From our CEO - Building the Case

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission have made improving cancer care an unequivocal priority for the European Union. The question now is: can we afford to take our foot off the accelerator while the political focus is shifting elsewhere?

The EU is currently preparing its long-term budget for the years 2028 to 2034, a Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) that will set out spending priorities for the years ahead. Early discussions are underway in Brussels, and political attention is turning to military readiness, economic competitiveness, and artificial intelligence amongst others. All very important, to be sure. But they must not be allowed to crowd out the moral and strategic imperative of sustained investment in cancer care.

This long-term budget is the financial architecture underpinning all major areas of EU policy. As such, it is the principal instrument through which the EU expresses its ambitions and the clearest test of what the Union values most.

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the MFF. It has called for feedback on what works, what must change, and where the next wave of EU investment should be directed. This is not just a procedural exercise. It is an invitation to help shape Europe’s future.

The European Cancer Organisation, acting as the convener of Europe’s vast cancer community, is fully engaged in this process. We have solicited input from our member societies, and many have responded generously. Their feedback has helped shape our initial contribution to the Commission, which we submitted earlier this month.

This is just the beginning of what will be an extensive process, and we will advocate vigorously at every turn, highlighting the clear, measurable impact of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission.

In just five years, these landmark initiatives have led to stronger legislation on prevention, broader access to HPV vaccination, expanded screening programmes, and transformative investments in research, digital infrastructure, and workforce training. The EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres is raising standards of cancer care and new tools have been developed to support cancer survivors, a growing population too often overlooked in health policy.

Throughout this consultation process, we will keep you, the European cancer community, informed of all key developments. The European Commission is expected to present proposals in July, which will then trigger negotiations at EU level.

At that point, we may be calling on you to lend your support. Because the question is no longer whether Europe can afford to continue investing in cancer. The real question is: can it afford not to?

With best wishes,

Elisabetta

Elisabetta Zanon