Advocating for mental health innovation: PAREA’s push in Brussels

In September, PAREA engaged with key European institutions to build political support for mental health and psychedelic therapies. Following the recent EU elections, we see fresh opportunities to re-engage with the European Parliament, Commission, and Council. 

At the Commission, discussions focused on potential EU-funded future projects for psychedelic science.

Re-establishing the MEP Action Group on Psychedelic Therapies in the European Parliament is a top priority, and our meetings with new MEPs have laid the groundwork for its relaunch in the coming months.

On the Council front, PAREA met with health attachés from four EU Permanent Representations, advocating for stronger mental health innovation within the revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation. PAREA’s proposed legislative amendments aimed at better incentives for R&I efforts in mental health and psychedelic science.

You can read more about the pharmaceutical package and PAREA’s work in POLITICO health coverage from 13th September.

During our time in Brussels last week, PAREA had engaging meetings with policymakers from eight countries - Spain, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Romania, ensuring a broad level of engagement and support across Europe.

Special thanks to FTI Consulting for their generous pro bono support to PAREA, helping us effectively navigate the Brussels EU bubble.