Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

4.12.2020

The Commission is aware that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic, complex condition, imposes a high burden on patients and their families.

The Commission has put forward an ambitious health programme, EU4Health[1]. EU4Health’s objectives include the strengthening of health systems through increased integrated and coordinated work among Member States, and the sustained implementation of best practices, both relevant for the improvement of clinical management of ME/CFS.

As regarding Horizon Europe, the upcoming research and innovation programme, a better understanding of diseases and their drivers has been identified as one of the priorities of its health cluster.

Therefore, scientists and other actors with a specific interest in ME/CFS should have many possibilities to obtain support for their research and their goals in better understanding the causes of this disease and develop diagnostic tests and effective treatments to respond to patients’ needs.

Moreover, the Commission services are currently working closely with the Member States in order to address under-investigated conditions, of which ME/CFS is a paradigmatic example, in the first work programme of Horizon Europe.

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/health/funding/eu4health_en