Constitutive Meeting, European Parliament, 3 February 2025
Big news from Brussels! SIOPE is now part of the Secretariat of the newly established European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer & Rare Diseases, which marks a milestone in the fight against adult cancer, childhood cancer, and rare diseases across Europe.
At its first constitutive meeting on 3 February 2025, the Intergroup endorsed its Terms of Reference and Work Plan for the 2024-2029 legislature. Under the leadership of MEPs Vlad Voiculescu (Renew, RO), Tomislav Sokol (EPP, HR), Stine Bosse (Renew, DK), and Tilly Metz (Greens, LU), and with the support of SIOPE, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), and EURORDIS – Rare Disease Europe, this forum will track policy developments, engage with leading experts, and advocate for impactful EU legislation in health and research.
On 4 March 2025, the Intergroup held a high-level networking reception to present its 2025 Work Plan and new website. The event brought together policymakers, experts, and patient advocates to outlining key priorities such as health funding in the EU long-term budget negotiations, revision of the EU Pharmaceutical Legislation, strengthening collaboration between the childhood cancer, cancer, and rare disease communities, and reaffirming the EU’s commitment to tackling cancer through the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan and Mission on Cancer.
Prof. Gilles Vassal (Gustave Roussy and SIOPE Board Member) represented SIOPE at the launch, addressing the persistent inequalities in access to care and research across Europe and the need for continued cross-border collaboration in paediatric oncology.
You can stay up to date by visiting the Intergroup’s new website and following SIOPE, ECO, and EURORDIS on social media for the latest updates!
Networking Reception, European Parliament, 4 March 2025