Ireland Can Lead the EU to Better Cancer Care
Ireland will assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July. As such, Irish representatives will have a unique opportunity to place cancer firmly on the EU agenda and to strengthen European cooperation in cancer prevention, research, care and survivorship in the years to come.
Few countries are better versed in the challenges and opportunities.
In Ireland, around 44,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, and nearly 9,800 lose their lives to the disease, making cancer the country’s leading cause of death. Beyond the human toll, cancer places a heavy strain on Irish society and its health system, with annual spending on cancer care estimated at €1.14 billion and indirect costs reaching a further €639 million.
European-level cooperation has been pivotal in Ireland’s efforts to reduce the cancer burden. Initiatives such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission, alongside Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy 2017–2026, have supported concrete progress in prevention, survivorship and equity.
Ireland now records the lowest smoking rate among 15-year-olds in the EU (7%), championing the EU’s goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2040. Immunisation against the ubiquitous human papillomavirus (HPV) reached 83% coverage in 2022, bringing Ireland close to the EU target of eliminating cervical cancer. And the introduction of a Central Bank Bill in February 2025 marked an important step towards a stronger ‘Right to be Forgotten’, banning the financial discrimination of cancer patients long after their treatment has ended.
Assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ireland will oversee negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), positioning Ireland as a leading voice at a pivotal moment to ensure that cancer care receives the political attention and financial investment it requires in the EU’s next seven-year budget.
As part of the consultation on priorities for the upcoming Presidency, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) is calling on Ireland to:
- Place the European Health Union and cancer among its high-level thematic priorities, building on Ireland’s reputation as a European cancer champion.
- Advocate for the creation of a dedicated €2 billion European Cancer Fund within the EU’s Competitiveness Fund.
- Secure the continuation of the EU Cancer Mission as a future Horizon Europe ‘moonshot’ post 2030, and support the creation of a European Cancer Institute to better coordinate EU-wide research and innovation.
- Promote stronger and more harmonised tobacco control policies across the EU, and showcase Ireland’s leadership on evidence-based alcohol policies.
- Ensure that cancer, including its long-term health, social and economic consequences, is fully integrated into upcoming equality frameworks, such as the gender equality, intergenerational fairness, anti-poverty & housing strategies.
- Organise a High-Level EU event on cancer during the Irish Presidency to sustain political momentum and foster cross-sector dialogue.
By contributing to this consultation, ECO underlines the importance of using the Irish Presidency to reinforce Europe’s collective response to cancer at a time of strategic decision-making in the EU.
To read ECO’s full contribution, click here.
