EUROPEAN
COMMISSION

Brussels, 3.2.2021
COM(2021) 44 final
ANNEX

ANNEXES
to the
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council
Europe's Beating Cancer Plan
{SWD(2021) 13 final}

EN

EN

LIST OF ACTIONS1
N°
ACTIONS
Timetable
A MODERN APPROACH TO CANCER: NEW TECHNOLOGIES, RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION AT THE SERVICE OF PATIENT-CENTRED CANCER PREVENTION AND
CARE (2)
1
Flagship: Create a ‘Knowledge Centre on Cancer’ to facilitate the
coordination of scientific and technical cancer-related initiatives at EU
2021
level.
2
Flagship: Launch a ‘European Cancer Imaging Initiative’ to support
the development of new computer aided tools to improve personalised
2022
medicines and innovative solutions.
3
Actions supporting cancer prevention and care through new cancer
research and an innovative ecosystem:
(1) Enable cancer patients to securely access and share electronic health
records for prevention and treatment across borders through the European
Health Data Space;
(2) Develop a repository of digital twins in healthcare, including for
2021-2025
more individual cancer treatment;
(3) Expand the European Cancer Information System (ECIS);
(4) Launch Horizon Europe partnerships: the Innovative Health
Initiative & the Partnership on Transforming Health and Care
Systems.
SAVING LIVES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE CANCER PREVENTION (3)
4
Flagship: Vaccinate at least 90% of the EU target population of girls
and to significantly increase the vaccination of boys and invest in
2021-2030
related infrastructures to pursue the elimination of cancers caused by
Human papillomavirus.
Improving health literacy on cancer risks and determinants (3.1)
5
Update and boost implementation of European Code Against Cancer:
(1) Develop and launch the ‘EU mobile App for Cancer Prevention’;
2021-2025
(2) Support the project ‘Health Literacy for Cancer Prevention and
Care’.
Achieving a Tobacco-free Europe (3.2)
6
Create a ‘Tobacco Free Generation’: by reviewing
(1) Tobacco Products Directive;
(2) Tobacco Taxation Directive; and
(3) the legal framework on cross border purchases of tobacco by private
2021-2025
individuals in view of legislative proposals; and
(4) Update the Council Recommendation on Smoke-Free
Environments;
(5) Support Member States in full implementation of the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control.

1

The measures presented in this action plan will all need to be taken forward in line with the better regulation
principles, including evaluations and impact assessments as appropriate.

1

Reducing harmful alcohol consumption (3.3)
7
Intensified EU support to Member States and stakeholders with the
implementation of best practices and capacity building to reduce
alcohol related harm:
(1) Review of EU legislation relating to the taxation of alcohol and crossborder purchase of alcohol products;
(2) Proposal for mandatory labelling of the list of ingredients and
2021-2025
nutrition declarationon alcoholic beverage label, as well as health
warnings;
(3) Support Member States in the implementation of evidence-based brief
interventions;
(4) Reduce the exposure of young people to online marketing of alcoholic
beverages through monitoring the implementation of the Audiovisual
Media Service Directive.
Improving health promotion through access to healthy diets and physical activity (3.4)
8
(1) Review of EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme;
(2) Propose mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling;
(3) Commission report on the implementation of the provisions of the
Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) including those on
commercial communications on unhealthy food and drinks;
(4) Develop and implement guidance for codes of practice on reducing
2021-2025
unhealthy food marketing to children, including online marketing through
the provisions of AVMSD and a Joint Action of best practices in nutrition
(“Best ReMap”);
(5) Publication of a study mapping fiscal measures and pricing policies
on sugars, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
9
Further reduction of the presence of carcinogenic contaminants in food
2021-2025
by setting maximum level limits for more of these contaminants.
10
(1) HealthyLifestyle4All support to promotion of healthy lifestyles for
all generations;
(2) Initiatives under the Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning Guide on
2021-2023
linking transport and health;
(3) Revision of the Urban Mobility Package to promote and support
sustainable and healthy transport and mobility.
Reducing environmental pollution (3.5)
11
Align the EU’s air quality standards more closely with the WHO
2021-2023
guidelines.
12
Measures towards zero-emission mobility and reducing environmental
pollution from transport under the Sustainable and Smart Mobility
2021-2025
Strategy.
Reducing exposure to hazardous substances and radiation (3.6)
13
Adopt a new Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework
2021-2027
2021-2027.
14
Reduce workers’ exposure to carcinogenic substances through the
2021-2025
amendments of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive.
15
Revise EU limits for asbestos to further reduce workers’ exposure.
2022-2024
16
Survey on exposure of workers to risk factors for cancer.
2021-2024

2

17

18
19

20

21

22

Support Member States in the implementation of the requirements of
Council Directive on protection from ionising radiation, particularly
from Radon.
Explore measures to prevent exposure to ultraviolet radiation including
from sunbeds.
Launch Horizon Europe Partnership on Assessment of Risks from
Chemicals to strengthen EU capacities for chemical risk assessment.
Preventing cancers caused by infections (3.7)
(1) Reduce liver cancer caused by Hepatitis B virus (by vaccination and
investment in related infrastructures) and prevention of liver cancer caused
by Hepatitis C virus and gastric cancer caused by Helicobacter pylori (by
treatment with antivirals and antimicrobials respectively);
(2) Propose a Council Recommendation on vaccine preventable
cancers.
IMPROVING EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER (4)
Flagship: New ‘EU Cancer Screening Scheme’:
(1) Revision of the Council Recommendation on cancer screening,
including its update and proposal for possible extension to other cancers;
(2) Cancer Imaging Initiative to support the development of new
computer-aided tools to improve personalised medicine and innovative
solutions;
(3) Develop Guidelines and Quality Assurance schemes on cancer
screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up and palliative
care for colorectal and cervical cancer, and updating the existing
guidelines on breast cancer, including accreditation/certification
programmes.
Update the European Cancer Information System to monitor and assess
cancer screening programmes.
ENSURING HIGH STANDARDS IN CANCER CARE (5)

28

Flagship: (1) Creation of ‘National Comprehensive Cancer
Centre(s)’ in all Member States and EU network by 2025;
(2) New cancer Reference Networks on cancer and cancer conditions
in addition to the four existing ERNs;
(3) EU cancer ‘Treatment Capacity and Capability Digital
Mapping’ project.
Flagship: ‘Cancer Diagnostic and Treatment for All’ initiative to
improve access to innovative cancer diagnosis and treatments.
Flagship: Launch the European Initiative to Understand Cancer
(UNCAN.eu).
Support the ‘Cancer Workforce’, through the ‘Inter-specialty
training’ programme.
Create an ‘EU platform to improve access to cancer medicines’ to
support the repurposing of existing molecules with a harmonized and
sustainable EU dimension.
Implementation of the legal framework for clinical trials.

29

Adoption of the Regulation on ‘Health Technology Assessment’.

23

24
25
26
27

3

2021-2025
2023
2021-2025

2021-2030

2021-2025

2021-2022

2021-2025

2021-2025
2021-2025
2021-2025
2021-2025
2021-2022
2021

30

Present SAMIRA Action plan to ensure quality and safety of
radiation technology and the supply of radioisotopes of medical
2021-2025
importance for diagnostic and treatment.
31
(1) Set up Partnership on Personalised Medicine to identify priorities
for research and education in personalised medicine, support research
2023-2025
projects relevant to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment;
(2) Development of a roadmap to personalised prevention.
32
Launch the ‘Genomic for Public Health’ project along with the 1+
Million Genomes Initiative, to ensure the access to large amounts of
2021-2025
genomic data for research, prevention and personalised medicine.
33
(1) Launch a new project using High-Performance Computing to
2021 - 2027
rapidly test existing molecules and new drug combinations;
(2) Support collaborative projects on cancer diagnostics and treatment
using High-Performance Computing and AI;
(3) Assist researchers working on personalised cancer treatments
through tailored support and new digital platforms.
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CANCER PATIENTS, SURVIVORS AND
CARERS (6)
34
Flagship: ‘Better life for cancer patients’ initiative:
(1) Create a tailor made ‘Cancer Survivor Smart-Card;
(2) Create the ‘European Cancer Patient Digital Centre’ supporting
2021-2023
the exchange of patients’ data and monitoring of survivors’ health
condition.
35
Address fair access for cancer survivors to financial services via
2021-2023
development of a Code of Conduct and a reflection process on longterm solutions.
36
(1) Launch a study addressing issues related to the return to work;
2021-2022
(2) Address in the Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2021-2030 the rights of cancer patients and survivors considered as
persons with a disability;
(3) Ensure full implementation of the Directive on work-life balance
for parents and carers.
REDUCING CANCER INEQUALITIES ACROSS THE EU (7)
37
Flagship: Establish a Cancer Inequalities Registry to map inequalities
2021-2022
between Member States and regions.
38
(1) Strengthen e-health, telemedicine and remote monitoring systems;
2021-2023
(2) promote the virtual consultation model of the ERNs.
39
Improve resilience, accessibility and effectiveness of EU health
2021-2025
systems to safeguard provision of cancer care in future health crises.
40
Mainstream equality action in areas addressed by Europe’s Beating
2021-2025
Cancer Plan such as screening and high-quality cancer care.
PUTTING CHILDHOOD CANCER UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT (8)
41
Flagship: ‘Helping Children with Cancer Initiative’:
2021-2023
Create an ‘EU Network of Youth Cancer Survivors’.
42
Launch the ‘Childhood cancers and cancers in adolescents and young
adults: cure more and cure better’ project to boost the transformation
2022-2025
of paediatric cancer care.

4