The European Commission recently adopted a Communication on a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer to support EU countries in their efforts to tackle the disease. The partnership covers the period 2009-2013 and provides a framework for sharing information as well as capacity and expertise in cancer prevention and control. It aims to engage all relevant stakeholders across the European Union in a collective effort to fight cancer.

By ensuring a more a co-ordinated cooperation in cancer-related activities and actions taken by EU members, scientific experts, patient organisations and other key stakeholders, the Partnership will help to avoid scattered actions and the duplication of efforts, in an area where resources are limited and expertise is often fragmented across the Union. The main areas of work proposed under the partnership are health promotion and early detection, identification and dissemination of good practice in healthcare, priorities for cancer research and health information and data.

The overall aim of the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer, which is initially planned for 2009-2013, is to support Member States and other stakeholders in their efforts to tackle cancer more efficiently by providing a framework for identifying and sharing information, capacity and expertise in cancer prevention and control. It aims to engage a wide range of stakeholders across the EU in a collective effort and with a common commitment to addressing cancer. It will also help to avoid scatted actions and duplication of efforts, and contribute to better use of limited resources available.

The objective is for all EU countries to have integrated cancer plans, which is key to achieving the long-term Partnership aim of reducing the burden of cancer by 15% by 2020. All these objectives follow the Communication on a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer issued by the European Commision in June 2009.

Background

Every year, around 3.2 million Europeans are diagnosed with cancer, which is the second most common cause of death in Europe. The number of cancer cases is increasing as the European population ages. In addition to the serious implications to health, cancer also represents a heavy economic burden on society. Cancer incidence and mortality vary dramatically across the Union. These inequalities exist within, as well as between, EU countries. For example, cancer mortality in the worst performing member country is twice as high as in the best performing member country.

This launch event of the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer will be opened by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and hosted by Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. Personal messages will be heard from cancer patients and cancer survivors from across the European Union. There will be a panel discussion with Commissioners, politicians and experts about the way forward in the European fight against cancer.