for an upcoming European Parliament resolution on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.
Ahead of a key vote in the European Parliament, HEAL is one of over 550 civil society organisations from 40 countries, including all EU member states, urging democratic forces to act for a strong and independent civil society, including through adequate funding.
On 9/10 April, the European Parliament's FEMM committee is set to vote on the opinion to the BUDG INI report on A Revamped Long-term Budget for the Union in a changing world, the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). HEAL has sent a letter to members of the committee.
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.
Civil society engagement is at the heart of the European project and brings forward a unique perspective to EU decision-making.
In the coming months, EU institutions will negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s long-term budget, usually covering a seven-year period. It details the public spending for different areas of EU policies, including environment and climate action.
Against the backdrop of an ever-growing body of evidence on the health impacts and cost of people's exposure to pollution, HEAL is concerned that the Clean Industrial Deal misses the opportunity to set the EU on the path for swift and significant pollution reduction and disease prevention. To work for people in the EU and their health, the Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero pollution deal, with three principles at its core.
