Policy
The European Cancer Organisation aims to create and develop ever-strengthening relationships between European institutions and the European cancer care community, and together with our Member Societies, Patient Advisory Committee and networks, facilitate collaboration and consensus on focused topics towards tangible and impactful policy improvement.
The strategic objectives that underpin all our policy activity are:
- the advancement of multidisciplinarity and patient-centricity in cancer care; and,
- the promotion of policy recommendations for the improvement of cancer care, drawing on the Organisation’s unique multidisciplinary reach.
Read more about our policy approval pathway here .
“Time to Accelerate: Together Against Cancer” is a roadmap of recommendations for the future of EU cancer policy under the next European Commission 2024-2029. It represents the result of inputs and consultations with many organisations and individuals active in pan-European cancer policy cooperation, and specific consultation with the Focused Topic Networks of the European Cancer Organisation.
Check out our policy driven publications, news and events:
Tracking Inequalities in Cancer
The European Cancer Pulse is a unique data visualisation tool designed to track inequalities and monitor progress in cancer care across Europe, highlighting the factors that influence disparities in cancer care.
read morePolitical Unity for Cancer Action
National & European Parliamentarians for Cancer Action brings together more than 130 relevant policymakers to design better cancer policies in Europe, learn from best practices across the cancer care continuum, and collectively create data-driven recommendations in the fight against cancer. You can find a list of the members below.
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Building a Skilled Cancer Workforce: Seizing the Opportunity of the Union of Skills Initiative
The European Cancer Organisation welcomes the European Commission’s launch of the Union of Skills initiative and commends the EU’s commitment to investing in people as a key driver of competitiveness. Strengthening the skills base across Europe is fundamental to ensuring economic growth, innovation, and resilience in key sectors, including health and cancer care.
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Health Stakeholders advocate for enhanced collaboration in European Health Data Space (EHDS) Implementation
5 March 2025, Brussels - A coalition of 39 leading representatives from the European health community has published a joint statement welcoming the publication of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation in the EU’s Official Journal. The group emphasises the need to swiftly establish an inclusive and well-resourced Stakeholder Forum to ensure the effective implementation of the EHDS.
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Cancer survivors deserve better: Fresh call to new European Commission on a “Right to be Forgotten”
20 January 2025, Brussels.The Patient Advisory Committee of the European Cancer Organisation has today made a public appeal to the new European Commission to re-initiate action on establishing an EU-wide approach to prevent financial discrimination against cancer survivors.
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European Parliament creates its first public health committee in full standing
18 December 2024, Brussels: During the final plenary session of the year, the European Parliament approved the creation of a standing committee for public health (SANT) for the 2024-2029 legislature.
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Council Adopts New Recommendations to Restrict the Use of These New Tobacco Products in Public Spaces and Reduce Exposure to Second-hand Smoke and Aerosols
3 December 2024
Member States Representatives of the Health Affairs Council met today to approve the update of the 2009 Council Recommendation on smoke-free areas, recognising the harmful effects, particularly for young people, of second-hand exposure to smoke and aerosols in outdoor spaces.
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European Societies call EU to Not Lose Momentum on Tobacco Policy
5 November 2024
Noting the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s Mission Letter1 to the Commissioner Designate Olivér Várhelyi, calling on a comprehensive approach to health promotion and disease prevention across the life course, the European Cancer Organisation, the European Lung Foundation, the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, the European Respiratory Society, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Cardiology, Lung Cancer Europe, Lungs Europe, the Smoke Free Partnership, jointly call for acceleration of the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) during the new European Commission mandate.
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Raising Awareness and Promoting Equity in Head and Neck Cancer Care
16 September 2024
As part of this year’s Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) is proud to collaborate with the Make Sense Campaign in advocating for better access to cancer care across Europe. This year’s theme, 'Equal Access, Equal Care: Uniting Europe Against Head and Neck Cancer', emphasises the need for progress in prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancers. It also spotlights the need for more equitable care across Europe and what we can do to improve awareness of the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer.
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ELLOK Leads Discussions on New Cancer Plan for Greece
5 July 2024
The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) was proud to be invited by its associate member, the Hellenic Cancer Federation - ELLOK, to participate in two days of high-level conversation on the content of the new Cancer Plan for Greece.
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New Council Recommendation on Vaccine-Preventable Cancers
21 June 2024
The Council of the European Union has adapted a groundbreaking set of recommendations to increase vaccination rates against both the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (Hep B) and combating cancers caused by these two viruses. The measures were agreed upon today on during a meeting of the EPSCO (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council) in Brussels, and are crucial for advancing our efforts to prevent cancer across Europe.
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World No Tobacco Day 2024: European Societies call for an EU Endgame on Tobacco
30 May 2024
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2024, European scientific, healthcare professional and other civil society organisations call for an EU Endgame on Tobacco.
Noting the official pledge by the European Commission in 2021 to help deliver a tobacco free generation, the European Respiratory Society, the European Cancer Organisation, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, Smoke Free Partnership, the European Lung Foundation, the European Society of Cardiology, Lungs Europe and Lung Cancer Europe jointly call for an acceleration of policy action to make the achievement of that vision a reality.
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Alliances
We promote and believe in collaboration as a matter of principle. This high level co-operation should exist between oncology healthcare professionals of different disciplines, between health care sectors and with a wider group of stakeholders in public health.
As part of our Mission and Vision, we work as active members of the following alliances:
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
To reduce the burden of cancer, improve outcomes and the quality of care for cancer patients, through multidisciplinarity and multiprofessionalism.
As the not-for-profit federation of member organisations working in cancer at a European level, we convene oncology professionals and patients to agree policy, advocate for positive change and be the united voice of the European cancer community.
Our Vision
To be a vibrant, pro-active, focused, relevant and influential federation, working together for a cancer free future, ensuring that every patient has high quality care and treatment, with access to the full range of professionals needed.
To create and develop ever-strengthening relationships between European institutions and the European cancer care community, and with our Member Societies, Patient Advisory Committee and Focused Topic Networks, facilitate collaboration and consensus towards tangible and impactful policy improvement.
Our Values
Our essential and enduring values are:
- Patient Centricity – Putting cancer patients at the centre of our concerns and activities and strive to do the best for them
- Commitment to Science – Reflecting the very latest scientific knowledge and be completely independent of any vested interests
- Cohesiveness – We believe in the power of combining the efforts of our members and other stakeholders who have a common mission
- Inclusiveness – We seek to include all non-profit organisations that share our mission, vision and values
- Equality and Fairness – All our members have a voice in the organisation and we strive to transcend the interests of any one member
- Openness and Transparency – We are committed to be transparent in and accountable for all that we do
Find out more about our Strategy for 2024-2027 here.
