ECPC Press Release Nr 4/2008 on Council Conclusions - 10 June 2008

Brussels, 10 June 2008

Cancer patients were delighted to welcome the Slovenian Council Conclusions, which cement Europe’s role in the battle against cancer. The Conclusions, which are very much in line with the European Parliament Resolution on cancer, call upon Member States to develop and implement comprehensive cancer strategies or plans, a move which would be an enormous step forward in reducing the cancer burden. Another focus is prevention. One in four people currently die from cancer, even though experts tell us that around 50% of all cancers are preventable. The Slovenian Presidency asks Member States and the Commission to continue developing and implementing measures in health promotion and disease prevention to reduce the exposure of individuals to key risk factors such as tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption. Other measures include the sharing of best practice and the use of Structural Funds to help eradicate inequalities in cancer care. The Conclusions also call on the Commission to present an EU Action Plan on Cancer. At the ECPC Cancer Patient Summit in April this year, Androulla Vassiliou, the Commissioner for Health, had already announced that such an Action Plan would be launched in 2009.

Hildrun Sundseth, ECPC head of EU policy was delighted with the text. “The Slovenian Presidency Conclusions, which follow the European Parliament’s Resolution on cancer and build upon the work of MEPs Against Cancer, offer another most valuable addition to the policy weapons in the battle against cancer. Cancer touches all of us in one way or another, and many Europeans look for leadership from the European Union in their fight against cancer. It has been very encouraging to see the momentum build over the past few months and climax with this series of recommendations. On behalf of cancer patients, I would like to give my utmost thanks to the Slovenian Presidency for their hard work in bringing about progress in reducing the burden of cancer.”

Lynn Faulds Wood, President of ECPC, expressed her hope that the Council Conclusions would make real differences for cancer patients. “The Slovenian Presidency has been wonderful and has done everything possible to get cancer back on the agenda in Europe. But now we want to see the measures implemented. Cancer patients will be looking to the Commission, to the French Presidency and to Member States for leadership to take these documents from the table to the bedside. We trust and hope that with everyone’s help, together we can fight the battle against cancer more successfully and prevent our citizens dying unnecessarily.”

For further information please contact:

Lynn Faulds Wood (ECPC President)
Tel.: + 44 (0)208 8915937
Mobile: + 44 (0)783 1310000
EMail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hildrun Sundseth (ECPC Head of EU Policy)
Tel.: +32 2 772 6165
Mobile: +32 473 983164
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to the Editor

The Council Conclusions on reducing the Burden of Cancer
http://www.eu2008.si/en/News_and_Documents/Council_Conclusions/index.html#June
http://www.eu2008.si/en/News_and_Documents/Press_Releases/June/0610EPSCO_Health1.html

The European Parliament Cancer Resolution:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2008-0121+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

Press Release of the European Parliament
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/066-26194-100-04-15-911-20080408IPR26045-09-04-2008-2008-true/default_en.htm

About ECPC

The European Cancer Patient Coalition was founded in 2003 under the slogan “Nothing About Us, Without Us. It is committed to improving cancer prevention, screening, early diagnosis and best treatment, reducing disparity and inequality across the EU. ECPC seeks to ensure that policy makers, politicians, health professionals, the media and the general public recognise the serious nature of cancer and the need for concerted action to reduce unnecessary death and suffering. Further information can be found at www.ecpc-online.org.