The European Commission has opened a consultation on the draft Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – the EU’s long-term budget plan. In the current proposal, rare diseases are not explicitly mentioned, and the EU4Health programme no longer appears as a standalone initiative.
European Reference Networks (ERNs) – established by the European Commission in 2017 have become a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to improve diagnosis, treatment, and care for people living with rare and complex conditions by connecting healthcare providers and specialists across Member States. The omission of ERNs and rare diseases from the current MFF proposal highlights the importance of demonstrating their continued value and ensuring they remain part of Europe’s shared health priorities.
You are invited to give feedback to the Commission adoption process highlighting the need for more explicit inclusion and function of ERNs and rare disease in the next MFF. You can have your say up until 12 November (midnight Brussels time).