Annexes to COM(2009)291 - Action Against Cancer : European Partnership - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2009)291 - Action Against Cancer : European Partnership. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2009)291  |
| date | June 24, 2009 |
- Encouragement of high quality standards and networking on cancer registries;
- Collection of data on the cost of cancer to society;
- Conducting a survey to gauge European opinion on cancer data registration as a means for public health research and planning of effective health systems.
3. SUSTAINABLE ACTION IN TACKLING CANCER - WORKING TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP
In accordance with Article 152 of the EC Treaty and the principle of subsidiarity, the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer will focus on actions that can be taken at EU level to more efficiently prevent and control cancer. Based on a cooperative and action-based approach, this joint Partnership will bring together a wide range of actors at EU level, including Member States, experts, health care professionals, NGOs, patient groups, civil society representatives and industry, as a model for non-communicable diseases in general.
The Partnership will provide a platform for analysing the present cancer burden and trends, national strategies for cancer prevention and control, insufficiencies and discrepancies, and desired objectives for future cancer action at EU level. Through the exchange of information, expertise and best practice, the Partnership will contribute to reducing inequalities in health by assisting underperforming Member States to more efficiently prevent and control cancer. Moreover, European activities in health promotion relating to cancer, such as tobacco, nutrition, physical activity and environment efforts, will primarily be addressed through existing mechanisms, including the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and the Alcohol and Health Forum, rather than the Partnership itself. The Partnership will act in complementary areas to ensure a comprehensive and coherent approach to cancer at EU level.
In order to take forward these identified areas and actions, this Communication proposes a specific joint action to be supported by the Health Programme as from 2010[12]. The work of the Partnership is proposed to be undertaken in multi-stakeholder working groups (based on the four areas of action in section two), which will either undertake the identified areas of work directly or monitor work to be conducted by outside actors, institutions or organisations, as appropriate. It is proposed that the activities of the stakeholder working groups be coordinated by a steering group, which will report to the Partnership secretariat and the open forum, which will be held once a year. In addition, through the Health Programme, the Commission aims to provide additional technical support, including administrative and scientific support, to the stakeholder working groups (Figure 1). The yearly open forum aims to provide a platform for the members of the Partnership and other stakeholders at EU level to deepen their understanding of the challenge of cancer for European society, and to identify where common action can bring added value to national efforts in combating the burden of cancer.
The role of the European Commission will be to ensure the cooperative and action-oriented approach of the Partnership, and to make certain that the proposed actions and activities are appropriate for action at EU level.
Figure 1 [pic]
3.1. Next steps
The Partnership is planned to be launched in the third quarter of 2009.
The Partnership aims to bring together European stakeholders with a common aim and commitment to reduce cancer. To ensure equal and fair representation, all stakeholders whose objectives fall in line with the overarching aim of the Partnership are in principle welcome to join the initiative. However, in order to obtain balanced stakeholder representation, members representing a specific organisation, interest area or industry shall as far as possible be represented by umbrella organisations operating at European level, as well as being capable and willing to play an active role in reducing the European burden of cancer. Stakeholders who are represented by an umbrella organisation are also welcome to join the Partnership, but will participate under the aegis of their organisation.
This Communication broadly defines the objectives for European action against cancer whilst the aim of the Partnership is to determine specific key activities and actions to prevent and control cancer through the above presented approach. This also includes regular monitoring and evaluation of the work undertaken by the initiative. The steering group will, however, be requested to report to the Partnership secretariat and the open forum on an annual basis. The Partnership secretariat will also be required to submit interim and final implementation reports to the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC) in accordance with procedures and conditions applicable to joint actions. In addition, to ensure transparency and accountability, the outlined objectives and outcomes of the Partnership will be presented on a separate website. This website, the so-called Virtual Partnership, will provide an extensive overview of the initiatives and work undertaken by the Partnership. The website should be part of a wider communication strategy to ensure dissemination throughout the Community.
At the end of the current financial framework, a review process will be undertaken to assess the Partnership's successes and shortcomings. A final report on the work undertaken on the basis of this Communication will be submitted by the Commission to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, which will constitute the basis for determining future Community action on cancer.
3.2. Funding
The Partnership's actions will be supported by existing financial instruments until the end of the current financial framework (2013), without additional budgetary consequences. The annual work plans of the second programme of Community action in the field of health will be a key instrument in supporting this strategic Partnership. In addition, several other Community programmes also provide funding relevant to cancer, e.g. the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development as well as Regional Policy Programmes.
4. CONCLUSION
Cancer affects a growing number of individuals and their relatives and represents an enormous burden on society in an ageing Europe. As demonstrated by previous activities, such as the Europe against Cancer Programmes and within the Health Programmes, European action in the field of cancer can bring considerable added value in tackling more efficiently the burden of the disease on a national, regional as well as local level throughout the Community. The European Commission proposes to build on these efforts through a sustainable action, following a partnership approach, involving a wide range of stakeholders working together in the fight against cancer.
[1] Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013 - COM(2007) 630.
[2] European Parliament Resolution of 10 April 2008 on Combating Cancer in the Enlarged European Union, P6-TA(2008)0121.
[3] Council of the European Union, Council Conclusions on Reducing the Burden of Cancer, 2876th Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Affairs Council Meeting, Luxembourg, 10 June 2008.
[4] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 Concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Establishing a European Chemicals Agency, Amending Directive 1999/45/EC and Repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1).
[5] Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the Protection of Workers from the Risks Related to Exposure to Carcinogenic or Mutagens at Work (OJ L 229, 29.6.2004, p. 23).
[6] European Code Against Cancer (2003), available at: http://www.cancercode.org.
[7] Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC of 2 December 2003 on Cancer Screening (OJ L 327, 16.12.2003, p. 34).
[8] Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Implementation of the Council Recommendation of 2 December 2003 on Cancer Screening (2003/878/EC) - COM(2008) 882.
[9] As set out in the Recommendation, these are the cancers for which the criteria are met that screening should only be offered if the screening is proved to decrease disease-specific mortality, if the benefits and risks are well known, and if the cost-effectiveness of the screening is acceptable.
[10] Directive 2001/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 April 2001 on the Approximation of the Laws, Regulations and Administrative Provisions of the Member States Relating to the Implementation of Good Clinical Practice in the Conduct of Clinical Trials on Medicinal Products for Human Use (OJ L 121, 1.5.2001, p. 34).
[11] Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the Protection of Individuals with Regard to the Processing of Personal Data and on the Free Movement of such Data (OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31).
[12] Within the frames of the Health Programme, joint action refers to activities carried out by the Community and one or more Member States or by the Community and the competent authorities of other countries participating in the Programme together.