Brussels, September 9, 2024 – The European Brain Council (EBC), its member organisations, national brain councils and 100 supporting partners are rallying support for the increased prioritisation of brain health on EU health and research agendas. As part of the No Health Without Brain Health campaign, they urge all stakeholders, policymakers, and the wider public to endorse critical policy initiatives that will significantly enhance brain health, research and care across Europe.
Why This Matters:
Brain health impacts everyone in Europe. Whether the continued quest for cures and treatment for those living with brain conditions or the protection and fostering of healthy brains for our future generations, the challenges are unprecedented. Addressing brain health is not only about managing a burden but also about empowering people to thrive, contributing to labour markets, economies, and the overall well-being of society.
With the adoption of multiple plans for mental health and neurological disorders, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did require commitment to addressing the burden of brain disorders in a cohesive manner from Member States. This increased attention to brain health, brain research and brain innovation is particularly reflected within different European initiatives such as the Healthier Together initiative, the Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health or the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
Despite all this, the latest UN Report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), released in 2023, does not register any progress in tackling Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). In fact, SDG target 3.4 to ‘reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment’ is far from being met (1). In this context, the European Union needs to equip itself with an equally ambitious “Brain Plan”, similar to the action dedicated to cancer over the last years, and to create a robust parliamentary mechanism able to transversally oversee all current and future initiatives, in a cohesive and efficient manner.
Campaign Goals:
– Establish a European Parliament Intergroup on Brain Health and Research: This Intergroup will ensure that brain health remains a central focus in EU policy discussions. It aims to foster interactions and synergies, ensuring that critical issues associated with brain health and brain research receive the attention they need, while grounding policymaking in evidence-based scientific knowledge.
– Support for National and EU Brain Plans: The campaign advocates for the continued development of national brain plans and a comprehensive European Brain Strategy. This initiative seeks to foster brain-healthy, wellbeing economies for current and future generations, increase investment in brain research and innovation and improve care for the millions of Europeans living with brain conditions, neurological and mental alike.
Join Us:
The current international and European momentum on brain health is an unprecedented opportunity to drive concrete policy change that would directly benefit all European citizens, including the millions living with a brain condition and their families and carers, while strengthening the EU’s competitiveness and role as a global leader.
We invite all stakeholders, partners, and advocates to join this vital effort. Together, we can make a significant impact on the well-being, health and future of millions of Europeans. For more information and to pledge your support as an organization, please visit the No Health Without Brain Health campaign page.
Media Contacts:
Stephanie Kramer, Deputy Executive Director: stkr@braincouncil.eu
Hugo Hermantin, Communications & Advocacy Officer: hugo@braincouncil.eu
About the European Brain Council:
The European Brain Council (EBC) is a network of key players in the “Brain Area”, with a membership encompassing scientific societies, patient organisations, professional societies and industry partners. A non-profit organisation based in Brussels, its main mission is to promote brain research with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of the estimated 179 million Europeans living with brain conditions, mental and neurological alike.
(1): Sustainable development demands brain health, Editorial, The Lancet, 18 September 2023. ⬆️
