Parties involved

EU Council Presidency

The Ministers of the Member States meet within the Council of the European Union: depending on the issue on the agenda, each country will be represented by the Minister responsible for that subject (foreign affairs, finance, social affairs, transport, agriculture, etc.).

The Council is presided for a period of six months (from January to June, and from July to December) by each Member State in turn, in accordance with a pre-established rota.

The Presidency of the Council plays an essential role in organizing the work of the institution, particularly in promoting legislative and political decisions. It is responsible for organizing and chairing all meetings, including the many working groups, and for brokering compromises.

The European Parliament and the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) against Cancer (MAC)

MAC (MEPs against Cancer) is an all-party informal group of MEPs committed to promoting action on cancer as an EU priority and harnessing European health policy to that end. ESMO is regularly invited to participate in activities organized by MAC. 

ESMO interacts with the European Parliament in order to:

• Raise awareness about cancer and cancer-related issues at the European and national levels
• Help to position the fight against cancer on European and national political agendas
• Get and provide information to guide ESMO policy and strategy

For more information about the MAC group, visit http://www.mepsagainstcancer.org/index.php

The European agencies

A Community agency is a body distinct from the Community Institutions having its own legal personality. It is set up by an act of secondary legislation in order to accomplish a very specific technical, scientific or managerial task which is specified in the relevant Community act.

ESMO is close to the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA).

The Agency is responsible for the protection of public and animal health. EMEA works as a network, bringing together the scientific resources of the EU and EEA-EFTA Member States to ensure the highest level of evaluation and supervision of medicines in Europe.

ESMO is member of the Health Professionals Working Group inside of EMEA.