The European Cancer Organisation aims to create and develop ever-strengthening relationships between European institutions and the European cancer care community, and together with our Member Societies, Patient Advisory Committee and networks, facilitate collaboration and consensus on focused topics towards tangible and impactful policy improvement.
The strategic objectives that underpin all our policy activity are:
Read more about our policy approval pathway here.
“Time to Accelerate: Together Against Cancer” is a manifesto of recommendations for the future of EU cancer policy under the next European Commission 2024-2029. It represents the result of inputs and consultations with many organisations and individuals active in pan-European cancer policy cooperation, and specific consultation with the Focused Topic Networks of the European Cancer Organisation.
The European Cancer Pulse is a unique data visualisation tool designed to track inequalities and monitor progress in cancer care across Europe, highlighting the factors that influence disparities in cancer care.
read moreNational & European Parliamentarians for Cancer Action brings together more than 130 relevant policymakers to design better cancer policies in Europe, learn from best practices across the cancer care continuum, and collectively create data-driven recommendations in the fight against cancer. You can find a list of the members below.
read more24 April 2024
The EU health community welcomes the agreement on the European Health Data Space (EHDS) proposal and provides key recommendations to ensure the EHDS will be implemented in a way that provides most added value for patients and European health systems.
Read more13 March 2024
The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) has responded to a recent consultation by the European Commission on the newly established Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG-HERA).
Read more8 March 2024
In March, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) provided a formal response to a European Commission consultation concerning regulatory restrictions on bisphenols in food contact materials.
Read more27 February 2024
ECO was pleased to take part in the recent kick-off meeting of the EU4Health-funded PreventNCD Joint Action.
Led by the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, this ambitious project brings together more than 100 partners from 25 European countries, all focused on combating cancer and non-communicable diseases through strategic research, impactful public health campaigns, and well-informed policymaking.
Read more27 February 2024
33 large health stakeholder organisations representing patients, health professionals, researchers and industrial actors in the healthcare ecosystem at both European Union (EU) and Member State level are expressing their shared concerns about the latest negotiations on the proposed Regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS). The EHDS is currently being negotiated at speed by EU institutions to get it ‘over the line’ before the end of this political term.
Read more15 February 2024
The European Cancer Organisation’s Policy Team has met with French MEP Catherine Amalric (Renew Europe). She assumed her role in September of last year following the sad passing of Veronique Trillet-Lenoir MEP, an oncologist and great supporter of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. MEP Amalric, a hospital pharmacist by profession, is committed to continuing the work of her predecessor and defending the interests of patients on key initiatives, including the EU Pharmaceutical Package.
Read more15 February 2024
The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) was pleased to participate in the High-Level Conference on Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors, under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Read more2 February 2024
One of the key pillars of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is cancer prevention. To that end, the European Commission promised to introduce policies reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including from sunbeds.
The Commission's objectives are spelled out in its European Code Against Cancer. This science and evidence-led project, developed by experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), sets out 12 ways any citizen can reduce their cancer risk. When it comes to sunbeds, the Code could not be clearer: “Do not use sunbeds” (Point 7).
Read more31 January 2024
The European Commission published the text of a proposed Council of the EU Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers. The purpose of the Recommendation is to assist EU Member States in working together to address cancer risks associated with Hepatitis B (HBV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. HPV infection may cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers and HBV infection may cause liver cancer.
Read more26 January 2024
Today, the European Cancer Organisation has published a new Action Report, Time to Accelerate. Access to Genomic Tumour Testing.
Read more19 January 2024
The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) has responded to a European Commission consultation on the establishment of a European Disability Card and improvement of the existing European Parking Card for persons with disabilities.
Read more18 January 2024
Today, the European Cancer Organisation has published a new Action Report, Time to Accelerate: the use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in European Oncology.
Read more17 January 2024
Today, the European Cancer Organisation published a Policy Statement; Time to Accelerate: The Right to be Forgotten.
As part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a Code of Conduct on fair Access of Cancer Survivors to Financial Services is presently being developed in consultation with various stakeholders, including the European Cancer Organisation. The Code of Conduct is set to be published in March of this year.
Read more15 January 2024
The European Cancer Organisation has provided evidence to the UK Parliament’s House of Commons Health Select Committee and its inquiry into ‘Future Cancer’.
The Inquiry is investigating "... the innovations with the greatest potential to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment for patients in the short, medium and long term, and it will examine how innovations in diagnosing and treating cancer can best be transitioned into frontline clinical settings. It will also explore international examples of best practice.”
Read more20 December 2023
On Wednesday 13 December, Members of the European Parliament adopted their position on creating a European Health Data Space. The European Health Data Space aims to both (a) empower citizens to control their personal healthcare data and (b) facilitate secure sharing of health for research and altruistic (i.e. not-for-profit) purposes. A full plenary meeting of the European Parliament adopted the report, which will serve as Parliament’s negotiating mandate in talks with Council on the final form of the legislation. The report was passed with 516 votes in favour, 95 against, and 20 abstentions.
Read more14 December 2023
On Wednesday 13 December, MEPs gathered in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg adopted the Sub-Committee of Public Health Report on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with 578 votes in favour, 39 against and 15 abstentions. The Report calls for better prevention and early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and closer cooperation between national health authorities needed and now represents the consensus position of the full Parliament.
Read more14 December 2023
Richard Price, Head of Policy, European Cancer Organisation
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is working. New EU level cancer prevention legislation is now in statutes, with more to come.
Read more12 December 2023
Members of the European Parliament adopted by large majority the recommendations of a new Report on Mental Health. Initially drafted by the SANT Sub-Committee on Public Health, during the final plenary session of the year in Strasbourg, it received 482 votes in favour, 94 against and 32 abstentions.
Read moreWe promote and believe in collaboration as a matter of principle. This high level co-operation should exist between oncology healthcare professionals of different disciplines, between health care sectors and with a wider group of stakeholders in public health.
As part of our Mission and Vision, we work as active members of the following alliances:
To reduce the burden of cancer, improve outcomes and the quality of care for cancer patients, through multidisciplinarity and multiprofessionalism.
As the not-for-profit federation of member organisations working in cancer at a European level, we convene oncology professionals and patients to agree policy, advocate for positive change and be the united voice of the European cancer community.
To be a vibrant, pro-active, focused, relevant and influential federation, working together for a cancer free future, ensuring that every patient has high quality care and treatment, with access to the full range of professionals needed.
To create and develop ever-strengthening relationships between European institutions and the European cancer care community, and with our Member Societies, Patient Advisory Committee and Focused Topic Networks, facilitate collaboration and consensus towards tangible and impactful policy improvement.
Our essential and enduring values are:
Find out more about our Strategy for 2024-2027 here.