European conference on combating Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases
Nicolas Sarkozy
© Alain François
- from: 30.10.2008
- to: 31.10.2008
- In: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Improving European coordination to effectively combat Alzheimer's disease and related diseases is the central focus of this conference.
The fight against Alzheimer's disease and degenerative illnesses is one of the main priorities of European health policy. All Member States are increasingly faced with the twofold challenge of an ageing population and caring for dependant patients, and the effects are already being felt on the social level. This situation has encouraged the development of a joint approach in the health care field, based on exchanging and sharing experience on a European level.
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union is holding a conference in Paris on 30 and 31 October on this subject, bringing together politicians, experts and patient organisations and facilitating discussion of the essential aspects of the fight against these kinds of illnesses, such as caring for patients, which requires combining care and social support, developing specific skills and adapting professions based on patient needs and knowledge development, and lastly, research, by coordinating ongoing research programmes in various European countries.
The European dimension could provide a significant impulse to the different aspect of the fight against these illnesses. Hence the joint announcement made last 1 July by the President of the European Commission and President Sarkozy to make preparing a European plan against Alzheimer their objective. It could be structured around three main lines, research, care and quality of life, ethics and legal aspects.
France would like to submit a proposal of conclusions on this subject to the Council.
The President of the European Council gave the closing speech of the conference on Friday 31 October at 12:00.
On this occasion, the Head of State recalled his commitment to this cause in the name of values shared by France and Europe. He called for Europe to take action where this could have a greater impact than action taken at national level alone, by intensifying research efforts, sharing best practices for care and assistance and promoting a common ethical reflection.
Ministerial Conference: “Combating Alzheimer’s and related diseases”
Nicolas Sarkozy’s closing speech to the European conference on combating Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases:
- Updated: 18.12.2008
