Lung Cancer Europe position on the EU’s 2028–2034 budget
A POSITION STATEMENT | OCTOBER 2026
The EU is negotiating its next long-term budget, which will decide how much it invests in health, research and cancer care from 2028 to 2034. In October 2026, the Irish Presidency of the Council presented a revised proposal that would cut planned funding for health research and emergency preparedness, and still give health no dedicated, ring-fenced budget.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe, and access to progress remains unequal. EU funding helps address these gaps, through research and projects such as SOLACE, i3LUNG and IDERHA, and helps countries make progress together.
This position statement sets out what the proposal means for people affected by lung cancer and four changes we are asking EU institutions and Member States to make. It builds on our earlier calls, including the WECAN open letter, and supports the European Cancer Organisation's Reach Higher for Cancer Care campaign.
Key Points
Our position
Ring-fence at least €10.05 billion for health, including at least €2.5 billion for cancer, with clear accountability for how it is spent.
Protect health and cancer research, including a dedicated health component within Horizon Europe.
Back Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan with the resources needed to deliver it.
Make reducing inequalities in cancer care a priority, so more people benefit from advances in diagnosis, treatment and care, wherever they live.
