One Region. One Goal: Eliminating HPV-related cancers in Southeast Europe

Across Southeast Europe, the tools to prevent HPV-related cancers already exist. The challenge now is ensuring we actually use them.

 

This regional event, organised by ECO in collaboration with European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) and the Romanian Football Federation (FRF), brought together policymakers, clinicians, patient advocates and public health experts to assess HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening programmes in Southeast Europe.

 

By connecting voices from different countries in the region, this event can improve teamwork and accelerate progress toward the elimination of cancers caused by the common human papillomavirus.

11 May 2026 13:30 - 19:30 EEST (12:30 - 18:30 CEST)

Romanian Football Federation (FRF) Conference Facilities, Bucharest, Romania & Online

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The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary driver of cervical cancer and contributes to more than six other types of cancer. These diseases are largely preventable through vaccination and organised screening, yet progress across Southeast Europe remains uneven. Vaccine hesitancy, fragmented screening systems and limited public awareness continue to slow implementation.

Building on the success of  ‘A Shared Vision for South East Europe: Eliminating HPV Cancers Together’ held in Sofia last year, this meeting supported countries as they move from political commitments to tangible action. Discussions focused on how to increase participation in cervical cancer screening and improve HPV vaccination uptake.

We presented the new ECO Good Practice Guide on HPV Vaccination and the ‘Closing the Gaps’ report from the European Cancer Summit last November. The report analyses cervical cancer screening systems across Europe and highlights inequalities in access and participation. The discussion also referenced insights from the HPV Prevention Policy Atlas, a benchmarking tool mapping HPV vaccination policies and coverage across Europe to support accountability and progress.

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
show all speakers (13)

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
show all speakers (13)
  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) Read Bio
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
  • Radka Argirova Professor of Virology, Tokuda Hospital & Member of the Bulgarian HPV Coalition
  • Ana Banko Associate Professor, Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
  • Vesna Bondžić Patient Representative, Serbia
  • Amil Družić Vice Chair, ECO HPV and Hep B Action Network Read Bio
  • Iulia Dumitru Cervical Cancer Survivor
  • Murat Gultekin Council Member, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)  Read Bio
  • Elmar Joura Associate Professor of Gynaecology, Head of Colposcopy and Vulvar Services, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna
  • Menia Koukougianni HPV Task Force leader, Hellenic Cancer Federation, ELLOK
  • Selena Ribić Representative from Serbian Patient Organisation PROGOVORI
  • Constantin-Florin Sari Public Policy and Social Responsibility Manager, Romanian Football Federation
  • David Winterflood Director, NOMAN: Race to End HPV & HPV Consultant, European Cancer Organisation
  • Richard Price Policy Director, European Cancer Organisation
  • Juliana De Sá Policy Officer, European Cancer Organisation

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
show all speakers (13)

 

13:30 - 14:00

Registrations and welcome coffee

14:00 - 14:10

Welcome and opening remarks

Amil Družić - Vice Chair, ECO HPV and Hep B Action Network
Mihaela Grigore - Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)

14:10 - 14:25

Political opening

Victor Negrescu - Vice-President, European Parliament

14:25 - 15:10

Country spotlight: Status of HPV-related cancer elimination efforts across Southeast Europe

Mihaela Grigore - Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
Radka Argirova - Professor of Virology, Tokuda Hospital & Member of the Bulgarian HPV Coalition
Ana Banko - Associate Professor, Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
Amil Družić - Vice Chair, ECO HPV and Hep B Action Network
Menia Koukougianni - HPV Task Force leader, Hellenic Cancer Federation, ELLOK

15:10 - 15:30

Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00

The tools to do the job - Presentation and discussion

  • Presentation of the EPF HPV Prevention Policy Atlas
  • Presentation of the ECO Good Practice Guide on HPV Vaccination
  • Presentation of the report “Closing the Gaps: The Status of Cervical Cancer Screening Programmes in Europe”

    Murat Gultekin - Council Member, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) 
    David Winterflood - Director, NOMAN: Race to End HPV & HPV Consultant, European Cancer Organisation
    Vesna Bondžić - Patient Representative, Serbia
    Elmar Joura - Associate Professor of Gynaecology, Head of Colposcopy and Vulvar Services, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna
    Simona Pârvu - Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
    Iulia Dumitru - Cervical Cancer Survivor
    Discussion moderated by Richard Price - Policy Director, European Cancer Organisation

17:00 - 17:20

Coffee Break

17:20 - 17:45

Setting the future: Launching the refreshed Southeast Europe Declaration and 2026 Action Plan

Amil Družić - Vice Chair, ECO HPV and Hep B Action Network: Presentation of the refreshed HPV Southeast Europe Declaration
Richard Price - Policy Director, European Cancer Organisation & Juliana de Sá - Policy Officer, European Cancer Organisation: presentation of the Southeast Europe HPV Action Plan for 2026

17:45 - 18:20

One region, one goal: A shared vision for the road ahead

Michail Okoliyski - Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria (online)
Carmen Orban - Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
George-Sorin Ţiplica - Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
Selena Ribić - Representative from Serbian Patient Organisation PROGOVORI
Discussion moderated by Richard Price - Policy Director, European Cancer Organisation

18:20 - 18:30

Closing keynote

Constantin Florin Sari - Public Policy and Social Responsibility Manager, Romanian Football Federation

18:30 - 19:30

Cocktail reception

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
show all speakers (13)

hpv southeast europe logo updated 2026 logo

The Joint Declaration 'Message Across Borders' for Southeast Europe was originally agreed and published at the first Southeast Europe HPV elimination conference in Sofia, Bulgaria in January 2025.

This second edition, including greater guidance on the mechanisms for achieving the asks of the Declaration was published at the second Southeast Europe HPV cancer elimination conference in Bucharest, Romania in May 2026.

See it and endorse it using the buttons below.

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
show all speakers (13)

Endorsing Organisations

  • Bulgarian Joint Cancer Network
  • Bulgarian National Cancer Mission Hub
  • Hellenic Cancer Federation - ELLOK
  • Societatea Studenţilor în Farmacie București

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Acting Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • Carmen Orban Member, Health Committee of the Romanian Senate
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
  • George-Sorin Ţiplica Task Force Leader ISTs, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
show all speakers (13)