Dear European Members and supporters,
It is my pleasure and honor to welcome you to EPI Focus. This new initiative of the European Regional Executive Committee (EREC), has been created to facilitate communication between members and supporters in Europe, by reporting on activities in Europe and encouraging new Members of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). You are invited to submit reports, news and photos from your associations to be published in future newsletters. Personal stories are also welcome. The more we know you the closer we are to you.
Europe is a mixture of cultures and with countries of various economical status. However, epilepsy is the same throughout the continent, with similar social problems but with national differences in epilepsy care and state welfare provision. There is an urgent need to harmonize epilepsy issues across Europe and EPI Focus may do just that!
European Epilepsy Day February 14th 2011, a joint activity of EUCARE (Epilepsy Europe), IBEs European Regional Executive Committee and ILAEs Commission for European Affairs should become the challenging start for joint action. Activities organized by members at national level will complement the major event taking place in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament will be sitting. We hope that many IBE members will also be able to travel to Strasbourg.
For two years EREC has worked to bring together important scientific issues and
social activities taking place in Europe, involving many Members and inviting them to participate and present on national activities. The programme of the 12th European Conference on Epilepsy & Society in Porto August 25th?27th 2010 is a reflection of all this effort. We hope to see everyone there!
With best wishes to all.
Thanos Covanis, Chair
IBE Regional Executive Committee
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