Keeping Cancer a European Priority: ECO Responds to European Commission’s Future Budget Consultations

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer have already strengthened prevention, improved early detection, and supported progress in treatment and survivorship care. Yet, the work is not complete. Challenges related to rising incidence, persistent inequalities, and uneven access to prevention and innovation require continued political commitment and cooperation.

To ensure the progress continues, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) has launched a new campaign to mobilise the cancer community and ensure cancer is a clear priority in the next EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034.  

In anticipation of the campaign, ECO has actively contributed to five key European Commission public consultations on the future EU budget, ensuring that the needs and priorities of the cancer community are visible as discussions on the planned EU budget take centre stage.

Consultation on EU Funding for Competitiveness

In its response to the consultation on EU funding for “the competitiveness agenda”, ECO emphasised that health and cancer must be recognised as a strategic investment for Europe’s long-term competitiveness and resilience. Read the full response here.

Key positions articulated included:

• The need for dedicated EU health funding to advance the European Health Union, including a dedicated €2 billion cancer fund to fully implement Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, renew the EU Mission on Cancer, and secure cancer as a long-term EU policy and budget priority.
• Sustaining the EU research Mission on Cancer beyond 2027 by establishing cancer as one of the future 2030 EU ‘Moonshots.’
• Strengthening coordination of EU cancer research funding, including consideration of a European Cancer Institute or similar mechanism to oversee and align efforts across Europe.

Consultation on Implementing EU Funding within Member States and Regions

ECO’s contribution to the consultation on implementing EU funding within countries identified new opportunities to make sure EU money leads to real, visible improvements in cancer outcomes and fewer inequalities. Read the full response here.

Key positions articulated included:

• Defining social determinants of health and oncology care as core social objectives within National and Regional Partnership Plans.
• Increasing the target for social expenditures to at least 20% to guarantee dedicated funding for health and oncology, and reinforcing Europe’s commitment to tackling cancer inequalities.
• Encouraging Member States to utilise EU funding mechanisms to support improved cancer care infrastructure, including vaccination and screening programmes, capital investment in equipment, workforce development, and robust health and oncology data systems.

Consultation on EU Civil Protection: Preparedness and Response to Crises

Addressing civil protection and crisis readiness, ECO highlighted the importance of integrating cancer care needs into EU preparedness frameworks. Read the full response here.

Key positions articulated included:

• Maintaining EU-coordinated collection, analysis, and publication of cancer-relevant indicators as a core, well-funded component of preparedness efforts.
• Strengthening and resourcing the roles of Eurostat, DG HERA, and relevant agencies to monitor health system pressures, oncology workforce capacity, medicine shortages, and to coordinate EU-level responses.
• Sustaining EU support for medical evacuations in emergency and conflict situations such as those recently experienced in Ukraine and Gaza, with specific attention to vulnerable patient groups such as cancer patients, for whom continuity of care is time-critical.

Consultation on  EU Funding for External Action

ECO’s response on EU external action underlined the global and geopolitical dimensions of cancer cooperation. Read the full response here.

Key positions articulated included:

• Encouraging the participation of EU candidate and other countries in EU cancer cooperation initiatives, such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
• Using the MFF’s Global Europe instrument to continue supporting Ukraine, including rebuilding oncology service infrastructure, restoring cancer prevention and treatment programmes, and helping Ukraine integrate into EU cancer and health policy cooperations, and regulatory alignments.
• Ensuring that Official Development Assistance supports the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals globally, including progress on cancer prevention and care, such as the global goal for cervical cancer elimination.

Consultation on EU Funding for Cross-Border Education, Training, Values, and Civil Society

In its contribution on cross-border education, training, values, and civil society, ECO highlighted the role of information, equity, and responsible media in improving cancer outcomes. Read the full response here.

Key positions articulated included:

• Strengthening EU-led action to combat health misinformation and disinformation.
• Better addressing societal inequalities, including those affecting citizen access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care.
• Promoting a responsible media environment that protects children from the marketing of health-harming products such as tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy foods.

Together, these consultation responses set out ECO’s core policy priorities for the next MFF and form a foundation for continued engagement to ensure that cancer remains firmly embedded in the EU’s future policy and funding decisions.