Health still accounts for well under 1% of the EU's long-term budget
Health is the strongest indicator of Europe’s quality of life, according to the latest EU barometer, even as investment is set to decrease in the upcoming EU long-term budget, with the sector folded into a broader Competitiveness Fund.
Based on nearly 26,500 interviews from across all 27 EU countries, the findings show that physical and mental health remain the most important drivers of well‑being and are cited by around half of respondents.
Health‑related aspects dominate the top three components of what Europeans consider essential for quality of life: “physical and mental health” (51%), followed by the “financial situation and ability to afford daily life” (49%), and “quality and accessibility of healthcare” (46%).
Previous Eurobarometer surveys showed that Europeans place the greatest trust in the EU when it comes to health. Most recently, in 2024, around 70% of respondents said they trust the Union to coordinate responses to health crises and set common standards.
