Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543022
Beating cancer is a test for Europe 10 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 FEBRUARY 2026 OPINION David Casa& Tomislav Sokol David Casa, Head Maltese delegation EPP, Tomislav Sokol, MEP and EPP coordinator on Committee on Public Health WHAT if nearly half of all can- cers in Europe could be pre- vented, and yet we weren't do- ing enough to stop them? This is not speculation. It's fact. According to recent da- ta, around 40% of cancers in Europe are preventable. That number should stop us cold. But year after year, people still fall through the cracks of systems that are too slow, too unequal, or too fragmented to deliver on that potential. Every 4 February, Europe marks World Cancer Day. More than a date on the calen- dar, it is a collective moment of truth; an opportunity to meas- ure how far we have come and how far we still must go. In 2026, as Europe faces demo- graphic change and growing pressure on public health sys- tems, the fight against cancer remains a defining test of our political responsibility. Despite progress, major gaps remain across member states. Inequalities persist in access to early detection, quality treat- ment, and long-term care. Breakthroughs in research take years to become standard practice. Survivors still face unnecessary barriers at work, in public life, and in health- care systems that are not fully adapted to their needs. The EPP group understands these challenges, and we have acted. For us, the fight against cancer has never been a slogan. It has been a long-term politi- cal priority grounded in a sim- ple belief: Every European cit- izen, regardless of where they live or how much they earn, deserves access to prevention, early diagnosis, and high-qual- ity care. This conviction guided our work in the European Parlia- ment's Special Committee on Beating Cancer. That commit- tee was not just a forum for de- bate but a laboratory for solu- tions. We listened to patients, caregivers, doctors, research- ers, and national authorities. We confronted uncomfortable truths about disparities in care and gaps in prevention. We turned those insights into poli- cy, and today, our commitment continues in parliament's Pub- lic Health Committee. One of our top priorities has been prevention. We have con- sistently pushed for stronger action on healthy nutrition, physical activity, and environ- mental risk factors. Prevention may not deliver instant results, but it saves lives over time. Early detection is our second cornerstone. Screening saves lives, but only if it is accessible to all. We worked to expand and modernise EU screening recommendations, promote new technologies, and ensure these programmes reach vul- nerable and hard-to-reach populations. Too many cancers are still diagnosed too late, not because of medical failure, but because of systemic failure. The EPP has also championed innovation and research. Eu- rope has world-class scientists and clinicians, yet too often, breakthroughs remain out of reach for patients. We called for better coordination of can- cer research, smarter use of health data, and faster access to innovative therapies, always keeping patient safety at the centre. Innovation must be a shared European asset, not a privilege for a few. Fighting inequalities is central to our approach. A cancer di- agnosis should not depend on your postcode. Our commit- tee's work showed that surviv- al rates can differ dramatically between and within member states. We have consistently argued for stronger European cooperation in health respect- ing national competences while recognising that solidarity saves lives. From cross-border healthcare to joint procure- ment and shared best practices, Europe is stronger when it acts together. Just as importantly, we in- sisted on putting patients and survivors at the heart of policy. Cancer is not only a medical condition it is a life-chang- ing experience. Quality of life, mental health, and rehabilita- tion are not secondary. They are essential. Surviving cancer must not mean living with per- manent discrimination. World Cancer Day 2026 should not be just a moment of awareness it must be a moment of accountability. The com- mitments we have made must go beyond headlines and com- memoration. We remain committed to a Europe that protects through prevention, through innova- tion, and through fairness. The fight against cancer is not one we can afford to pause. It is a shared European mission, one that demands courage and con- sistency. So, what if nearly half of can- cers could be prevented? The answer is clear. We act togeth- er. We remain committed to a Europe that protects through prevention, through innovation, and through fairness. The fight against cancer is not one we can afford to pause. It is a shared European mission, one that demands courage and consistency