New European Commission President

27/08/2019

The European Commission – another key co-legislator of the European Union policies with impact on childhood cancer care and research – also has a new President-Elect:  Ursula von der Leyen (Germany).

A physician by training and mother of 7 children, Dr. von der Leyen is the first ever female President of the European Commission.  She was previously German Minister of Defense, and responsible for Family Affairs & Youth and Labour & Social Affairs prior to that.

Importantly, Dr. von der Leyen’s has pledged to “put forward a European plan to fight cancer, to support Member States in improving cancer control and care” in her official candidacy agenda.

SIOP Europe counts on Dr. von der Leyen to ensure that childhood cancer is an integral part of this plan.