Taenia solium  taeniosis/cysticercosis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) affecting mostly developing countries. One of the biggest problems is the poor availability of good quality data for global burden of disease estimates, which are urgently needed to advocate for more funding both for research as for control and prevention. To provide these data, research covering many different disciplines such as diagnosis, transmission dynamics, clinic, socio-economic impact assessment and control is needed.

To ensure a concerted European approach in research on cysticercosis/taeniosis the inaugural meeting of the Cysticercosis Working Group in Europe (EUCWG) was held in 2008 in Portugal. The aim was to bring together European groups and institutions involved in cysticercosis and to link up with the Cysticercosis Working Group of Eastern and Southern Africa (CWGESA). The second meeting of the European T. solium  Taeniosis/Cysticercosis Working Group was organised by the WHO/FAO Collaborating Centre in Denmark in 2010 (27 participants from 11 countries).

This third meeting has been called to follow up on and to confirm the Europeans commitment to the global partnership and campaign for combating cysticercosis.

The overall objective of the meeting is to create an opportunity for representatives from various European institutes and organisations as well as specialists from endemic areas to meet and discuss aspects relating to T. solium  research. The specific objectives are:

1. To update research group members of specific past, current and future initiatives within the field of T. solium  taeniosis and cysticercosis research within Europe and endemic areas.
2. To further strengthen the scientific collaboration and coordination of research between institutes and organisations within and outside Europe (via links with CWGESA and the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru).
3. To discuss an application for a European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action project and preparation of a first draft for the Open Call (Preliminary Proposal).
4. To set up a website of the EUCWG
5. To facilitate concerted action in future research initiatives.