Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 91998E2471

**WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2471/98 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO to the Commission. The European Parliament and Parkinson's disease** 
  
*Official Journal C 135 , 14/05/1999 P. 0061*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2471/98

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: The European Parliament and Parkinson's disease

What initiatives have been undertaken and how much funding has been made available by the European Union for the purpose of studying, combating and relieving the suffering caused by Parkinson's disease?

Has the Commission any plans for a programme to meet the needs arising from the treatment and the effects of Parkinson's disease?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

The Commission has supported activities on neurodegenerative disorders and informal carers since 1995. However, so far no project presented on Parkinson's disease has met the criteria required for financial support. The European Parkinson's Disease Association has received financial support from the programme on integration of disabled people into the labour market, in order to analyse the needs of people and their families living with this disease and to find the appropriate response.

The new "paving" communication on the development of public health policy(1) proposes a move away from the disease-specific approach towards a more horizontal approach to public health. However, Article 152 of the Treaty of Amsterdam states clearly that the way the Member States organise and deliver their health care systems is the responsibility of the Member States.

Research into Parkinson's disease has always had a place in the Community¢s biomedical research programmes (Biomed). It received funding under Biomed 1 and there are now four Biomed 2 projects specifically on the subject. These range from the genetic and molecular approach to treatment by cellular grafting or functional neurosurgery. Some of these projects have already yielded significant results. The disease is also covered partially or indirectly by many other projects.

It should be given at least as much priority under topic 1 of the future fifth framework programme, and is in fact one of the few diseases expressly mentioned in the programme, in the key action on "ageing". It also ties in perfectly with at least two general actions: chronic and degenerative diseases, and neurosciences.

(1) COM(98) 230 final.

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