Cindy Franssen (CD&V) unanimously elected EPP-coordinator in special committee against cancer

Cindy Franssen was elected on Wednesday by the European People's Party as coordinator for the special committee in the fight against cancer. "Because of this I will negotiate on behalf of the EPP group and prepare the ground. This should lead to an ambitious European master plan against cancer, which serves as a catalyst for innovative cancer research and can really make a difference for the patient", says Cindy Franssen (European Member of Parliament for CD&V).

EPP party leader Manfred Weber has put a lot of effort into this special committee. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides also put the fight against cancer at the top of the political agenda. "By developing an integral strategy, I am convinced that we can add value to the lives of everyone affected by this terrible disease," explains Cindy Franssen. "The fight against cancer will be a priority for many in the coming years. We must seize this momentum together".

"By pooling our talents, knowledge, research and resources, we can make a difference on a European level and take a lead worldwide. After all, this master plan should serve as a catalyst for innovative cancer research. We need to embrace innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Research into the correlation between environmental factors and epigenetics is also on the rise. The provision of sufficient resources for scientific research in this area cannot be underestimated," says Cindy Franssen.

"In addition to innovative research, the focus for me is also on prevention, a healthy living environment, specialized treatments and customized care. We put the patients and their quality of life at the center of this plan I'm very happy for the trust I get from my EPP group and I'm looking forward working with vice-coordinator Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé and the other members of the committee", concludes Cindy Franssen.

Background information:

After the European Parliament had already approved the mandate of this special cancer committee in June, the members were appointed on Friday, July 10. The EPP Group has campaigned around this topic during the last elections. Party leader Manfred Weber has put a lot of effort into this.
The special committee will start later in September and will have a mandate for one year.