European Partnership for Action Against Cancer

European Partnership for Action Against Cancer

The European Commission is reinforcing its long-term commitment to the fight against cancer by launching a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer. The overall aim of the Partnership, 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. By the end of the Partnership, the objective is for all Member States to have integrated cancer plans. The long-term aim set out by the Commission Communication is to reduce cancer by 15% by 2020.


Preparatory meetings for the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer

* Preparatory meeting with interested EU Member States and EEA countries, 09 February 2010
* Second meeting, 28 January 2010
* First meeting, 07-08 December 2009



Open call for interested stakeholders to apply for participation in the preparatory meeting for the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer (October 2009)



Launch of the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer

The European Commission launched the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer on 29 September 2009, see press releaseTranslations..

The launch event of the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer was opened by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and hosted by Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. On this occasion, personal messages were heard from cancer patients and cancer survivors from across the European Union. A panel discussion involving politicians and experts was held around the way forward in the European fight against cancer.

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Work of the Partnership

As part of the development process of the Communication on Action Against Cancer: European PartnershipTranslations., the European Commission has held three consultatory meetings with Member StatesTranslations., expertsTranslations. and stakeholdersTranslations. during the spring of 2009. In October 2008, the European Commission also held an initial brainstorming workshopTranslations. on the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer.

The adopted "Communication Action Against Cancer: European Partnership" broadly sets out the objectives for the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer. It is intended that the Partnership will itself determine its own key areas and actions. Identified possible key areas and actions to be further taken forward by the Partnership include:

- Prevention (Health promotion and early detection);
- Identification and promotion of good practice in cancer-related healthcare;
- Priorities for cancer research;
- Health information, collection and analysis of comparable data.

The work of the Partnership is proposed to be undertaken in multi-stakeholder working groups (based on the four areas of action, identified above), which will either undertake the identified areas of work directly or monitor work to be conducted by outside actors, institutions or organisations, as appropriate. It is proposed that the activities of the stakeholder working groups be coordinated by a steering group, which will report to the Partnership secretariat and the open forum, which will be held once a year. The yearly open forum aims to provide a platform for the members of the Partnership and other stakeholders at EU level to deepen their understanding of the challenge of cancer for European society, and to identify where common action can bring added value to national efforts in combating the burden of cancer (for further information, please see " Communication Action Against Cancer: European Partnership".

In order to take forward these identified areas and actions, the Partnership will be based on a specific joint action supported by the Health Programme. Joint action is a specific mechanism established under the Health Programme and refers to activities carried out by the Community and Member States or competent authorities (for further information, please visit EAHC). In addition, through the Health Programme, the Commission aims to provide additional technical support, including administrative and scientific support, to the stakeholder working groups.

Following the launch of the Partnership on 29 September, the Commission is planning to hold preparatory meetings for the joint action will be held during the autumn of 2009. The joint action is expected to start in 2010.