It all started in 1996, when the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) published a document entitled 'European Dimension of Diabetes Research'. Since then, enormous progress has been made towards a greater recognition of the relevance of diabetes research at European Union level. As a result, the European Commission's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), which will take effect on 1 January 2003, specifically addresses diabetes within the chapter of priority thematic areas in the field of research, in order to "…improve the prevention and management of important causes of mortality and ill health in Europe."