Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001991/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (PfE)
For too long, neurological disorders have been subsumed under ‘mental health’ labels, obscuring their distinct causes, care needs and research priorities. A forward-looking EU public health strategy should adopt a ‘brain health’ framework covering both mental health conditions and neurological diseases.
Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder affecting over 41 million people in Europe. In Spain, more than five million people live with migraine, and around one million with chronic migraine. It is a leading cause of disability in people under 50, especially women, and seriously impacts productivity, quality of life and healthcare costs. Yet it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, and funding for care and research remains inadequate.
The Commission has taken welcome steps to promote mental health, particularly through the 2023 comprehensive approach to mental health, and has provided institutional support via the Committee on Public Health and the Mental Health Intergroup. However, these efforts largely do not address neurological conditions such as migraine.
Given this:
- 1.Will the Commission develop a dedicated EU neurological action plan, similar to its mental health strategy, to address diseases such as migraine, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s?
- 2.What steps will be taken to improve access to diagnosis, specialist care and treatment for migraine across the Member States, thus reducing inequalities?
- 3.How will the Commission boost EU research funding for underfunded high-burden neurological conditions?
Submitted: 19.5.2025