Brussels (Brussels Morning) As of today, the European Health and Digital Agency (HaDEA) takes on its responsibilities as the new body in charge of the financial management of key EU health programmes. A branch of the European Commission, the HaDEA is charged with helping rebuild a post-COVID-19 Europe, one the EU hopes will be “greener, more digital and more resilient for future challenges”.
The new agency has been entrusted with implementation of non-policy-related actions to help accomplish a range of objectives within the framework of the 2021-2027 EU4Health programme.
“For the first time in EU history, we will have an ambitious, stand-alone health programme, one that aims to meet the main health needs of the entire bloc and its citizens, while providing more coordination and groundwork to respond to public health emergencies”, MEP Sara Cerdas (S&D) declared, referring to the EU4health’s unprecedented budget.
Programmes to be managed by the HaDEA include: the newly adopted EU4Health programme (5.1 billion euros); Horizon Europe – Pillar II, Cluster 1, Health (4.8 billion euros); and the Food safety side of the Single Market Programme (1.3 billion euros).
The new agency’s responsibilities for monitoring crucial health programmes will also apply to the Digital Europe Programme (0.8 billion euros); Connecting Europe Facility – Digital (1.7 billion euros); and the Horizon Europe – Pillar II, cluster 4, Digital, Industry and Space (6.1 billion euros).
In total, the expected budget managed by the HaDEA will amount to more than 20 billion euros over the seven years of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.
The HaDEA was established on 16 February 2021, headquartered in Brussels. Overseeing it will be a Steering Committee comprising the Directorate-General (DG) Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), DG Research and Innovation (RTD), DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT), DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW) and DG Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS).
It will have an initial staff of around 280 personnel but is expected to number more than 500 by 2027.