EU parliament interest group on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

On the occasion of World Arthritis Day 2009, the European Parliament Interest Group on Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases was created. During this meeting a set of topics was suggested to the participants. It was then agreed that the first official meeting of the Interest Group (IG) would take place on the 3 December 2009 and that during that meeting the Working Programme of the IG would be defined.

Working Programme

The Interest Group Working Programme 2009-2014 foresees to have around 15 meetings during the European Parliament's 7th term, which would correspond to 3 meetings per year. The meetings should ideally take place in March, July and October. Each meeting should cover a topic which could be chosen from a suggested list but also upon the request of members of the Interest Group. Every December, the Interest Group will decide on the coming year's plan by deciding on the dates and topics for the year ahead.

IG meetings outcomes

The Interest Group meetings will discuss on a specific pre-decided subject and therefore will ideally have a concrete outcome. The outcome of the meeting will be defined by clear objective(s) and results. Each meeting and especially its outcomes will be collected in a booklet that will be presented during the final meeting of the IG of this 7th EP term.

To read out to other members of the EP, the European Institutions, Member States and stakeholders, but also to the public and media, information tools like a presentation leaflet and a website will be considered.

IN FOCUS

Topics of interst group meetings 2009-2010

Meeting 1, December 2009: Research and innovation: contribution to the next EU research framework programme

Meeting 2, March 2010: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and work

Meeting 3, July 2010: European parliament input to the Belgian presidency focus on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

Meeting 4, 12 October 2010: Health inequalities