Keynote Speech by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides at the European Parliament Policy Dialogue: "How Can the EU Pharmaceutical Legislation be a Success for Children and Adolescents with Cancer?"

Honourable Members, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here with you today in this discussion during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

I want to thank the MEPs Against Cancer Interest Group; the European Society for Paediatric Oncology; Childhood Cancer International – Europe; and the European Association of Cancer Leagues for their vital work and for keeping a spotlight on these issues.

A special thanks to MEP Loukas Fourlas who is hosting this event.

Loukas, it takes a different kind of strength to turn a personal experience and loss into positive action.

I would like to make a special reference to someone whose absence today is felt by us all, a tireless advocate for Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, for childhood cancer, a shining light in the field of cancer and not only, MEP Veronique Trillet Lenoir.

I will personally greatly miss her - I believe that she continues to shine her own light on the work we all do.

Dear Friends,

Cancer prevention, treatment and care and timely access to innovative, high-quality, safe medicines for young patients are crucial and are top priorities for the Commission.

These are two areas that require close cooperation and collaboration between policy makers, health professionals and researchers – with patients and their families at the very heart of the process.

In April, we presented a bold and ambitious reform of the EU's pharmaceutical legislation, which includes strong provisions concerning medicines for children and for treating rare diseases.

This reform was informed by the regular and excellent feedback we received from patients organisations, such as yourselves.

Your voices are essential voices, so I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your proactive engagement.

EU legislation on medicines for children and for rare diseases has been in place for more than 20 years – and these rules have delivered safe and effective medicines to our citizens.

But it's not enough and this is clear when we look at cancer in children.

Cancer remains the main disease cause of death for children in Europe.

We can – and must – change this.

For example, we have identified that even though certain medicines developed to treat cancer in adults could be effective for the treatment of cancers in children, they are never studied in children.

• Strong incentives to address inequalities in access to medicines.
• Faster availability of more affordable generics and biosimilars and more sustainable healthcare costs for Member States and patients.
• Fewer shortages of medicines and increased security of supply.
• and finally, faster and simpler authorisation procedures.

During the pandemic, the EU proved it could ensure equal and timely access to COVID vaccines in all 27 Member States.

We need to work towards the same goal also in normal times.

With Europe's Beating Cancer Plan we are also putting a particular focus on paediatric cancer.

The flagship initiative “Helping Children with Cancer" aims to ensure that children have access to rapid and optimal detection, diagnosis, treatment and care through the network of centres of excellence, which links to the European Reference Network for paediatric cancers.

In addition, through the EU4Health Programme, we support projects focusing on the quality of life of young cancer survivors.

One project uses an online platform to strengthen links between patients and their carers, survivors, and social and healthcare professionals.

Another project is developing the prototype of a Cancer Survivor Smart Card mobile application.

This will disseminate best practices on psychological support, self-management, pain management and professional re-integration.

These ambitious projects wouldn't be possible without the engagement of our active paediatric community.

I want to thank SIOPE for being at the forefront of this effort, including, by being part of our Cancer Stakeholder Contact Group.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and our proposals to reform our pharmaceutical legislation cornerstones of the European Health Union we are building. A paradigm shift in the way we approach health across the EU.

I count on your continued support in the interinstitutional negotiation on pharmaceuticals, so that together, we can deliver life changing benefits to patients, including children and adolescents across Europe.

I was privileged to work as a mental health professional with young cancer patients and their families for over 25 years.

Children are the stars lighting the sky of the future. We owe it to every single child and family to keep these stars shining.