One of the great advantages of working in Brussels is that you get a truly European perspective on healthcare. Some days, this is inspiring: you see initiatives that share best practices and raise standards of care for millions of citizens. Other days, the picture is less rosy: comparisons between countries tend to put the spotlight on glaring inequalities for patients. And with a complex web of roles and responsibilities, turning knowledge into action is in not always straightforward.

Our hope and our commitment is that all stakeholders will play an active role in charting the way forward in the fight against ‘the Big C’. Cancer is indeed a big challenge and it is one that we can rise to together. The big “C” can also be a signal for hope: a C for “collaboration”, for “commitment” and for “concerted action”.