28 September 2026 

Today, members of the European Parliament’s health committee adop an ambitious report on the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), calling on the European Commission and member states to ensure adequate funding and roll out missing policy measures.  

“With Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the EU has strengthened its fight against cancer. However, the report adopted today clearly shows that many challenges in cancer prevention, treatment, and quality of life after diagnosis remain and need to be urgently addressed. A call to earmark a dedicated budget of at least EUR 2.5 billion for the Plan’s implementation for the period until 2034 shows unwavering commitment to closing gaps in cancer care within and among Member States,” says Dr. Wolfgang Fecke, Executive Director at the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).  

The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) welcomes the adoption of the report, which addresses many concerns we raised and calls on the Commission to:

• Ensure adequate and predictable funding for cancer in the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework and earmark at least EUR 2.5 billion for cancer-related actions.
• Establish a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework of EBCP linked to outcome-based indicators with clear baselines and time-bound targets.
• Establish an EU framework for National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs), including minimum standards on governance, financing, data interoperability and implementation.

On cancer prevention, the health committee legislators call on the Commission to:

• Present a proposal for the revision of the EU’s tobacco legislation to cover all tobacco and nicotine products.
• Present legislative proposals on mandatory inclusion of ingredient lists and health warnings on the labels of alcoholic beverages.
• Accelerate work on a mandatory front-of-pack nutritional label, and propose solutions to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially among young people.
• Support Member States in addressing the risks of sunbed use, including the possibility of a Union-wide ban for minors, and resume work on its UV exposure recommendation.
• Increase the vaccination rate for hepatitis B and improve prevention, screening and treatment for hepatitis C and Helicobacter pylori infections to prevent liver and gastric cancers.
• Urgently step up efforts to reach the 90 % screening target across all relevant cancer types.
• Integrate AI tools into national cancer screening programmes, if they are clinically validated, risk-assessed and continuously monitored.

Regarding cancer treatment, the report urges Member States and the Commission to:

• Support cross-border trial models, strengthen information on trial opportunities and promote a more balanced geographical distribution of clinical trial capacity.
• Ensure that EU-funded research and innovation is accompanied by fair conditions for access.
• Ensure timely, equitable, and affordable access to essential cancer medicines, including by strengthening voluntary joint procurement mechanisms at the EU level, and better coordination of pricing and reimbursement policies.

On quality of life, the report calls on the Commission and Member States to:

• Guarantee that all women have access to fertility preservation counselling and services.
• Propose concrete measures to support survivors’ return to work and to studies and address gaps in ‘right to be forgotten’ legislation.
• Integrate psychosocial and mental health support, including palliative care, into standard cancer care.

Finally, to address the inequalities, legislators call on the Commission to:

• Provide differentiated support to help reduce cancer inequalities and, together with the Member States, to ensure that all EU citizens are guaranteed equitable access to cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care without discrimination, including regardless of their country of residence, socioeconomic status, gender, age or geographical location.

Following today’s vote by the health committee, the report will be put to a vote at the European Parliament’s plenary session.