Thursday 15 July saw the first discussion of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) draft report, "Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy," presented by BECA Rapporteur Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew). The report is the result of months of work involving high-level meetings, public hearings, and exchanges of views with experts. The report provides an overview of areas where the EU can complement and strengthen measures in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with a focus on the key areas of prevention, screening and early diagnosis, high quality treatment, and quality of life of cancer patients and survivors.
Read more: MEP support for harm reduction during presentation BECA Draft report
On the 3rd February 2021, the Commission published Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan with consultations on the Roadmap running from 4 Feb to 3 March 2020 and on the Report from 4 Feb to 21 May 2020.
Cancer is one of the main priorities of the European Commission in the health domain.
The European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) was set up in September 2020 and is comprised of 63 MEPs, 33 full members and 30 substitutes – the membership list can be found here. The aim of the committee is to examine actions the EU can take to tackle cancer and the effects it has on people’s lives. Responsibilities of the committee include: looking at actions to strengthen the approach at every key stage of the disease: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, life as a cancer survivor and palliative care.
Read more: The European Parliament’s role in Europe's Beating Cancer Plan
On 20 May 2021, the European Commission published its Report on the application of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The report examines the performance of the TPD and will inform future regulations of safer nicotine products and determine whether or not the current TPD should be revised. The report is mandated by Article 28 of the TPD which states: "No later than five years from 20 May 2016, and whenever necessary thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report on the application of this Directive". See our article “What do we know about the TPD application report” for more details.
ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: ETHRA Nicotine Users survey report - Special Committee on Beating Cancer draft report - MPs see sense in Sweden & Estonia - Germany tax update - anti THR measures in Finland & Norway. Read on for more.
- ETHRA EU NICOTINE USERS SURVEY REPORT
- ETHRA May news roundup
- ETHRA's view on the SCHEER Opinion
- ETHRA April news roundup
- URGENT CALL TO ACTION FOR EU TAX CONSULTATION
- ETHRA March news roundup
- Eurobarometer: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes
- ETHRA February news roundup
- Europe's Beating Cancer plan fails smokers
- ETHRA January news roundup
- Urgent Call to Action for Flavour ban
- Seasons Greetings, calls to action, news round up and 2021
- Special Committee on Beating Cancer hearing on prevention
- Spain SOS
- Anti vaping MEP Michèle Rivasi heads “informal” TPD working group
- ETHRA launches major survey on nicotine use in Europe
- Have a heart
- Happy Birthday ETHRA!
- 75% of French people do not know that vaping is less harmful than smoking
- Neutral packaging for safer nicotine products will cause more smoking