Methodological criteria for evaluating the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

Subject: Methodological criteria for evaluating the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

The Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan presented by the Commission in February 2021 is a political and economic attempt to respond to the urgent need to engage with the rapidly growing cancer problem in the Member States of the European Union. Three years after the Plan was launched, a summary or early evaluation of the results of the projects implemented, the initiatives proposed and the cooperation undertaken is suggested.

1. With projects and programmes already having been implemented, is there a precise timetable for drawing up evaluation criteria to summarise or, in some cases, make an early evaluation of the projects, programmes and initiatives, in order to determine to what extent the measures taken have realistically translated into the creation of synergies for the benefit of cancer patients?

2. What methodology (including quantitative and qualitative aspects) is envisaged for the work on evaluating the results of multidisciplinary cancer research and what evaluation indicators illustrating real-world translation into improved and valid diagnosis, treatment and cancer patient care will be included?

3. What measurable indicators does the Commission intend to use to draw up a methodological roadmap of criteria for evaluating EU investments implemented, including under Horizon Europe, in cancer research, public production and innovation?

Submitted:21.1.2024

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (15 March 2024)

A study mapping and evaluating the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (1) was launched under the EU4Health Work Programme 2022 (2), the results of which are expected to be available in mid-2024. This study will inform the review of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan planned for the end of 2024.

Certain cancer specific indicators have been included in the evaluation framework for the EU4Health Programme, which are being further developed. In addition, the aforementioned mapping study will develop a proposal for a monitoring framework that can be used in the future.

Furthermore, the European Cancer Inequalities Registry (3) aims to identify trends, disparities and inequalities between Member States and regions.

By relying on sound, comparable and reliable data, it will help to guide and evaluate targeted investments and interventions at EU, national and regional level.

The implementation of the Cancer Mission has been evaluated in the context of the assessment of the first missions established under the Horizon Europe Programme (4) in accordance with Articles 8 (5) of the Horizon Europe Regulation (5).

The communication from the Commission COM(2023) 457 final (6) sets out the main findings and is accompanied by a Staff Working Document that presents in more details the results of this assessment.

EU funded research projects are monitored and evaluated one by one concerning among others the results achieved, their relevance for policy making and their innovation potential.

In the area of cancer research, the project’s relevance for policy making would include having developed validated diagnostics or innovative cancer treatments or processes to improve cancer patient care.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:8dec84ce-66df-11eb-aeb5-01aa75ed71a1.0002.02/DOC_1&format=PDF

2 ∙ ⸱ https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/331c4ac5-492d-4359-a708-c0a7e2cfa363_en?filename=c_2023_5052_1_annex_en.pdf

3 ∙ ⸱ https://cancer-inequalities.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

4 ∙ ⸱ https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en

5 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0695

6 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0457