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, 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.

> Read the Flash Briefing on the Proposed New EU Budget 2028-2034

> Read 'Optimising EU Investment in Cancer Research: A Strategic Framework for Better Impact'

> Read ECO's Responses to the European Commission’s Future Budget Consultations

> Read ECO's Response to the consultation on priorities for the upcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

> Read 'Seizing the Moment: Europe as a Global Leader in Cancer Science and Care'

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%.

Read more about ECO's recommendations on the budget here:

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:

Sending a personal letter to your national health ministry officials and showing your support for the asks of the cancer community.

For more information on how to contribute further, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Multiannual Financial Framework decision-making process

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the European Union’s long-term budget plan, covering seven years. It sets maximum spending levels for major areas such as cohesion funds, agriculture or external action.

The European Commission proposes the MFF, but all EU member states in the Council must agree to it, and the European Parliament must give its consent. Once adopted, it becomes a binding regulation that shapes all annual EU budgets within the period.

Managing more than one trillion euros over seven years, the MFF determines what the EU can realistically achieve in areas like climate action, security, migration, regional development and, crucially, health. Keeping cancer high on this agenda means ensuring that Europe continues to aim higher for care, prevention and innovation.