Europe's next long term budget: new briefing highlights key issues for lung cancer
The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) has published a new briefing outlining the latest developments in negotiations on the European Union's next long term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034. As discussions enter a decisive phase, the update highlights proposed changes that could influence future investment in health, cancer research and innovation across Europe.
For the lung cancer community, these negotiations are important because the next seven year budget will help determine how the European Union invests in programmes that support research, innovation, public health and collaboration between countries. While healthcare itself remains a national responsibility, European funding has played an important role in accelerating research, supporting innovation and helping reduce inequalities in cancer care.
What has changed?
The briefing focuses on two developments emerging from the latest stage of negotiations.
The first concerns funding. Following the publication of the Cyprus Presidency's Negotiating Box, proposals currently on the table would reduce the overall size of the next EU budget compared with the European Commission's original proposal. They also include proposed reductions to both the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe, including a €1 billion reduction within the Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy cluster. ECO notes that these proposals are not final and will continue to be negotiated during the second half of 2026.
The second concerns governance.
Alongside the proposed funding changes, ECO has raised concerns that future health funding decisions could be made within broader structures that combine health with biotechnology, agriculture and the bioeconomy, rather than through dedicated health specific committees. The organisation argues that maintaining dedicated health expertise within future decision making will be important to ensure health priorities continue to receive appropriate attention.
Why this is relevant for lung cancer
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer related death across Europe, yet access to screening, biomarker testing, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care continues to vary significantly between countries.
European investment has supported collaborative research, innovation and cross border initiatives that contribute to improving lung cancer care. Programmes funded through successive EU budgets have also helped strengthen research networks and accelerate the development and implementation of new approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Decisions taken during the current negotiations will therefore influence the environment in which future cancer research and innovation develops throughout the next budget period.
Lung Cancer Europe's perspective
Lung Cancer Europe supports sustained European investment in health, research and innovation, together with governance arrangements that ensure health expertise remains central to decisions affecting future health programmes.
As the voice of people affected by lung cancer across Europe, we believe continued investment in research, earlier diagnosis, biomarker testing, prevention and equitable access to high quality care will be essential if Europe is to continue reducing inequalities and improving outcomes.
Read the full briefing
The European Cancer Organisation's July update provides further detail on the current state of negotiations, the proposed funding changes and the advocacy priorities identified for cancer organisations as discussions continue.
Sources
European Cancer OrganisationReach Higher for Cancer Care: Update - 2028–2034 EU Budget: What is the current state of play?The New European Competitiveness Fund: Who decides how the budget is spent?Further reading
How the EU's Next Long-Term Budget Will Affect People Living with Lung CancerWhy Lung Cancer Europe Is Supporting the WECAN Open Letter on the EU BudgetWhat the EU Critical Medicines Act means for lung cancerWhy biomarker testing should be routine in all NSCLC