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EURORDIS welcomes European Parliament’s defence of investment in EU health projects

October 2024

23 October 2024, Brussels – EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe welcomes today’s European Parliament vote, which decisively uphold the commitment to maintaining the 2025 budget against the Council of the EU’s proposed cuts.

By opposing reductions to critical programmes like Horizon Europe and EU4Health, the Parliament has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving essential investments in health and research that benefit millions across Europe.

Responding to the vote, Valentina Bottarelli, Public Affairs Director at EURORDIS, said:

EURORDIS is heartened by the European Parliament’s clear decision today. This vote sends a strong message: Europe must continue to prioritise health, investing in research and innovation, particularly in areas like rare diseases, where EU action is crucial and progress cannot afford to be stalled.

Programmes such as Horizon Europe, which funds the newly launched European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA), are crucial to advancing new treatments and diagnostic tools for rare diseases. Today’s vote increases the likelihood that this essential work can continue without interruption.

What makes EU-level funding so vital is its ability to bring together expertise from across member states, creating a collaborative approach to rare diseases, especially when it comes to rare disease research and the delivery of essential treatments that no single country can efficiently achieve on its own. This collective investment accelerates innovation and makes sure that breakthroughs for patients who are currently in desperate need of adequate treatments, reach the market faster.

As highlighted in the recently published Draghi Report on EU competitiveness, the essential need for investment in health, including in rare disease research, is key to secure Europe’s future. By rejecting proposed cuts to research funding, the European Parliament has aligned with Draghi’s recommendations, reinforcing hopes that this decision will result in the necessary resources for Europe to become a global leader in health research and innovation.

EURORDIS now urges all EU institutions to uphold this commitment as the budget negotiations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework progress, ensuring that Horizon Europe and EU4Health receive the funding needed to support life-saving research and improve the lives of the 30 million people living with a rare disease in Europe.


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About EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe  

EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe is a unique, non-profit alliance of over 1,000 rare disease organisations from 74 countries that work together to improve the lives of the 30 million people living with a rare disease in Europe. By connecting people, families, and rare disease groups, as well as by bringing together all stakeholders and mobilising the rare disease community, EURORDIS strengthens the patient voice and shapes research, policies, and services. 


Contact

Julien Poulain 
Communications Manager 
EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe 
Julien.poulain@eurordis.org 
+33 6 42 98 14 32