The European Commission’s new European Beating Cancer Plan has received a guarded welcome from MEPs Ambitious health plan unveiled just ahead of World Cancer Day (4 February). Adobe stock 04 Feb 2021 The European Commission has hailed its new strategy as a step forward in addressing cancer, an illness that affects millions of Europeans and their families. An estimated 1.3 million people die from cancer each year, including 6000 children, while the medical and financial consequences for those who survive are huge. The plan centres around four key areas: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment and improving quality of life. The EU budget has earmarked €4bn to address cancer, including from the EU4Health programme, Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe programme.