The European Parliament debated on Tuesday and adopted on Wednesday (652 votes in favour, 15 against and 27 abstentions) measures and actions to fight cancer in the EU. Key recommendations by the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), presided by Veronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR) include facilitating access to cross-border health care and clinical trials, managing shortages of cancer medicines more efficiently, and ensuring equal access to innovative drugs and treatments. Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR stated that the EU would be faster and better equipped to bring down the prices of cancer drugs, which are very high. Stella KYRIAKIDES, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, reminded that prevention is very important so that citizens can have specific recommendations on how they can reduce their risk of cancer. In general, MEPs agreed that a better cross-border cooperation is needed in the fight against cancer:

plenary session

LIESE, Peter (EPP, DE)

fight against cancer (T)

FRITZON, Heléne (S&D, SE)

TRILLET-LENOIR, Véronique (Renew, FR)

FIOCCHI, Pietro (ECR, IT)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

RIPA, Manuela (Greens/EFA, DE)

Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer: extracts from the debate and the votes, statement by Veronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (French), V&#233;ronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Injustice. Cancer is an individual and social injustice. Cancer affects us all. However, we are totally unequal when it comes to disease.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, First of all, prevention. This is the most effective way to tackle cancer. We need to give citizens the tools and the information they need to live healthier lives and this is why we will update the European code against cancer. So citizens can have specific recommendations on how they can reduce their risk of cancer. We want to improve health literacy, achieve a tobacco free Europe, reduce harmful alcohol consumption and improve health promotion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Today, 52 % of our newly occupational deaths in the EU can be attributed to work related cancers. And this is why we are particularly happy that in December we agreed on the fourth revision of the "Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive". This important step will help us to improve the protection of more than one million workers in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (German), Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), Researchers must work together across borders. And in doing so, we have to roll out the red carpet and not put obstacles in the way we do with environmental protection, data protection and other things. Patients need help if they want to see a specialist in another country and not a European or national bureaucracy.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Hel&#233;ne FRITZON (S&amp;D, SE), Around 40% of all cases in the EU could be avoided with preventive measures. After all, we are aware of the risks of tobacco, for example, when new tobacco products are produced. Is it therefore necessary to apply the precautionary principle in legislation. Protecting those who are most vulnerable. It's about our young people and the same goes for the alcohol.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manuela RIPA (Greens/EFA, DE), It focuses on the access to cancer treatment for everybody. The matter of whether you can get good medicines against cancer should not be a matter of how much money you have. We also want better cross-border cooperation and exchange of data, particularly for the treatment of children.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pietro FIOCCHI (ECR, PT), The increasing taxation and limitation for alcohol and cigarets have always been a counterproductive approach. Potentially causing illegal and criminal activity, but also really bad behavior, especially in the poorest sector of the population.

SOUNDBITE (French), V&#233;ronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), We think we would be more efficient, faster, better equipped to bring down the prices of cancer drugs, which are very high. If we were able to do what we did for vaccines, that is to negotiate with one voice with the European Commission, so that the right price and the maximum innovation are available.

SOUNDBITE (French), V&#233;ronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), When it comes to cancer, there is statistically no zero risk with alcohol. That is the indisputable scientific data. On the other hand, there is no reason to prohibit the consumption of alcohol. This is unrealistic. This is not on the scale of a productive population in terms of health. Simply, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the reduction in alcohol consumption continues. In fact, it is already underway and we have set ourselves the objective of reducing it by 10% in the next three years.

SOUNDBITE (French), V&#233;ronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), There is absolutely, in this report and in the prevention sector, a component called "occupational health". The best example is the fact that the removal of asbestos from buildings, which is part of the provisions of the Green Pact, will further expose construction workers to asbestos, which is a toxic product because it is carcinogenic. And so, there are in this report, and especially in a new directive which was also voted on by the European Parliament, provisions to protect, to educate and to support construction workers on this type of site.

Vote results : 652 votes in favour, 15 against and 27 abstentions 