European Commission

Europa Donna is a stakeholder in the key breast cancer initiatives spearheaded by the European Commission. After being involved in the development of such initiatives, ED is now dedicated to their full implementation. These include the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC) and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP).

European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer

Europa Donna representatives have been involved in the ECIBC from its inception in 2015. This European Commission initiative has released European Guidelines on Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, a catalogue of international guidelines on breast cancer care which are updated continually, and a European Quality Assurance (QA) Scheme for breast cancer services with a common set of quality and safety requirements for breast cancer services.

 

Europa Donna continues to advocate relentlessly for the implementation of these European Guidelines which are featured as a best practice screening and early diagnosis tool on EC Knowledge Centre on Cancer launched in June 2021.

 

The European Guidelines are constantly evolving and are updated regularly on the dedicated web hub. Also available on the hub are the QA Scheme Manuals for breast cancer service provision and the scheme owner, together with supporting tools. The scheme has begun feasibility testing in numerous breast cancer services, and training sessions have been organised. Once the scheme is implemented, the aim is for women to be able to locate nearby breast cancer services that meet the EU quality service requirements.

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP)

Europa Donna has continuous involvement in this main health priority of the EU, which aims to improve approaches to cancer care across the full disease spectrum. On 4 February 2020, World Cancer Day, ED representatives participated EBCP launch event with European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, who is a past ED President. The project roll-out began on 4 February 2021, with an emphasis on 4 pillars: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and improving quality of life. Its €4 billion budget and flagship initiatives are designed to help EU member states strengthen their health systems’ ability to address cancer.

 

ED is part of the Stakeholders Contact Group and has applied to be part of the thematic groups that are being established on the following topics:

 

  1. Prevention
  2. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment
  3. Quality of life
  4. Research, innovation and digitalisation
  5. Reducing inequalities
  6. Childhood cancer

 

ED is also involved in the EBCP Inequality Register, which is one of the key objectives of the EBCP.

For more on the EBCP

European Code Against Cancer (ECAC)

ECAC is an initiative of the European Commission, developed by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Now in its 4th edition, it includes 12 recommendations based on scientific evidence that individuals can undertake to reduce their risk of cancer. Europa Donna advocates for these recommendations and disseminates them, particularly in its breast cancer prevention activities.

For more on the European Code Against Cancer