Brussels, 31/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Parliamentary groups on breast cancer, chaired by German Social Democrat, Karine Jöns, as well as the NGO, "Europa Donna", is organising a seminar next week at the European Parliament in Brussels. The aim is to raise awareness among MEPs and other political actors as to the gravity of the public health problem, that breast cancer creates. An exhibition, "breast Cancer in Europe today", will highlight the importance of early screening. Other information will focus on the treatments and research projects financed by the European Commission within the 4th and 5th RDFP Research and Development Framework Programmes. EUROPE is keen to point out that the 6th RDFP will be definitively adopted on 3 June and will receive funding to the tune of EUR 400 million for cancer research. The exhibition will be inaugurated on 4 June in the presence of Commissioner Anna Diamnatopoulou and will end on 6 June.
This awareness campaign will not be limited to MEPs, where Member States have the heavy responsibility when it come to the lack of screening facilities, explained Ms Jöns, who chairs the group that consists of MEPs and national parliamentarians from all political colourings. Only eight Member States (Belgium, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden and the Netherlands) have so far put into place almost all of the recommendations for early screening, which if applied, could reduce cancer-related deaths by 30%. Ms Jöns is appealing in particular for the development of benchmarking and the exchange of experiences at a European level, as well as the creation of specialised treatment centres. A hearing is planned for October and will be followed by an initiative report at the beginning of next year.
In the European union, breast cancer is diagnosed every 2.5 minutes and a woman dies every 6.5 minutes from the disease.