Great news!

"In a resolution adopted on Wednesday with 676 votes in favour, 4 against and 8 abstentions, the European Parliament calls for additional EU funding for research on ME/CFS and the prioritisation of projects focused on biomedical research" https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200615IPR81245/me-cfs-meps-call-for-more-funds-for-research-into-complex-illness

The resolution describes ME/CFS as a “complex, highly disabling disease” and a “hidden public health problem in the EU”.

It, therefore, "calls on the Commission to commission a study assessing the overall social and economic costs attributable to ME/CFS within the EU"

The resolution notes that there are approximately 2 million EU citizens suffering from ME/FCS.

It writes that "there are still no established biomedical diagnostic tests for ME/CFS, nor are there any EU/EMA-approved treatments."

The resolution says that "research efforts on ME/CFS remain rather fragmented and coordination of research at EU level is missing.”

“To date no specific projects on diagnosis/treatment of ME/CFS have been supported by the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation.”

The resolution (this is probably the most important part) "calls on the Commission to allocate additional funding and prioritise calls for projects specifically focused on biomedical research into ME/CFS."

The resolution makes some other important recommendations.

For example, it requests funding to ensure “appropriate and improved medical education and training for health and social care professionals working with ME/CFS patients"

Finally, the document invites both the commission and member states “to launch information and awareness-raising campaigns among health professionals and the public in order to alert the population to the existence and symptoms of ME/CFS.”

Many thanks to all the ME/CFS patients and carers who have helped to make this possible by signing the petition and supporting the resolution.

It's sad that we have to do so much ourselves to make some progress but I think today shows that together we can make a difference