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Breast cancer: the importance of screening (debate)
Dear Colleagues, Breast cancer screening saves lives — yet participation across Member States still ranges from 6% to over 90%. This wide gap shows that while progress has been made, much more can be achieved. The European Beating Cancer Plan and the 2022 Council Recommendation set the shared goal of reaching 90% coverage for eligible populations. The EUCanScreen programme plays a crucial role in this effort. I kindly ask the Commission to provide transparent data on the efficiency and early results of the EUCanScreen programme — what works best, where, and for whom. Such evidence is essential to guide future action and ensure equal access to quality screening across Europe. Finally, improving health literacy remains key. When citizens understand the value of early detection, participation rises. Let us make health literacy a true European priority, backed by dedicated funding in the next MFF.