The European Parliament made a declaration on the fight against breast cancer in the European Union in which it calls on the Member States to introduce nationwide breast screening, in accordance with EU guidelines. Member States are also called upon to provide multidisciplinary specialist breast units in accordance with EU guidelines by 2016.

Parliament recalls that 331 392 women in the European Union are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and that breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 59 (89 674 women die of breast cancer in the EU every year). It also recalls that mammographic screening can reduce deaths from breast cancer by up to 35% in women between 50 and 69.

The Commission is invited to:

present a progress report on implementation of mammography screening in all EU countries every 2 years; support studies to look at whether screening is useful for women over 69 years of age and under 50; present up-to-date, reliable statistics on breast cancer and support the development of national cancer registers; develop a certification protocol for specialist breast units in accordance with EU Guidelines by 2011 and to provide adequate financing for this.