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2025: A Year of Solidarity, Progress, and Collective Strength
12.12.2025As we close the chapter on 2025, we reflect on an extraordinary year for our community—one marked by historic wins, expanding solidarity, and the unwavering power of patient voices across Europe.
A Year of Transformation in European Health
2025 will be remembered as a pivotal year for healthcare in Europe. Following the EU elections in June 2024, new leadership assumed office in December, reshaping the political landscape we navigate. With fresh priorities and new policymakers at the helm, patient organisations faced both uncertainty and unprecedented opportunities to ensure patient needs remained at the heart of the European health agenda.
Across Europe, health budgets faced increasing pressure as member states grappled with competing priorities—defense spending, economic recovery, and climate transition—all competing for limited resources.Yet even against this challenging backdrop, 2025 delivered moments that will shape healthcare for years to come. The 78th World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the first-ever Rare Diseases Resolution. In MS research, the updated McDonald Criteria promised earlier and more accurate diagnosis, offering hope to thousands waiting for answers. The ACT EU initiative set ambitious targets for clinical trials across Europe, aiming to streamline research and accelerate access to innovative treatments
EMSP’s Impact: Turning Advocacy into Action
Against this dynamic backdrop, we raised our voices collectively to drive change. EMSP supported the European Disability Forum’s campaign calling on the European Commission to update the EU Disability Rights Strategy 2021–2030. The 2026 workplan now confirms new initiatives on disability employment, accessibility standards, and assistive technology affordability.
When the European Commission opened its public consultation on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034), we seized the moment and mobilised our community to demand a dedicated, ringfenced EU health budget.
Currently, health policy remains fragmented across different budget lines, creating deep inequalities in care access between member states. The consultation closed in November, and our MS community responded powerfully. To everyone who participated, who shared our call to action, who made your voice heard—thank you. Together, we’ve shown that health cannot be sidelined in EU budget planning.
This year, also marked our expanding EMSP’s scope to include people living with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease (MOGAD). This wasn’t just an organisational change—it was a statement of solidarity. Our communities share similar challenges: navigating complex healthcare systems, advocating for earlier diagnosis, fighting for equitable access to specialist care and treatments, and ensuring our voices shape research priorities.
We also welcomed the Albanian MS Society as a member further strengthening our pan-European reach and ensuring no community is left behind.
Patient Priorities Shaping Research
Continuing our efforts to ensure patient priorities shape research, our MS Community Advisory Board (MS CAB) provided expert input to the WISDOM Project on digital-health tool development. This collaboration exemplifies what happens when researchers and patients work together from the outset: studies become more relevant, recruitment succeeds, and outcomes truly matter to the people who need them most. As Prof. Uffe Kock Wiil from the WISDOM Project noted: “The feedback from the CAB members was very useful for our future tool-development process.” CAB members themselves felt the impact of meaningful engagement, noting they “felt very included and appreciated the diversity of perspectives.” This is patient-centered research in action.
Championing Those Who Champion Us: MS Nurses
MS specialist nurses are the backbone of quality care—yet they face mounting pressures that threaten the sustainability of their vital work. This year, we conducted the comprehensive MS Nurse Workload Survey to quantify these challenges with hard data. The results will inform evidence-based recommendations to support these essential healthcare professionals, ensuring they have the resources and recognition they need to continue delivering the high-quality, patient-centered care our community depends on.
Building an Inclusive Future: Youth Employment
We welcomed 22 new members to our Young People Network and our employment workshop for young people with MS advanced our commitment to inclusivity, ensuring the next generation has the tools, support, and opportunities they need to build fulfilling careers despite the challenges MS presents.
Young people with MS face unique barriers in the workplace—from disclosure dilemmas to workplace accommodations. By addressing these challenges head-on, we’re helping build a more inclusive Europe where MS doesn’t limit potential.
Looking Forward: 2026 and Beyond
As we step into 2026, we do so with momentum, clarity, and hope.
The challenges ahead are real. But if 2025 taught us anything, it’s this: our collective voice moves mountains. We are extremely grateful to our member organsations, our partners, and every individual who raised their voice this year.
Thank you for your resilience, advocacy and support. Here’s to 2026—a year of even greater impact, deeper connections, and continued progress for everyone affected by MS, NMO, and MOGAD across Europe.
