Reach Higher for Cancer Care
Each year, more than 2.7 million people in the European Union are diagnosed with cancer, and another 1.3 million people die from the disease. Behind these numbers are families, friends, colleagues and communities.
In 2021, the European Commission launched Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a landmark political commitment financed under its 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. Since then, the plan has helped Europe chart a new course in cancer control, improving prevention, screening, workforce training and the recognition of rights for people living with and beyond cancer.
The mission is far from complete. Cancer continues to cost European countries millions – even billions – of euros in healthcare spending and thousands of lives every year.
- Cancer remains the second leading cause of death across most EU countries and is projected to take one in four lives prematurely by 2050. In countries such as Belgium and Bulgaria it is already the leading cause, with one in three premature deaths expected to result from cancer.
- Each year in the EU, cancer reduces workforce productivity by €49 billion.
- Cancer drives an additional €93 billion annual health spending across the 27 Member States.
‘These eye-opening figures show why cancer must remain a priority in the next EU long term budget for 2028 to 2034. Strong political commitment must be matched by strong funding if Europe wants to reach the next frontier of cancer care.’
– Isabel Rubio, President-Elect, European Cancer Organisation (ECO)
The European Commission’s July 2025 proposal for the next 7-year budget combines health with ‘resilience’, biotech, and agricultural priorities under a new Competitiveness Fund. While following the EU’s political shift towards enhanced industrial capacity, this new approach to health and cancer can dilute the momentum created by Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer. Additionally, the suggested phasing out of EU4Health as a standalone budget line would further undermine the visibility and prioritisation of health and cancer.
Reach higher
The European Commission’s proposal can still be amended. That is why the entire cancer community, from healthcare professionals to patients, survivors, researchers, policymakers, and industry representatives, must come together to reach higher for cancer care.
EU Member States can safeguard progress by taking three key actions:
- Sustain the success of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan into the future: Secure a dedicated €2 billion European Cancer Fund in the next EU budget to deliver on new actions and cross-border infrastructures for cancer control.
- Strengthen EU coordination of funding for cancer research: To compete with major research powers such as the USA and China, Europe needs a coherent strategy and an efficient use of resources. A European Cancer Institute – or other similar mechanism - could help bring stronger accountability, coordination and long-term planning. The ECO Green Paper on Cancer Research offers a practical example.
- Deploy National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) to reduce disparities in cancer care and research: The next budget should support all countries in improving oncology data systems, laboratory infrastructures and workforce skills. The European Cancer Organisation recommends recognising health and cancer care as social objectives within these plans and raising the overall target for social objectives within NRPP funding to 20% from 14%.
Be part of the journey
Turning these priorities into reality requires your support. Reach Higher for Cancer Care is a multi-stakeholder campaign uniting all voices of the cancer community.
Help us secure the momentum achieved so far in European cancer control. Start today by:
For more information on how to contribute further, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
