European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis stressed on Thursday that the European Commission is committed to an efficient and effective cancer control policy in the European Union (EU).

The Commissioner attended MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) anniversary event in the European Parliament, which brought together MEPs from various political groups, including the Association of European Cancer Leagues and the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC).

"Our goals are, and will remain, to prevent cancer where we can, and to improve the prospects of cancer patients through early diagnosis as well as appropriate information and care," said Andriukaitis.

According to the study of ECPC, one in three Europeans is diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and in 17 out 28 EU countries, cancer is the number one killer.

Facing the challenges, EU-level cooperation has proven to be of added value in the fight against cancer. The Commission is therefore, works together with the Council and relevant organizations to reduce cancer incidence by 15 percent by the year 2020.

Andriukaitis noted that the MEPs Against Cancer group would continue to be a reference partner in the common efforts and actions against cancer in the EU.

Founded in 2005 by former Slovenian Prime Minister Alojz Peterle, the MAC aims to facilitate all-party collaboration on cancer policy, with the aim of reducing the cancer burden in Europe.

Peterle outlined his vision for the future to have a national all-party cancer group in each member state, in order to enhance the cooperation between the EU and national health policies and strive to reduce inequalities in Europe.