Council Recommendation on strengthening prevention through early detection: A new EU approach on cancer screening replacing Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC

Summary:

Recommendation adopted by the Council of the European Union on 9 December 2022 setting out a fresh approach to cancer screening in the European Union (EU). It replaces Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC.

Further information:

Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC set out recommendations for cancer screening in the EU. It encouraged Member States to implement population-based, quality-assured screening programmes. The implementation report published in 2017 and the European Guide on Quality Improvement in Comprehensive Cancer Control pointed to several challenges and needs, most importantly that the existing Recommendation was not based on the latest evidence.

The present Recommendation seeks to support cancer screening through the whole pathway of cancer care as part of a new EU-wide approach to cancer prevention in the framework of the European Commission's Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. Among other elements, it aims to support the development of a new EU-support Cancer Screening Scheme. It also proposes the regular systematic monitoring of screening programmes, the sharing of data on cancer screening, and the updating of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening recommendations.

The draft Recommendation was tabled by the European Commission on 20 September 2022. It was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 9 December 2022 and published in the Official Journal on 13 December 2022.

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)474: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on strengthening prevention through early detection: A new EU approach on cancer screening replacing Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:474:FIN

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)296: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Stakeholder Consultation: Synopsis Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:296:FIN

European Commission: Public Health: Cancer https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/cancer_en

European Commission: Press Release, 20/09/2022: European Health Union: A new EU approach on cancer detection – screening more and screening better https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5562

European Commission: Questions and answers: A new EU approach to cancer screening (20 September 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_5584

European Commission: Remarks by Commissioner Kyriakides during the press conference on cancer screening (20 September 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_5674

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 20/09/2022: Implement new cancer screening initiative swiftly https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/implement-new-cancer-screening-initiative-swiftly

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 20/09/2022: S&Ds welcome the EU’s new approach to cancer screening: prevention is better than cure, health inequalities must be eradicated https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-welcome-eus-new-approach-cancer-screening-prevention-better-cure-health-inequalities

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09/12/2022: Council updates its recommendation to screen for cancer https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/09/council-updates-its-recommendation-to-screen-for-cancer/

European Commission: Press Release, 09/12/2022: European Health Union: Commission welcomes adoption of new EU cancer screening recommendations https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7548

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News

Reuters, 07/09/2022: EU wants screenings for more types of cancer as pandemic slashed check-ups https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-wants-screenings-more-types-cancer-pandemic-slashed-check-ups-2022-09-07/

Euronews, 20/09/2022: Cancer: Brussels unveils new guidelines to boost screenings and reduce inequalities in EU https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/09/20/cancer-brussels-unveils-new-guidelines-to-boost-screenings-and-reduce-inequalities-in-eu

EurActiv, 20/09/2022: Commission proposes updated cancer screening recommendations https://www.euractiv.com/section/diabetes-cancer-hepatitis/news/commission-proposes-updated-cancer-screening-recommendations/

EurActiv, 09/12/2022: EU ministers adopt new cancer screening recommendations https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-ministers-adopt-new-cancer-screening-recommendations/

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Commentary and Analysis

MedTech Europe: Press Release, 20/09/2022: European Commission’s revision proposal of the Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening will help reduce cancer inequalities in Europe https://www.medtecheurope.org/news-and-events/press/european-commissions-revision-proposal-of-the-council-recommendation-on-cancer-screening-will-help-reduce-cancer-inequalities-in-europe/

European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA): EFPIA Views, 07/10/2022: A European Union that leads on cancer screening: the implications of new Council recommendation https://www.efpia.eu/news-events/the-efpia-view/blog-articles/a-european-union-that-leads-on-cancer-screening-the-implications-of-new-council-recommendation/

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