The Written Declaration on Epilepsy: An important achievement for Europe and beyond

Epilepsy was passed by the European Union (EU) Parliament. This was a significant moment for all people who have been fighting over the years for a just recognition of the importance of epilepsy in the European political agenda. The whole process described below included several months of concerted effort by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and by Epilepsy Advocacy Europe (EAE), a joint task force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). ILAE and IBE member associations in Europe and many individuals also contributed greatly to the success of this initiative. A Written Declaration is a text of a maximum of 200 words on a matter falling within the EU's sphere of activities. MEPs can use written declarations to launch or relaunch a debate on a subject that comes within the EU's remit. A group of up to five MEPs can submit a Written Declaration by presenting a text to be signed by their colleagues. If the Declaration is signed by a majority of the MEPs, it is forwarded to the President, who announces it in plenary session. The Declaration is then forwarded to the institutions named in the text (in the case of the Written Declaration on Epilepsy, this was the EU Commission and the Governments of EU Member States), together with the names of the signatories. It is also included in the minutes of the EU Parliament sitting at which it is announced. Written Declarations are printed, translated into each EU official language and posted in a register at the European Parliament. The register is public and is kept outside the entrance to the Chambers in Strasbourg and Brussels during plenary sessions. Declarations are also published on the Parliament's website. The Written Declaration on Epilepsy was ready for signing in time for the May plenary session in Strasbourg. Thereafter MEPs were able to sign it during the plenary sessions in Strasbourg in June, July and September and during the June mini session in Brussels. These sessions, usually lasting 4 days each month, are the only times when the books are open for signatures. To have the Written Declaration carried requires the signature of a majority of MEPs. With the total number of MEPs being 738, this meant that the Declaration on Epilepsy had to achieve support A. whereas epilepsy is the most common serious disorder of the brain, B. whereas …