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:
https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/policy/campaign/alzheimer-europe-election-campaign-2024