Fighting for a cure

The European ME Coalition (EMEC) is an advocacy group for persons suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Welcome!

Welcome to the website of EMEC, the European ME Coalition. We are an advocacy group for persons suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in Europe. Our team consists of ME/CFS patients and carers who strive for high-quality scientific research so that one day an effective treatment for this debilitating illness can be found.

We have submitted petition No 0204/2019 on a request for funding for biomedical research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which has been signed more than 10.000 times. EMEC member and ME/CFS patient Evelien Van Den Brink subsequently made a powerful speech in the European Parliament where she addressed European representatives as follows:

“on behalf of all patients I’m asking you: please don’t look away. We are here and today we have made ourselves visible.”

European ME coalition

The petition and speech resulted in a resolution on additional funding for biomedical ME/CFS research, which was adopted on 17 June 2020 by the European Parliament. This is the first-ever European resolution on ME/CFS and could mean a historic breakthrough for scientific research into the illness.

We have also worked on an open letter signed by 115 esteemed scientists and researchers worldwide that addresses the underfunding of ME/CFS research in Europe. While national governments in Canada, Australia, and the United States have earmarked funding for ME/CFS research, the EU is funding little to no biomedical research into this condition. This has to change.

Learn more about our initiatives by clicking on one of the submenus below.