The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament co-hosted an event this evening in Brussels to show solidarity with Thalidomide victims. At the event the documentary “The secret deal. The dark history of the Thalidomide scandal” was screened in the presence of Director James Pastouna, followed by a round table discussion between MEPs and victims.

In the early 1950s and 1960s, the headache and morning sickness medicine for pregnant women "Thalidomide" by the German Chemie Grünenthal Group caused the death and malformations of thousands of babies.     
 
Seb Dance, MEP, said at the opening of the event:

“It is a scandal that over 50 years after the Thalidomide tragedy, victims are still fighting for fair compensation. Thalidomide survivors have been living with the drug’s painful consequences for many decades already. Recent reports now show that Thalidomide survivors need increasing support for their unmet health needs, for mobility and for living independently. Therefore, we urgently call on the European Commission to coordinate actions and measures seeking to formally recognise and provide compensation to Thalidomide survivors. The Grünenthal Company must shoulder its responsibility.”