An event marking European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day was held at the European Parliament, co-organised by Cypriot MEPs Michalis Hadjipantela and Giorgos Georgiou, together with the European Cancer Organisation, the European Association of Urology and Europa Uomo.
The aim of the meeting was to call for greater EU action on early detection, tackling inequalities in access to screening programmes, and providing practical support to member states in developing national strategies. The event also showcased progress in the European project PRAISE-U, which seeks to improve prostate cancer screening across EU countries.
Cypriot MEPs urged an immediate strengthening of EU detection mechanisms and support for national health systems, noting that around 330,000 new cases and 70,000 deaths from the disease are recorded annually in the EU.
DISY MEP Michalis Hadjipantela highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and prevention. He also stressed the value of cross-party cooperation on health issues within the EU, pointing to its positive results, including the recent adoption of the Public Health Committee’s 2026 budget report, for which he thanked his Left group colleague Giorgos Georgiou for his “constructive cooperation.”
For his part, AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou underlined that real progress in tackling cancer can only be achieved if there is the political will to turn commitments into action, always in collaboration with healthcare professionals and patient representatives, to safeguard health as a public and social good. He added that he will step up efforts to make use of EU programmes such as EU4Health, so that “member states receive tangible support in developing their national strategies.”
Representatives of PRAISE-U from Sweden and Lithuania also spoke at the event, explaining how the programme can strengthen prostate cancer screening, drawing on examples from their own countries. The programme currently operates in 11 member states, with an overall budget of around €12 million.
Report in preparation
At the same time, a report on cancer policy is being drafted as part of the EU’s strategic health framework. The European Parliament’s Public Health Committee (SANT) is expected to finalise the report by the end of the year, after which it will be brought before the Parliament’s plenary.