Commission on European Affairs

International League Against Epilepsy

Commission Report

Commission on European Affairs

Date: November 28, 2002
Report By: Svein I. Johannessen, Chair

Commission Members

Svein Johannessen (Norway), chair
EmilioPerucca (Italy), secretary
Meir Bialer (Israel), treasurer
Michel Baulac (France)
Christian Elger (Germany)
Alla Guekht (Russia)
Kristina Malmgren (Sweden), (secretary, European Advisory Council (EAC))
Federico Vigevano (Italy), (chair, European Advisory Council (EAC))

AND:

Santiago Arroyo, (Spain), (Subcommission on Bursaries, Madrid)
Antonio Gil-Nagel (Spain), (Subcommission on Congress Evaluation, Madrid)
Peter Wolf (Germany), (chair, European Epilepsy Academy (EUREPA))
Martin Brodie (Scotland), (ILAE Regional representative)
Giuliano Avanzini (Italy), (ILAE President)

Mission

To stimulate and co-ordinate all aspects of epileptology across Europe, including organizing the European Congress on Epileptology

Sub-commissions

Bursaries, Madrid congress
Chair: Santiago Arroyo

Congress evaluation, Madrid
Chair: Antonio Gil-Nagel

Central/Eastern Europe
Chair: Alla Guekht

Working Group on Development of Quality Care
Chair: Peter Wolf

Meetings

March 9^th, 2002, ILAE Office, Brussels

July 27^th, 2002, San Servolo, Venice

October 10^th, 2002, Madrid

Reports and Guidelines

1. Steps Taken to Improve Quality of Scientific Presentations at European Epilepsy Congresses. Congress Evaluation Report from Madrid is in progress
2. Bursary Commission Report. The Commission on European Affairs had established a bursary fund of EUR 50,000. 58 bursary applications were received from 31 countries, and the available budget permitted the funding of all applications. The Bursary Award Symposium was very successful and well organized.

Publications

Subcommission on European Guidelines (1998-2001).

Flink R, Pedersen B, Guekht AB, Malmgren K, Michelucci R, Neville B, Pinto F, Stephani U, Özkara C. Guidelines for the use of EEG:commission reort. Commission on European Affairs: Subcommission on European Guidelines. Acta Neurol. Scand. 2002; 106: 1-7.

.Malmgrem K, Flink R, Michelucci R, Neville B, Pedersen B, Pinto F, Stephani U, Özkara C. The provision of Epilepsy Care across Europe (submitted).

Summary of activities

European Congresses

2002. The 5^th European Congress took place in Madrid, with Martin Brodie and Antonio Russi co-charing the International organizing committee and Jose´ Serratosa chairing the Scientific Advisory Committee. There were Bursary Awards (CEA fund of EUR 50,000) and one European Epileptology Award ( EUR 10,000, funded by CEA). A successful congress with more than 3000 participants.

2004. The 6^th European Congress will be held in Vienna. Svein Johannessen and Gerhard Bauer are co-chairing the International Organizing Committee and Christoph Baumgartner is charing the Scientific Advisory Committee.

2006. The 7^th European Congress will be held in Helsinki.

Other Activities

European Advisory Council (EAC) (chair: Federico Vigevano) - report attached.

European Epilepsy Academy (EUREPA) (chair: Peter Wolf - report attached.

The Subcommission on Central/Eastern Europe. A plan is set out in areas related to education, quality care, and research.

Working Group on Development of Quality of Care. The initial task is to contact national European ILAE chapters enquiring about availability and/or needs of tertiary care centers, then evaluate responses, consult with relevant third parties and develop a project aimed at establishing a model tertiary care epilepsy center or unit in an under-served European country or region.

EURAP. THE CEA supports the international Registry aimed at assessing the comparative teratogenic risks of prenatal exposure to different antiepileptic drugs. The project is chaired by T. Tomson. Over 2,000 pregnancies have been registered to date.

Plans for 2003-2004

Final evaluation of organisation and scientific presentations in Madrid.

Continue with plans for the Vienna congress.

Establish a system for CME-credits.

Continue with plans for subcommissions activities.

Return to Chair & Contact Information

Annual Report 2002 Table of Contents