A Call for an EU Budget that Delivers for Health, Cancer, and Rare Diseases

Cancer, childhood cancer and rare diseases remain a major public health threat across the European Union.

 

Every year, 2.7 million people are diagnosed with the disease, 1.28 million die from it, and an estimated €49 billion in productivity is lost to it. Childhood cancers, although all rare, remain a public health burden as the leading cause of death by disease in children over 1 year old in Europe, with over 6,000 lives lost annually. The European Union now has an opportunity to reduce this devastating impact over the coming decade.

 

Building on the momentum of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and growing parliamentary awareness of unmet needs in rare diseases, a cross-party coalition of European decision-makers gathered on the eve of World Cancer Day to send a clear message: the EU must continue to reach higher in the fight against cancer, childhood cancer and rare diseases.

 

The European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases published a position paper, a vital rallying cry, outlining political consensus on the future of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the need to preserve its legacy in the EU’s next long-term budget. This is Europe’s chance to lead the world in cancer care and control.  

 

The meeting took place on Tuesday, 3 February, between 10:00 and 11:30 CET, in Room 5E2. 

03 February 2026 10:00 - 11:30 CET

Room 5E2, European Parliament
Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Bruxelles (physical attendance only)

horizontal WCD Intergroup event wide

 

Five years since its publication on World Cancer Day 2021, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is already improving countless lives by strengthening prevention and screening, advancing research to improve patient outcomes and quality of life, supporting survivors, and improving collaboration and training of oncology professionals. Together, this represents unprecedented success, and it must be continued.

That’s why the co-chairs of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases convened decision-makers and stakeholders to:

  • Secure formal Intergroup endorsement of the cancer community’s joint call for sustained political and financial support for cancer and rare diseases ahead of World Cancer Day 2026
  • Reaffirm cross-party commitment to improving health and combating cancer and rare diseases remains high on the agenda of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
  • Align on the priority needs of the cancer, childhood cancer and rare disease communities in the next MFF

Related Resources

  • Press Release
    visit
  • Download the Declaration
    visit
  • European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
    visit

Speakers

  • Olivér Várhelyi European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Stine Bosse MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Tomislav Sokol MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alex Filicevas Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition; Chair, WECAN
show all speakers (7)

Speakers

  • Olivér Várhelyi European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Stine Bosse MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Tomislav Sokol MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alex Filicevas Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition; Chair, WECAN
show all speakers (7)
  • Olivér Várhelyi European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases Read Bio
  • Stine Bosse MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases Read Bio
  • Tomislav Sokol MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases Read Bio
  • Alex Filicevas Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition; Chair, WECAN Read Bio
  • Isabel Rubio President, ECO Read Bio

Speakers

  • Olivér Várhelyi European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Stine Bosse MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Tomislav Sokol MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alex Filicevas Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition; Chair, WECAN
show all speakers (7)

Speakers

  • Olivér Várhelyi European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Stine Bosse MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Tomislav Sokol MEP Co-Chair, Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases
  • Alex Filicevas Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition; Chair, WECAN
show all speakers (7)