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. We encourage EU voters to support these candidates in the upcoming elections from 6-9 June 2024.
If you are a candidate in the upcoming elections, you can sign this pledge by emailing us directly at europeanmecoalition@outlook.com.
What is ME/CFS
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic illness that causes extreme exhaustion, cognitive dysfunction, chronic pain, and a range of other symptoms. A hallmark feature of ME/CFS is a marked symptom exacerbation following exertion, which is referred to as post-exertional malaise (PEM). Many ME/CFS patients remain ill for decades and an estimated 25 percent of ME/CFS patients are house- or bedbound at some point in their illness. ME/CFS patients have been found to be as functionally impaired as patients with other chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, and chronic renal disease.
The condition is estimated to affect 2 million individuals across Europe. There is currently no diagnostic test, no FDA- or EMA-approved treatment, and no cure for ME/CFS. Although the pathology of ME/CFS remains poorly understood, the illness is often triggered by an infection such as Epstein-Barr virus infection. Many patients with severe Long Covid suffer from a similar syndrome. Experts have estimated that the COVID-19 pandemic will dramatically increase the prevalence of ME/CFS patients and the need for appropriate care.
European Resolution
Following advocacy work carried out by EMEC including the filing of petition No. 0204/2019, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 18 June 2020 (Resolution 2020/2580(RSP)). The Resolution lists several EU-level actions required to help tackle the impact of ME/CFS, which it describes as a ‘hidden health problem in the EU’. The text highlights the ‘urgent need to address the human and socio-economic consequences of the condition’ and notes that ‘the current underfunding of biomedical research into ME/CFS is unjustified considering the estimated large number of patients and the consequent economic and social impact of this disease’.
Contact your candidate MEP
You can help by contacting the candidates for the European elections in your country and ask them to support the ME/CFS pledge. We have drafted a template letter that you can customize to your own personal situation.
If you get in touch with your MEP(s) and they would like to sign they can email us directly at europeanmecoalition@outlook.com or you can simply forward their confirmation email to us.
Pledge statement
Upon my election to the European Parliament, I pledge to support people affected by ME/CFS by ensuring that the EU/European Commission follows the commitments laid out in Resolution 2020/2580(RSP). This includes taking action to:
- Raise awareness and advocate for better recognition of ME/CFS as a legitimate health condition and the need for EU-level actions commensurate with its high human and socio-economic burden.
- Ensure the European Commission allocates additional funding and promotes cooperation for biomedical research into ME/CFS at the EU level, prioritizing calls in this (specific) area through initiatives such as Horizon Europe.
- Promote EU-level measures and funding for awareness campaigns about ME/CFS, medical education and training for health and social care professionals, and the exchange of ME/CFS-related best practices across member states.
List of signees
This list will be updated regularly (last update: 9 June 2024).
| Name | Party | Country |
| Pascal ARIMONT | Christlich Soziale Partei European People’s Party | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Radan KANEV | Democrats for Strong Bulgaria European People’s Party | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria |
| Jordi CAÑAS | Partido de la Ciudadanía Renew Europe | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Cindy FRANSSEN (not re-electable) | Christen-Democratisch & Vlaams (CD&V) European People’s Party | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN | Kansallinen Kokoomus European People’s Party | 🇫🇮 Finland |
| Frances FITZGERALD (not re-electable) | Fine Gael Party European People’s Party | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
| Katrin LANGENSIEPEN | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Jutta PAULUS | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Karsten LUCKE | Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands Socialists & Democrats | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Ciarán CUFFE | Green Party Greens/EFA | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
| Günther SIDL | Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs Socialists & Democrats | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Andreas SCHIEDER | Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs Socialists & Democrats | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Lukas MANDL | Österreichische Volkspartei European People’s Party | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Kathleen VAN BREMPT | Vooruit Socialists & Democrats | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Tiemo WÖLKEN | Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands Socialists & Democrats | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Hannes HEIDE | Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs Socialists & Democrats | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Melissa LOOS | Partei der Humanisten Non-attached Members | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Luke Ming FLANAGAN | Independent The Left GUE/NGL | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
| Helmut BRANDSTÄTTER | Das Neue Osterreich und Liberales Forum Renew Europe | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Johan VAN OVERTVELDT | Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) European Conservatives and Reformists | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Mohammed CHAHIM | Partij van de Arbeid Socialists & Democrats | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Benedikte DEMUNCK | Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) European Conservatives and Reformists | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Antoni COMÍN I OLIVERES | Junts UE Non-attached Members | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Cristina MONTANÉ MONTALS | Junts UE Non-attached Members | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Ines KOSTIC | Partij voor de Dieren GUE/NGL | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Raquel GARCÍA HERMIDA-VAN DER WALLE | D66 Renew Europe | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Per CLAUSEN | Enhedslisten GUE/NGL | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
| Barbara BONTE | Vlaams Belang Identity and Democracy | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Kati SCHNEEBERGER | Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Charles HOAREAU | Non à l’UE et à l’OTAN, communistes pour la paix et le progrès social Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Assita KANKO | Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) European Conservatives and Reformists | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Valentina CRAST | Alternativet Aligned to the Green Group | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
| Jan KRISTOFFERSEN | Alternativet Aligned to the Green Group | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
| Thomas WAITZ | Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Katrin FALLMANN | Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Alexander BERNHUBER | Österreichische Volkspartei European People’s Party | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Merel MULLER | Partij voor de Dieren GUE/NGL | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Lorys ELMAYAN | La Ruche Citoyenne Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Ellen MOK | D66 Renew Europe | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Lena SCHILLING | Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Jean Marc GOVERNATORI | Écologie au centre Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Gashaw BIBANI | Vasemmistoliitto GUE/NGL | 🇫🇮 Finland |
| Diane LAGRANGE | Nous Le Peuple Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Patrice GRUDÉ | Liberté démocratique française Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Ines VUKAJLOVIC | Die Grünen Greens/EFA | 🇦🇹 Austria |
| Raphaël GLUCKSMANN | Réveiller L’Europe Socialists & Democrats | 🇫🇷 France |
| Marie TOUSSAINT David CORMAND Mélissa CAMARA Mounir SATOURI Majdouline SBAI Benoit BITEAU Caroline ROOSE Aboulaye DIARRA Priscillia LUDOSKY Amine KESSACI Flora GHEBALI Claude GRUFFAT Stéphanie DEMBAK-DIJOUX Régis GODEC Aminata PALLUD | Europe Écologie Greens/EFA | 🇫🇷 France |
| Christophe CLERGEAU | Réveiller L’Europe Socialists & Democrats | 🇫🇷 France |
| Charlotte PICARD | Réveiller L’Europe Socialists & Democrats | 🇫🇷 France |
| Dirk VANSINTJAN | Groen Greens/EFA | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Frédérique BONNARD | Réveiller L’Europe Socialists & Democrats | 🇫🇷 France |
| Elke TWEEPENNINCKX | Groen Greens/EFA | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Magda AELVOET | Groen Greens/EFA | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Simon MICHALKE | Partei der Humanisten Non-attached Members | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Maarten TAVERNIER | Groen Greens/EFA | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Dieynaba DIOP | Réveiller L’Europe Socialists & Democrats | 🇫🇷 France |
| Charis KAMOEN | Christen-Democratisch & Vlaams (cd&v) European People’s Party | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Elsa RUILLERE | Non à l’UE et à l’OTAN, communistes pour la paix et le progrès social Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Nora MEBAREK | Réveiller L’Europe Socialists & Democrats | 🇫🇷 France |
| Janneke RONSE | Partij van de Arbeid van België (PVDA) GUE/NGL | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Michel SIMONIN | Paix et décroissance Non-attached Members | 🇫🇷 France |
| Torsten LAKSAFOSS HOLBEK | Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti Renew Europe | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
| Liesbet SOMMEN | Christen-Democratisch & Vlaams (CD&V) European People’s Party | 🇧🇪 Belgium |