**Results of the advocacy campaign**: As a result, respiratory diseases including those inducesd by allergies were part of the priority list and food allergies are now covered in the food safety theme.
The European Federation of Allergies and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA) calls on Members of the European Parliament to prioritise allergy and asthma in the 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7).
The European Respiratory Society, together with the European Lung Foundation regret that the European Council and European Commission positions fail do recognise the burden of respiratory diseases. They call on the European Parliament to reiterate the need to address respiratory diseases in FP7 during the second reading of FP7.
Letter attached
EFA advocates for a better understanding and recognition of the respiratory disease burden in FP7. EFA urges MEPs to consider asthma and allergies as one of the priorities of the health pillar of FP7. They argue that one in four Europeans has some form of respiratory allergy and one in five infants develops asthma.
It echoes with their action towards ensuring a healthy European air quality legislation
Improving health research at Eu level - the SPHERE project
EPHA is a partner of the SPHERE project (Strengthening Public Health Research in Europe), led by the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom .
The SPHERE study aims to prodive guidance on how the public health research can be strengthened and effectively integrate with European health policy. It will also contribute to developing the public health research within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research.
EPHA’s role in the project will particularly look at collecting civil society organisations’ views using its broad membership, so at to help develop an expert knowledge base for guidance on public health policy.
