On the 15th of June, MEP Catherine Stihler hosted a dinner reception in the European Parliament in Brussels to present and discuss the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat COPD in Europe. The event was held in collaboration with EFA, the European Lung Foundation (ELF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Catherine Stihler, a long-time advocate of COPD patient rights in the European Parliament, stressed that what is needed “is a robust policy framework to allow healthcare professionals to identify patients earlier and make the necessary interventions to tackle this disease effectively.” Outgoing EFA President Marianella Salapatas pointed out that “people who experience symptoms often feel stigmatised and thus often do not seek advice from a healthcare professional until the disease is already in an advanced stage”, a fact which may account for the 75% of those affected by COPD who remain undiagnosed.