In the context of the 78^th World Health Assembly (WHA) being held in Geneva on 19–27 May 2025, the European Brain Council (EBC) fully supports the Resolution on Rare Diseases: ‘Rare Diseases: A Global Health Priority for Equity and Inclusion’. Spearheaded by Rare Diseases International and a broad coalition of partners, this initiative acknowledges rare diseases as a shared global public health challenge. It closely aligns with EBC’s ongoing work to advance brain health through initiatives such as the Value of Treatment on Rare Diseases, the Rare Brain Disease Ecosystem or the Rethinking Myasthenia Gravis project among others. The Rare Brain Disease Ecosystem focuses on supporting patients with rare neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions – many of which present early in life, progress chronically, and often lack effective therapies. Rare diseases – approximately 70% of which begin in childhood and many of which manifesting as neurological conditions – present numerous challenges that significantly affect patients and their families. These include a high psychosocial burden, limited understanding of disease mechanisms and substantial delays in obtaining accurate diagnoses. The absence of reliable biomarkers and the scarcity of effective therapies further complicate care. Additionally, the high costs associated with drug development, widespread inequities in access to healthcare and insufficient social support systems contribute to the overall impact.

The WHA Resolution, which has been recommended for adoption by the World Health Organization’s 156^th Executive Board, is a timely and critical call to action. It emphasises the need for integrated, inclusive and equitable health systems that can respond to the complex needs of the more than 300 million people worldwide living with rare diseases. EBC supports this call and advocates for the development of a Global Rare Disease Action Plan that will promote early diagnosis, accelerate research and innovation, strengthen care coordination and reduce social and economic disparities.

We encourage all Member States to:

• Invest in sustainable, data-driven research on rare diseases,
• Integrate rare disease care into universal health coverage frameworks,
• Scale up early detection through digital and community-based tools,
• Foster collaborative ecosystems that include patients, caregivers, clinicians and researchers,
• Ensure a brain health approach is mainstreamed into rare disease strategies.

EBC remains committed to actively support national, European and global action to improve the lives of people living with rare brain diseases and look forward to the adoption and implementation of a Global Rare Diseases Action Plan.

Learn More About the EBC Initiatives

As this week marks the 2025 edition of the European Mental Health Awareness Week, EBC is pleased to note the increasing momentum behind mental health at both the European and global levels. However, despite recent progresses in developing and enlarging mental health policies, much remains to be done to ensure that the needs of people with lived experiences of mental ill-health are recognised, better prioritised and addressed through comprehensive policies. More than one in six citizens live with a mental health condition in the European Union, exerting a massive toll spanning across generations, communities, borders and economies. These issues are not only urgent: they are enduring, complex and deeply connected to social, economic, environmental and digital realities.

Ambitious and collaborative action is therefore urgently needed at the EU level to reduce the burden of mental health conditions and work towards brain-healthy societies. This must go hand-in-hand with sustained investment in research, policy reform and multi-sectoral engagement to address the root causes of mental ill-health. In this context, EBC actively promotes the concept of brain capital – which ties mental health, cognitive development and social well-being to broader economic and social policy – to reinforce the need for policies that protect and invest in people’s potential across the lifespan.

EBC has therefore been working with its member societies and partners to develop actionable recommendations at various scales of the healthcare, socioeconomic and policy landscapes. Through the Rethinking Schizophrenia project, we are building tangible and actionable recommendations to transform care pathways for one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, grounded in real-life insights from patients, clinicians, researchers and policymakers. This project adopts the biopsychosocial approach – one that considers biological, psychological and social factors – as essential to address mental health comprehensively, including recognising and acting on the social, digital, environmental and economic determinants of mental health.

Furthermore, EBC leads efforts within the European Partnership for Brain Health, a major collaborative initiative to accelerate research and innovation across Europe. Set to start in January 2026 with a budget of nearly €500 million allocated by the European Commission and Member States, the Partnership will actively work to preserve and promote brain health in society and to enhance the well-being of people with neurological and mental health conditions in Europe and worldwide. EBC calls on this initiative to be complemented by an overarching EU Coordination Plan for the Brain, designed to facilitate coordinated investments in prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatments while addressing disparities in access and outcomes across the EU.

This European Mental Health Awareness Week should be a reminder that progress on mental health must be rooted in science, informed by lived experiences, strengthened by rights-based policies and shaped by collective action. EBC will continue actively engaging with all stakeholders to ensure mental health is not just acknowledged but fully integrated into the broader vision for a European Union that protects and nurtures its most valuable asset – our brains.

This May 20, EBC looks forward to taking part in the Mental Health Summit, to be held in the European Parliament, emphasising the importance of youth mental health, with a focus on prevention and recovery in rapidly evolving societies. Organized by MEP András Kulja (EPP, HU), Vice-Coordinator of the European Parliament Public Health Committee, and MEP Zoltán Tarr (EPP, HU), this Summit will highlight the urgent need to equip young people with the tools and environments they need to thrive through an EU Action Plan for Youth Mental Health.