The European Charcot Foundation started in 1990 as the legal carrier of a Concerted Action in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research funded by the European Communities.

In these first years the Concerted Action produced guidelines for MRI in monitoring MS, and for CSF diagnostics in MS. Conferences were organized on neuropsychology in MS, on myelin destruction and remyelination, genetics and several other aspects of MS. Many exchanges of researchers were realized. The European Charcot Foundation also organized a European Database for clinical description of MS (EDMUS).
Through this work, several independent Concerted Actions in MS Research were funded subsequently by the European Union (EDMUS, MRI, Rehabilitation, T-cell autoimmunity).

From 1994 on the European Charcot Foundation continued as a non-profit Foundation, supported by private organisations, National MS Societies and Industries.
Its working base in Europe now consists of more than 500 institutions and 1500 investigators. With their dedication the Foundation is realizing a European dimension in MS Research and capitalizing on the great resources of European co-operation and co-ordination to overcome this debilitating disease.