Beacon of the Cancer Care – ‘Time to Accelerate: Together Against Cancer’, manifesto of recommendations for the future of EU cancer policy 2024-2029

uropean Cancer Summit unveiled call to action- ‘Time to Accelerate: Together Against Cancer‘, manifesto of recommendations for the future of EU cancer policy under the next European Commission 2024-2029.

It represents the result of input from many organisations and individuals active in pan-European cancer policy cooperation, and specific consultation with the Focused Topic Networks of the European Cancer Organisation.

The recommendations reflect experiences and perspectives gathered during an unprecedented five-year period in EU cancer policy, with landmark attention and investment provided via both Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Research Mission on Cancer.

This promise for the future must not be diminished or extinguished by any rush towards new agendas and alternative prospectuses under a new European Commission.

Key recommendations 

• A minimum age for tobacco sales of 21 (‘tobacco 21’) to help achieve a tobacco free generation.
• Monitor HPV vaccine uptake via the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as practiced for Covid-19 vaccination.
• Promotion of EU cancer screening recommendations at national level, implementation funding, and regular reporting on levels of implementation.
• Extend and increase support for twinning of cancer centres to achieve an EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres.
• Ensure a fit-for-purpose European Health Data Space (EHDS) with stakeholders in the governance and avoiding risks of over-regulation on data consent (secondary purposes).
• All cancer registries in Europe to improve data collection on social inequalities, including information on patient ethnicity.
• A legal right in all countries for cancer survivors to avoid having to declare their cancer to financial service providers.

Time to Accelerate salutes and congratulates EU Member States and the European Commission for the commitment both initiatives represent, and the hope they offer in bringing about a new era of cross-border cooperation in cancer care.

But this promise for the future must not be diminished or extinguished by any rush towards new agendas and alternative prospectuses under a new European Commission. The seeds only so recently planted by Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Research Mission on Cancer must be nourished to full growth. Political commitments should be refreshed. We must continue to acknowledge and respond to gaps, fresh needs and the ever-present advances in science, practice and technology in our European cancer community. Time to Accelerate is thus conveyed as a core contribution to that discussion and response. We invite all who fi nd its recommendations worthy of active support to join the European cancer community in advancing their uptake.

Find out more and join the campaign at europeancancer.org/manifesto