World Cancer Day: together we can achieve more

"World Cancer Day is an opportunity to reflect on the multi-stakeholder and multidisciplinary nature of cancer control. We will only be successful in the fight against cancer through strong collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders: policymakers, researchers, civil society, medical professionals and academia - and, last but not least, patients. Together we can achieve more," says Alojz Peterle MEP, President of the MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) group in the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the Health Working Group within the Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

Strengthening cooperation in the fight against cancer

"Cancer is not just a health issue, it is increasingly becoming a social and political issue that requires attention and action at all levels," Peterle highlights, adding that "it is necessary to strengthen the European Parliament's cooperation with National Parliaments, where cross-party MAC groups could provide added-value in the fight against cancer. We must enhance our common efforts to achieve more Europe with less cancer."

We will only be successful in the fight against cancer with strong collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders Alojz Peterle

In 2015, the MAC group celebrated its 10th anniversary and 30 years of the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer. The MAC group is made up of MEPs from different Member States and all Parliamentary political groups and its ambition is to appoint MAC ambassadors for all 28 Member States.

cancer prevention across Member States

According to Peterle, "MAC ambassadors can significantly contribute to higher awareness and the greater engagement of all stakeholders - through setting an example and promoting cancer prevention, through the exchange of best practice, through raising the issue of differences in treatment and opportunities for cancer patients that may affect survival rates between and within Member States."

"Over the course of 10 years we have addressed many cancer-related topics in the MAC group and I am particularly pleased that a lot of attention was paid to prevention, which remains a challenge and a strategic objective in the future," reflects Peterle.

Cancer is not just a health issue, it is increasingly becoming a social and political issue that requires attention and action at all levels

World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is a global event that unites people in the fight against cancer. The aim is to raise awareness and increase education about the disease, pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action and prevent millions of deaths.

The EPP Group's activities in this field revolve around the MAC group. It has organised and hosted a number of events and prevention campaigns against cancer. It also scrutinises legislation and cooperates closely with civil society organisations. In this way, the EPP Group raises awareness and encourages other EU institutions to address cancer as one of their main priorities.