Building Momentum: Integrating Health into the European Semester

On February 6, 2025, Cancer Patients Europe (CPE held an event at the European Parliament titled “Building Momentum: Integrating Health into the European Semester”. This is the latest activity implemented by CPE in its initiative to integrate health and a pilot on cancer into the European Semester process. Pioneered by a jointly written European Semester manifesto, CPE sought to build on the momentum gained in 2024 by bringing together key stakeholders to advocate for the integration of health, focusing on cancer, into the process. The event was a platform to encourage discussion amongst key players linked to the European Semester, including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives of the European Commission from DG Health and DG Employment, and the Committee of the Regions. Additional speakers also included representatives from the OECD, the patient community and civil society. This multi-stakeholder engagement underscored the collaborative approach necessary to address the complex challenges surrounding cancer care in Europe.