The European Commission has responded to a written question from Hilde Vautmans MEP (Renew, Belgium), who asked: “According to WHO estimates, dementia will become the third most common cause of mortality in Europe next year. However, the mission letter from Commission President von der Leyen does not mention dementia. Beyond the impact on patients and their families and friends, we must also consider the significant societal cost of inaction.
- In light of this, is there a commitment to developing a European action plan on dementia?
- How will the Commission ensure that this action plan addresses the full spectrum of dementia, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care?
- What steps does the Commission plan to take to coordinate efforts with national governments and motivate Member States to develop and implement their national dementia strategies?”
In its response, the European Commission does not commit to developing a European Action Plan on Dementia, whilst referring to existing work, for example the current Join Action on Dementia and the existing Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases. The written question and answer are available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001905-ASW_EN.html
