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The next EU budget: Strengthening financing for zero pollution, climate resilience and disease prevention

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. 

In May 2025, the European Parliament will adopt a resolution on “a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world”, setting its priorities for the future budget 2028-2034  

People’s health in the EU is threatened like never before from the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Just this week, the latest EU Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report underlined that stronger action is needed to reach the EU’s zero pollution targets for 2030. Urgent action is needed to prevent further suffering, to strengthen health resilience, protect vulnerable groups and help to reduce socio-economic inequalities.  

HEAL therefore considers it crucial that the next EU MFF paves the way for reducing the substantial health cost of pollution, as well as for increasing investments to protect people’s health against the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.  

We recommend the following actions:  

  • Invest in better health, not pollution, while promoting equity    
  • Strong conditions for healthy and zero pollution investments   
  • Stop EU funding for harmful subsidies (fossil fuel subsidies) 

On 6 March, the European Parliament’s ENVI will consider the draft opinion to the BUDG INI report on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world. 

In our letter to members of the ENVI committee, we express great concern that funding to reduce and prevent pollution seems deprioritised. The EU needs consistency in tackling the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution to better protect health. We urge ENVI MEPs to support the priorities outlined above. 

Read the full letter here

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