Brussels, 6 December 2010

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS A DECLARATION ON THE FIGHT AGAINST COLORECTAL CANCER IN THE EU

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the European Union, second only to lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Many of the colorectal cancer deaths occur needlessly, as they could be prevented through screening and early detection. For colorectal cancer, only 12 Member States are running or establishing population-based screening programmes.

The European Parliament adopted the Written Declaration on the Fight Against Colorectal Cancer which calls for the implementation of measures across Europe to fight this. A majority of MEPs –– signed the Declaration, which was backed and promoted by ECPC – the European Cancer Patient Coalition through the Forum Against Cancer in Europe (FACE) initiative supported and backed this written declaration.

Tom Hudson, ECPC President speaking after the European Commission conference on Healthy Ageing stated that "We are pleased that the European Parliament has supported this written declaration. Cancer patients want their fellow citizens avoid a cancer diagnosis whenever possible. We are keen that such actions that promote the screening guidelines be disseminated speedily and will vigorously advocate that colon cancer screening, along EU quality screening guidelines, be made available to citizens in all Member States according to the Council Recommendation. Colorectal cancer if detected early is preventable. This support by the European Parliament for this written declaration will save many lives".

Franceso de Lorenzo,ECPC Board Member, stated that “the adoption of the Declaration is a significant step forward at a European level and must now be taken to a national level. The European Parliament has already recognised the need for high quality breast care through its Resolutions on Breast Cancer of 2003 and 2006 and by publishing the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance. This Declaration serves to remind MEPs and inform new MEPs that these still need to be implemented across the EU”.

As stipulated in the Declaration, the EU President is now called upon to forward the Declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the parliaments of the Member States. It will also now be published in the Official Journal of the European Parliament. A Written Declaration is a “call for action” from the European Parliament on any matter falling within the European Union’s sphere of activities and a tool to increase pressure on the European Commission and the Member States to take action in an important political field. The written Declaration was drafted by Pavel Poc, Frieda Brepoels, Cristian Silviu Busoi, Alojz Peterle and Jo Leinen (FACE Champion).

ECPC has launched another written Declaration on Cancer Research which has been put forward by five prominent MEPs and backed by ECPC – through our FACE initatives (http://www.forumagainstcancer.eu/). It calls for the implementation of measures across Europe to improve the coordintion, cooperation and coherence of pan-European, national, regional and local cancer research activities and to avoid duplication and focusing on unmet need in cancer treatment. Presently, it has the support of 182 MEPs of the European Parliament.

The Declaration calls for the following:

- to improve the coordination, cooperation and coherence of pan-European, national, regional and local cancer research activities, avoiding duplication and focusing on unmet need in cancer treatment;

- to ensure that there is adequate mapping, funding and increased cooperation of networks of excellence and centers of expertise in cancer research;

- to develop a holistic cancer research strategy based on a matrix, with horizontals (a) Translational research; b) Diagnostics; c) Multi-national networks of excellence; d) Biobanking; e) patient contribution) and verticals a) Research on Prevention, b) Research on Screening, c) Research on Early Diagnosis; d) Research on Treatment and e) Research on Quality of Life and Care) for areas of cancer research;

- to utilize the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer to organise different Research Working Groups under research matrix outlined above;

- Promote partnerships of researchers and industry with patient groups, harnessing their specific expertise and knowledge to support accelerated progress in research

Please see attached the 10 Reasons for MEPs to sign this written Declaration.

About ECPC

Established in 2003, The European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) is the voice of the European cancer patient community, uniquely representing the interests of all cancer patient groups from the major to the rarer cancers. It has been established to represent the views of cancer patients in the European healthcare debate and to provide a forum for European cancer patients to exchange information and share best practice experiences.

ECPC represents over 300 patients’ organizations across Europe. ECPC is run and governed by patients. It is registered as a non-profit association in the Netherlands. During the last legislative period, ECPC has already provided the Members of the European Parliament with a platform to discuss issues of relevance and to communicate to their constituents. It has continued this fruitful dialogue with the launch of the Forum Against Cancer Europe (FACE).

ECPC receives funding in the forms of EU grants, donations and unrestricted corporate grants, following strict transparency policies.

Further information about ECPC can be found at www.ecpc-online.org and www.forumagainstcancer.eu.