The European Group of Governmental Experts on Dementia held its first meeting of 2023 on 6 and 7 June in Brussels, Belgium and online. 16 European countries were represented at the meeting, in addition to representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), from the European Commission’s European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD) and from Alzheimer Europe. Over the course of the two-day meeting, the group heard about national dementia strategies and policies, as well as European and international policy developments.
At the national level, representatives from health ministries updated the group on recent developments in their countries, including the development and implementation of dementia strategies in Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom (Scotland), a new awareness campaign in Norway and other dementia policy developments in Cyprus and Poland. At the European level, representatives from the European Commission shared information about funding for dementia research and dementia policies, with presentations on “Dementia as a priority of the EU research programmes Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe” and on “The EU4Health Programme and its focus on mental health and dementia”.
Jean Georges, Executive Director, Alzheimer Europe discussed the EU Joint Actions on Dementia, giving participants an overview of the ALCOVE and Act on Dementia projects. Regarding global developments on dementia, the WHO updated delegates on some of its ongoing dementia initiatives and participants also heard about the activities of the World Dementia Council, the G7 and about the Dutch High Level Meeting on Dementia planned for October 2023. The European Group of Governmental Experts on Dementia was formed in 2018 by Alzheimer Europe, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Italian Ministry of Health and the Scottish Government and is facilitated by Alzheimer Europe. It is scheduled to meet again on 14 December 2023.
