Parliament calls for the EU to continue taking action to combat cancer

With 427 votes in favour, 15 against and 93 abstentions, Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday to markthis year’sWorld Cancer Day(4 February).

Specific health funding in the next long-term EU budget

To ensure continuity and predictable investment in flagship EU initiatives such as the European Cancer Plan, MEPs are calling for a specific EU health programme in the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-2034. They want the Commission and EU countries to recognise healthcare and cancer care as social investment targets achievable throughnational and regional partnership plans(NRPPs), including support for long-term cancer infrastructure such as vaccination and screening programmes, workforce development and robust cancer data systems.

Improving access to medicines, innovative therapies and cross-border cancer care

Parliament reiterates its call to ensure fair, timely and affordable access to cancer medicines and innovative therapies across the EU. The Commission, in cooperation with EU countries, should facilitate voluntary joint procurement, promote price transparency and support faster market entry for life-saving cancer treatments.

MEPs also call for easier cross-border access to specialised cancer care and clinical trials, particularly for rare and complex cancers.

Strengthening the “right to be forgotten” for cancer survivors

The EU and Member States must step up their efforts to protect cancer survivors across Europe from financial discrimination, including the implementation of the ‘right to be forgotten’, according to the resolution. It also calls for a harmonised framework to ensure that cancer survivors have access to financial services such as mortgages, loans and insurance.

Fund

Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in the EU, after cardiovascular disease. In 2024, around 2.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer in the EU and around 1.27 million died from the disease. Parliament’s Public Health Committee is preparing animplementation reportto assess the progress of EU initiatives.

More information: European Parliament.