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Alzheimer Europe launches European Election Campaign 2024
Alzheimer Europe launches its European Election Campaign 2024 to prioritise dementia as a policy issue at a European level, in advance of the European Parliament elections between 6 and 9 June 2024.
The campaign consists of three aspects, focused on different target groups, urging them to take action to ensure European decision-makers include dementia in the forthcoming legislative term.
As part of the campaign, Alzheimer Europe stresses that dementia is the third leading cause of mortality in Europe and the seventh globally, with a societal cost in Europe estimated at EUR 392 billion in 2019.
They highlight that by 2025, 9.1 million people will be living with dementia in the European Union, rising to 14.3 million in 2050.
Alzheimer Europe urges members of the public to sign up to its Call to Action, to send a clear message to European decision-makers that dementia is a vital issue for European citizens.
Alzheimer Europe also encourages candidates standing in the European Parliament to sign its Dementia Pledge 2024, committing to work with Alzheimer Europe in the next parliamentary term.
Luxembourg, 15 January 2024 – In advance of the European Parliament elections between 6 and 9 June 2024, Alzheimer Europe has today launched its European Election Campaign 2024, aiming to make dementia a priority issue for decision-makers at a European level.
In its campaign, Alzheimer Europe highlights World Health Organization (WHO) figures which show that dementia is the third leading cause of mortality in Europe and the seventh globally, with a societal cost in Europe estimated to be EUR 392 billion in 2019. Additionally, the organisation points out that by 2025, 9.1 million people will be living with dementia in the European Union, rising to 14.3 million in 2050.
Alzheimer Europe is therefore pushing for the condition to be shown greater attention by European decision-makers and has adopted a campaign with three distinct elements aimed at different audiences, demanding dementia be prioritised as a policy issue:
The Helsinki Manifesto – An outline of the current situation in relation to dementia across Europe, detailing specific demands for the European Commission Institutions and national governments. The Manifesto will be the basis of Alzheimer Europe’s campaign work in the coming years. European and national organisations are invited to endorse the Manifesto.
A public Call to Action – A call demanding that European decision-makers prioritise dementia as a policy issue and implement the actions of the Helsinki Manifesto. All individuals are welcome to sign the Call to Action via Alzheimer Europe’s website.
The Dementia Pledge 2024 – A commitment which candidates standing for the European Parliament elections are invited to sign, pledging their support in prioritising dementia in the areas of health, research, disability policy and informal carers and pledging to join the European Alzheimer’s Alliance, upon election. All candidates standing in the European Parliament elections are encouraged to sign the pledge.
As part of the campaign, Alzheimer Europe worked with members of the European Working Group of People with Dementia and the European Dementia Carers Working Group to create videos for use on social media, with members of the groups sharing their own experiences of dementia and calling for decision-makers to prioritise dementia as a policy issue.
Once the campaign has concluded, Alzheimer Europe will work with its national member associations to follow up with elected MEPs who supported the Dementia Pledge, to identify where dementia must be prioritised and to ensure that the aims of the Helsinki Manifesto are embedded in the Commission’s priorities for the new legislative term.
Jean Georges, Executive Director of Alzheimer Europe, stated:
“With the number of people living with dementia expected to substantially increase in the coming years, as well as the considerable societal costs associated, it is time for European decision-makers to prioritise dementia and dedicate the resources needed to address it across the domains of health, research, disability rights and support for informal carers. Our campaign aims not only to highlight the scale of the challenge presented by dementia but, through the Helsinki Manifesto, offers concrete steps for how European decision-makers can take decisive action in the coming years. We encourage members of the public to sign our Call to Action and invite all MEP candidates to sign the Dementia Pledge 2024!”
Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (Finland) welcomed the launch of the campaign, explaining:
“It is vital that MEPs take action to upgrade attention to neuro-degenerative diseases and to prioritise dementia at the EU level. We need to ensure that the European Parliament's positions are heard and that we are raising awareness and addressing the challenges that people with dementia face. We also need to hold the Commission accountable when it is necessary. This is an area where we can create meaningful and positive change and truly address the challenges that patients and their families face. It is our responsibility to create policies that create better EU and better everyday life in every Member State for people with dementia, so that everyone can live their lives the way they want to live it. I therefore strongly encourage all candidates standing in the European Parliament elections to sign the Dementia Pledge 2024 and work with Alzheimer Europe and national Alzheimer’s associations to ensure that dementia is prioritised in the coming term.”
An overview of the campaign, together with information about how European and national organisations can endorse the Helsinki Manifesto, how individuals can sign the Call to Action and how MEP candidates can sign the Dementia Pledge 2024, can be found on the Alzheimer Europe website at:
Alzheimer Europe is the umbrella organisation of national Alzheimer associations and currently has 42 member organisations in 37 European countries. Our mission is to change perceptions, policy and practice in order to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.
The European Alzheimer’s Alliance (EAA) was formally launched in September 2007, following a call by Alzheimer Europe and its member organisations to make dementia a European public health priority. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) met in Strasbourg to launch the multinational and cross-party EAA which brings together MEPs to support European citizens living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, as well as that of their informal or family carers. The EAA is a non-exclusive, multinational and cross-party group, with two key objectives: To send out the political message that concerted action is needed in the field of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as research and social policies; and to promote actions to give dementia priority at European and national level.
The European Working Group of People with Dementia was launched by Alzheimer Europe and its member associations in 2012. The group is composed entirely of people with dementia, who are nominated by their national Alzheimer associations. They work to ensure that the activities, projects and meetings of Alzheimer Europe duly reflect the priorities and views of people living with dementia. The Chairperson is also an ex-officio member on the Board of Alzheimer Europe with full voting rights.
The European Dementia Carers Working Group was launched by Alzheimer Europe and its member associations in 2022. It is composed of current carers, relatives and supporters of people with dementia or carers with prior experience of caring in the five years prior to their nomination by their national Alzheimer associations. They work to ensure that the activities, projects and meetings of Alzheimer Europe duly reflect the priorities and views of people caring for a person with dementia. The Chairperson is also an ex-officio member on the Board of Alzheimer Europe with full voting rights.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.