Ensuring funding for Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan in the next MFF
2.12.2025
Question for written answer E-004760/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Arash Saeidi (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Giorgos Georgiou (The Left), Elena Kountoura (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Nikolas Farantouris (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left)
The Commission has made Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission priorities to improve prevention, early detection, access to treatment and follow-up for those affected. These initiatives are beginning to deliver results, such as the extension of screening and progress towards a ‘right to be forgotten’ for former patients.
The next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 is being prepared. Stakeholders warn that, without a dedicated budget line after 2027, progress may stall. They propose reserving at least EUR 2 billion to continue and strengthen the Beating Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission.
In a context of declining ambition on environmental health and rising cancer rates linked to pesticide exposure:
- 1.Does the Commission intend to propose, in the draft MFF 2028–2034, a ring-fenced budget line of at least EUR 2 billion specifically for Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission?
- 2.How will the Commission ensure that key public health objectives (prevention, targeted screening for disadvantaged and hard-to-reach groups, equitable access to treatment, and follow-up for survivors) remain funded and are not diluted within broader headings such as ‘competitiveness’ or ‘regulatory simplification’?
- 3.What monitoring and accountability mechanism towards Parliament will be put in place to track these expenditures and their results, in particular concerning the prevention of cancers linked to pesticides?
Submitted: 2.12.2025