EASL welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Green Paper produced by the European Commission to encourage public debate on the key issues to be taken into account for future EU research and innovation funding programmes.

Concerned by the fact that liver disease affects at least 20% of the European population and consequently impacting health, economic and social well-being as well as the sustainability of healthcare systems Prof. Mark Thursz, MD FRCP, EASL Secretary General, and Prof. Dominique Valla, EASL EU Policy Councillor, have provided a written response to the Green Paper on behalf of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).

EASL welcomes the Council’s call for EU funding programmes to focus more on Europe 2020 priorities and as a result, among others, address societal challenges and key technologies, facilitate collaborative research and further strengthen excellence. The development of a Common Strategic Framework which would cover all relevant EU research and innovation funding currently provided through FP7, CIP and EU innovation initiatives on the basis of coherent goals and shared strategic objectives is also welcomed.

EASL comments on the Green Paper:

• The Commission’s proposed targets for 2020, that 75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be employed will require greater, and more targeted, investment into health research. Liver disease is the EU's 5th biggest killer, accounting for at least one in six deaths, many of those affected are in the population age band indicated. In addition to the personal toll liver disease takes on a large percentage of EU citizens, the economic toll, and effect on the national productivity levels impact in turn on the member country economies.

• EASL believes the EU has a key role to play in increasing knowledge and raising awareness of liver disease in Europe through increasing additional funding for research and through setting standards and guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of liver disease throughout the Union.

• Simplification of the structures and processes for participants’ access to funding is much needed. In addition to the proposed single entry point with common IT tools, a one stop shop for support, a streamlined set of funding instruments and further steps towards administrative simplification EASL would also encourage the Commission to consider making funding more attractive for participants through adapting to the specificities of medical research, which may be carried out by researchers who are also clinicians and teachers, and would also like to underline the importance of research being curiosity driven rather than driven by the available funding options.

• Contrasting with the heavy global burden of chronic alcohol intake, chronic viral hepatitis, and individually rare but collectively frequent rare liver diseases, the number of academic centres with an involvement in high level translational research on these diseases is very limited at the national level in EU member states. This limitation makes building an efficient multidisciplinary approach on these topics, at a national level, difficult and in some cases impossible. EU-wide however, academic centres exist that are willing to form consortia able to answer calls for proposals, should such calls be focused on these neglected areas, namely alcoholic liver disease and viral hepatitis. It has been the mission of EASL for decades to foster such transnational cooperation between European research centres on liver disease. A real EU added value would thus be obtained with such focus.

• EASL welcomes the emphasis placed by the Commission in fostering joint funding by member states. However, for this kind of funding to be effective and efficient in improving knowledge on liver disease, existing or ready to constitute consortia should be identified and supported. EASL believes that it represents a unique interlocutor to the Commission for the identification of such unique pan-European consortia and the possibility for joint funding from EU, and member states.

• EASL also welcomes the Commission’s interest in tackling societal challenges and once again underlines the importance of tackling liver disease, not only through research funding but also through coordinated public awareness campaigns. The European population is an ageing population and chronic disease takes a toll not only on the quality of life of citizens but, just as importantly, on the economic infrastructure of the member states. Research must go hand-in-hand with increased awareness of liver disease and its causes.

• The reduction in the burden of liver disease in Europe is one which will come about not only through improving and strengthening the scientific and technological base of European industry and encouraging international competitiveness while promoting research that supports EU policies but also through increased public awareness leading to prevention and, if needed, better and more timely access to treatment.

• It is EASL’s view that more attention needs to be drawn to those projects which are funded and which do have a health focus. Media is a powerful tool in advocacy and public awareness and EASL would encourage the Commission to ensure that research being carried out with health-related EU funding be brought to the attention of the general public through a concerted media effort.

• Finally, EASL would encourage further consolidation of the communication channels currently existing between the Commission and the associations such as EASL which also work to disseminate information regarding the work of the Commission to their members and the general public.

We hope that these comments will be helpful to the Commission in its efforts to ensure successful delivery of its Europe 2020 plan.

For further information on EASL’s EU Policy Programme, please contact Ms Margaret Walker, EASL Director of EU Public Affairs at margaret.walker@easloffice.eu

The European Commission has received more than 1300 responses to the online questionnaire and over 750 written responses. EASL’s position paper, together with all of the written responses, is available on the European Commission website.