The European Parliament Resolution on Breast Cancer in the Enlarged European Union

The European Parliament adopted a Resolution on Breast Cancer incorporating all the EU Member States in October 2006 (EU-25). It reinforces the demands set out in the first Resolution on Breast Cancer of June 2003. The resolutions call for every woman in Europe to have access to the same first-class early detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare, irrespective of where she lives, her social status and her level of education. They establish requirements for mammography screening, treatment and the setting up of breast units according to European guidelines. Women between the ages of 50 and 69 must have the right to attend high-quality mammography screening at two-year intervals in dedicated and certified centres paid for by health insurance schemes.

The 2006 resolution calls on Member States to ensure nationwide provision of specialist breast units in accordance with EU guidelines by 2016, since treatment in a specialist breast unit has been proven to raise chances of survival and to improve quality of life. It also called on the European Commission to present in 2007 a progress report on the implementation of mammography screening programmes and the steps taken to lower mortality rates in all the Member States, as stipulated in the Resolution of 2003 (This report was published in June 2008 and is available here). The resolution makes new demands, such as the strengthening of research, job protection for breast cancer patients, and European directives for breast care nurses.

Read the 2006 Resolution: