According to the WECAN Foundation official website, an urgent open letter addressed to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), with copies to the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, warns that Europe is entering a critical phase in its fight against cancer at a time when health risks losing its position as a standalone priority within the EU budget. The letter frames the situation not as a distant concern, but as an immediate policy challenge requiring political attention.
With approximately 7 million new cancer diagnoses and 1.3 million deaths recorded annually across the European Union, and projections indicating a further 24 percent increase in cases by 2035, the scale of the burden is both substantial and accelerating . The open letter emphasizes that this trajectory is predictable and already unfolding, making the current moment particularly sensitive for policy decisions that will shape long-term health outcomes.
At the center of the concerns raised is the European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. As outlined in the letter, the proposal would integrate existing health funding instruments, including EU4Health, into a broader European Competitiveness Fund. This structural shift would position health alongside multiple competing priorities within a single financial mechanism, rather than maintaining it as a clearly defined, standalone budget line.
The signatories of the letter argue that such a change could have significant implications. By embedding health within a larger funding structure, transparency may be reduced, accountability mechanisms weakened, and long-term investment in healthcare made less predictable. The letter highlights that, under this model, health funding could become more difficult to trace and potentially subject to reallocation based on competing political priorities.
Importantly, the document frames this development as a political decision rather than a technical necessity. While the proposed budget emphasizes flexibility, simplification, and competitiveness, the letter underscores that health should not be treated as a secondary component within this framework. Instead, it is described as a foundational element of economic and social stability.
Cancer remains central to this argument. Beyond its clinical impact, it represents a major economic challenge, costing the European Union more than €100 billion annually in healthcare expenditure and lost productivity . The open letter notes that, despite this burden, explicit prioritization of cancer within the proposed financial framework appears limited, raising concerns about future investment in prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship.
The issue is further compounded by persistent inequalities across Member States. Variations in access to care, outcomes, and broader health indicators remain significant, with measurable differences in healthy life expectancy and avoidable mortality. The letter warns that making health investment less visible and less stable could exacerbate these disparities rather than reduce them.
Another key concern outlined in the open letter is the potential impact on Europe’s broader commitments. The European Union has consistently aligned itself with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, which focuses on health and well-being. It has also supported the principle of universal health coverage. The letter suggests that weakening the structure of health funding risks undermining progress toward these objectives, especially in regions where healthcare systems are already under strain.
The timing of the proposed changes is also highlighted as critical. In recent years, initiatives such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan have demonstrated a coordinated effort to strengthen cancer control across the region. The open letter warns that integrating health into a broader competitiveness framework could dilute the impact of such initiatives by removing the financial clarity that underpins them.
From a clinical and research perspective, the implications are equally significant. Advances in cancer care, including developments in systemic therapies, radiotherapy, and precision medicine, depend on sustained investment and stable infrastructure. The letter suggests that uncertainty in funding structures could slow innovation and limit the translation of research into clinical practice.
The message directed to Members of the European Parliament is explicit. As the Parliament prepares its position on the Multiannual Financial Framework ahead of negotiations with the Council, the upcoming vote is described as consequential. It is not presented as a routine procedural step, but as a decision that will influence the trajectory of European health policy for years to come.
The open letter calls for specific actions. These include maintaining health as a standalone budget priority, ensuring dedicated and ring-fenced funding for cancer, and preserving transparency and accountability in how resources are allocated. It also emphasizes that competitiveness and health should be mutually reinforcing, rather than competing objectives.
Ultimately, the document frames the situation in clear terms. The question is not whether Europe should invest in health, but how visibly and consistently it chooses to do so. As cancer incidence continues to rise and healthcare systems face increasing pressure, the need for stable and dedicated investment becomes more pronounced.
The decisions made in the coming months will determine whether health remains a clearly defined priority within the European project or becomes one component within a broader set of competing interests. In the context of a growing cancer burden, the stakes are both immediate and long-term.