PROFILE: THE EUROPEAN CANCER ORGANISATION (ECCO)

Though its 23 Member Societies- representing over 80 000 professionals, ECCO is the only multidisciplinary organisation that connects and responds to all stakeholders in oncology Europe-wide.

ECCO is a not-for-profit federation that exists to uphold the rights of all European cancer patients to the best possible treatment and care, promoting interaction between all organisations involved in cancer at European lzevel. It does this by creating awareness of patients' needs and wishes, encouraging progressive thinking in cancer policy, training and education and promoting European cancer research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care through the organisation of international multidisciplinary meetings.

Congresses and Conferences: ECCO organises the largest multidisciplinary Cancer Congress in Europe. This congress is held jointly with its founding members (EACR, EONS, ESMO, ESTRO, and SIOPE) bringing together more than 19 000 stakeholders in oncology.

Patient Advocacy: ECCO is committed to engaging cancer patient advocates in its mission to uphold the right of all European cancer patients to the best possible treatment and care.

Education: ECCO's multidisciplinary educational initiatives are specifically tailored to meet the scientific, educational, and professional needs of oncology specialists.

Publications: ECCO disseminates scientific advancement knowledge and insight through its official publication the European Journal of Cancer (EJC)

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

ECCO is uniquely positioned to provide the voice of consensus of European oncology professionals and engage with policymakers to make sure that cancer stays at the top of the EU health and research agenda.

Providing a rallying point for Europe's community of oncology professionals, ECCO's Public Affairs arm engages in oncopolicy planned and sustained interaction with EU policy-makers as well as third party stakeholders to anticipate and proactively shape EU cancer health and research policy. 

Policy Objectives

• Speak with a single voice on wider policy issues
• Engage other stakeholders ij cancer research, innovation, treatment, care and education
• Coordinate the unified and multidisciplinary oncology community
• Be proactive in Europe.

ECCO's Public Affairs activities aimed at policy and advocacy will create sustained value and representation for all ECCO's Member Organisations and uphold ECCO's philosophy that every cancer patient deserves the best.

Public Affairs Roles

1. Inteligence gathering. ECCO continuously liaises within the oncology community and policy makers to track the ever-evolving EU political landscape, tracking relevant issues such as information to patients and patient empowerment, cross-border healthcare, equity of access to treatment, professional mobility and initiatives to foster innovation and research.
2. Analysis. ECCO evaluates this landscape to establish the potential impact on the European cancer community and thereafter determines what its current priorities are in the political arena.
3. Strategic planning. ECCO creates strategies from these focal points to define key messages and produces the tools for delivering common responses that represent the oncology community in its entirety.
4. Advocacy. ECCO translates these strategies into action by issuing position papers, communicating important information surrounding oncopolicy, engaging in advocacy activities and connecting policy-makers with cancer resources and experts.

Member Organisations

1. Breast International Group (BIG)
2. European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
3. European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM)
4. European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO)
5. European Association of Urology (EAU)
6. Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL)
7. European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS)
8. European Organisation for Reserach and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
9. European Society of Coloproctology (ESC)
10. European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
11. European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
12. European School of Oncology (ESO)
13. European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
14. European Society of Pathology (ESP)
15. European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO)
16. European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO)
17. European Society of Skin Cancer Prevention (EUROSKIN)
18. European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA)
19. Flims Alumni Club (FAC)
20. International Psychosocial Oncology Society (IPOS)
21. Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI)
22. International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)
23. European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE)