We, at the European ME Coalition (EMEC), call on the candidates in the European elections to commit their support for people suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) by endorsing our pledge. The 2024 European elections take place from 6 to 9 June. You can ask your national candidates to sign the pledge and supportContinue reading “Write to your EU-candidate”
Author Archives: EMEC team
The ME/CFS pledge for the European elections
We, at the European ME Coalition (EMEC) call upon candidates in the European elections to commit to supporting individuals suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) by endorsing our pledge. Those who have signed the pledge or actively supported the ME/CFS community in Europe in the past will be listed below on this website. WeContinue reading “The ME/CFS pledge for the European elections”
The COVI workshop on Long Covid: a brief summary
On 9 March, a workshop on Long Covid was held in the European parliament. Various invited experts and Members of Parliament highlighted a link between ME/CFS and Long Covid. In February, the European Parliament’s Special Committee on COVID-19 (the COVI Committee) published a draft report on lessons learned from the pandemic and recommendations for theContinue reading “The COVI workshop on Long Covid: a brief summary”
The scoping study has finally been published
The long-awaited scoping study has finally been published. This document defines “high-burden under-researched medical conditions” that will be targeted in future calls of the Horizon Europe research program. ME/CFS made the list but so did a lot of other medical conditions. This article provides a brief overview of the main results. Background and introduction TheContinue reading “The scoping study has finally been published”
Horizon Europe calls 2023-2024
On 6 December 2022, the European Commission approved the second work program of Horizon Europe for the years 2023-2024. In this article, we highlight several grants that may be relevant for scientists studying myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Introduction: what is Horizon Europe? Horizon Europe is the big research and innovation program of the EuropeanContinue reading “Horizon Europe calls 2023-2024”
The European call on ME/CFS: an overview and what follows next
More than 2 years after the adoption of the ME/CFS resolution, the European Commission has finally taken an initiative to support research on ME/CFS. The Horizon Europe work program 2023-2024 includes a call on “tackling high-burden for patients, under-researched medical conditions.” This call gives ME/CFS researchers improved opportunities to compete for a big European grantContinue reading “The European call on ME/CFS: an overview and what follows next”
Press release: EU supports research on poorly understood diseases
Thanks to the dedicated work of Belgian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Pascal Arimont and colleagues, Horizon Europe will provide new funding opportunities for research on high-burden, under-researched diseases. While modern medicine has produced many spectacular breakthroughs, some diseases remain poorly understood to this day. These illnesses often cause chronic pain and debilitating fatigueContinue reading “Press release: EU supports research on poorly understood diseases”
A new response from the EU Commission
In February 2022, a group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) headed by Pascal Arimont wrote several letters on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to the European Commission. This article provides an overview of the Commission’s response to these letters. The MEPs, who form the parliamentary interest group for ME/CFS, highlighted the lack ofContinue reading “A new response from the EU Commission”
The IQWiG report on ME/CFS in Germany
On 13 October 2022, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) published its draft report on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This report was commissioned two years ago by the German government in part because of the European resolution on ME/CFS. The final report is thought to play an important roleContinue reading “The IQWiG report on ME/CFS in Germany”
World ME Alliance calls on WHO Director General to recognize ME alongside Long Covid
The World ME Alliance has written to Dr. Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) calling on him to ensure that progress for people with Long Covid doesn’t leave the millions already suffering with ME behind and to meet with representatives. On Wednesday 12th October Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, wrote an op-ed in the Guardian. In it, he lays clear the devastationContinue reading “World ME Alliance calls on WHO Director General to recognize ME alongside Long Covid”