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), will bring 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.

 

SEE HPV Event Visuals 1920x1080

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

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

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 upcoming meeting will support countries as they move from political commitments to tangible action. Discussions will focus on how to increase participation in cervical cancer screening and improve HPV vaccination uptake.

We will present 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 will also reference 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 Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • 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
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
show all speakers (9)

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • 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
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
show all speakers (9)
  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • 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
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) Read Bio
  • 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
  • Simona Parvu Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
  • David Winterflood HPV Consultant, European Cancer Organisation
  • Richard Price Policy Director, European Cancer Organisation

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • 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
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
show all speakers (9)

 

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 - 14:20

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 - HPV Consultant, European Cancer Organisation
    Elmar Joura - Associate Professor of Gynaecology, Head of Colposcopy and Vulvar Services, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna
    Vesna Bondžić - Patient Representative, Serbia
    Simona Parvu - Director General, National Institute of Public Health Romania (INSP)
    Discussion moderated by Richard Price - Policy Director, European Cancer Organisation

17:00 - 17:45

Regional political panel discussion: From commitment to implementation
Michail Okoliyski - Minister of Health, Bulgaria

17:45 - 18:15

One region, one goal: Eliminating HPV-related cancers in Southeast Europe, with the Romanian Football Federation

18:15 - 18:30

Closing keynote

18:30 - 19:30

Cocktail reception

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • 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
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
show all speakers (9)

Endorsing Organisations

  • Bulgarian Joint Cancer Network
  • Bulgarian National Cancer Mission Hub
  • Hellenic Cancer Federation - ELLOK

Speakers

  • Victor Negrescu Vice-President, European Parliament
  • Michail Okoliyski Minister of Health, Bulgaria
  • 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
  • Mihaela Grigore Prevention HPV Lead, European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
show all speakers (9)