Chronic pain poses a severe burden on the individual but also on the society, including an enormous ecenomic burden for the health care systems. So far, a structured program of the institutions of the EU targeting thee challenges and long-term consequences of chronic pain is missing.It is therefore that EFIC, as one of the most relevant scientific societies of healthcare professionals for the study of pain in Europe, calls for policymakers and decision-makers alike to adopt a much wider, strategic perspective in their deliberations regarding service provision and resource allocation.Following the first SIP symposium in May 2010, the second SIP symposium took place in the EU parliament in May 2011. An important outcome of SIP 2011 was the "Road Map for Action", which outlines the key issues on how the EU institutions and member states could effectively address the societal impact of pain at both EU and national levels.Based on the tremendous response of the precious SIP symposia EFIC and Grünenthal have decided to organise SIP 2012. The national and EU implementaion of the Road Map for Action wil be a central theme for discussion.In the first half of 2012, Denmark will hold the Presidency of the Council of the Europena Union. Supported by a large group of Danish and EU stakeholders EFIC aims to raise awareness with the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the societal impact of pain by organising SIP 2012 in Denmark, Copenhagen.More info at sip-platform.eu.Registration at: regonline.com/sip-copenhagen.