The first ENCA meeting was organized in Paris by the French association KOURIR in January 2002 between associations of 6 European countries.Anton GRUSS
The second ENCA meeting of European associations of parents with JIA was held in Stockholm last June 14. These meeting took place during the medical congress organized by EULAR for the adult rheumatology and P.R.E.S. for the paediatric rheumatology.
The first ENCA meeting was organized in Paris by the French association KOURIR in January 2002 between associations of 6 European countries.
Following this meeting, it was decided to set up an European network called ENCA (European Network for Children with Arthritis) with aims to facilitate exchanges between European JIA parent associations and to organize joint projects at the European level.
An Internet site www.enca.org was created and is managed by KOURIR association.
To speak with one voice at the European level also made it possible to be recognized by EULAR and P.R.E.S. and to better defend the rights and interests of our children.
That enabled us to be not forgotten during the organization of the Stockholm congress and to get a splendid conference room with a capacity of 500 people - a little oversized for our needs
The organization of this meeting was once again ensured by KOURIR with the following program :
Activities of European JIA associations
Education programs in Germany - C GRAVE
Education programs in UK - S MAILLARD 
The Human genome project - impact in paediatric rheumatology - Dr Taunton SOUTHWOOD
Feelings of a family with a child with JIA - H WEUSTENRAAD
Presentation of activity of IOYR - Dorste RÖNSLER
Innovation therapeutic in JIA - Dr. KUESTER, Berlin Hospital
Discussion on structure and project of ENCA
The discussion made it possible to better know each other in order to profit of the experience of others. There was a consensus to create a formal structure for ENCA as a necessary condition before setting up joint projects and to ensure a credibility. The following projects were considered are as follows: creation of information booklets in various languages (in coordination with P.R.E.S.) assistance to developing countries in and outside EEC organization of an European JIA awareness day ENCA award for research on JIA lobbying to the European authorities on the topic of the rare diseases and the orphan drugs. The following actions were decided: an executive committee was created with the representatives of 3 countries:
Susan MAILLARD, CCAA - (United Kingdom)
Dr Marcel LASCAR - KOURIR (France)
H WEUSTENRAAD - (Netherland)
Anton GRUSS is the executive secretary in charge of communication within ENCA
Susan MAILLARD is in charge to organize the next meetings in connection with P.R.E.S. during the 2003 European Paediatric Rheumatology conference in Stresa (Italy).
Dr Marcel LASCAR is in charge to propose formal statutes for ENCA
A call to proposal is launched to all to find a logo with ENCA
Finally, a dinner was held on the port of Stockholm around the regional specialties.
1 ENCA : European Network for Children with Arthitis (Réseau européen pour les enfants atteints de maladies rhumatismales)
2 EULAR : EUropean League Against Rheumatism (Ligue européenne contre le rhumatisme)
3 PRES : Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (Société européenne de rhumatologie pédiatrique)
4 IOYR : International Organisation of Youth with Rheumatism (Association européenne de jeunes rhumatisants)