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 Republic of Slovenia has paid special attention to the fight against cancer.

ESMO joined its efforts with Slovenia to tackle cancer in EU policies and activities by participating in the European Conference "The burden of cancer - How can it be reduced?" with a presentation by former ESMO President, Paris A. Kosmidis, on working in multidisciplinary teams in integrated care.

During this period the health program of the Presidency focused on the topic of  health and migration.

The Roundtable on Health Strategies in the European Union - The Importance of addressing the issue of Cancer (Lisbon, 12-13 July 2007) was organized in close collaboration with ESMO for those agenda topics related to cancer issues. The ESMO Foundation provided the financial support for this key European meeting.

The Portuguese representatives, ESMO, the experts and the key forces who gathered in Lisbon have called upon the European institutions to put cancer on the political agenda as a priority and the national governments to develop policies including a strategy for prevention and control of cancer. ESMO will support the implementation of these recommendations at the national level. It will also continue to support the Portuguese efforts to make this initiative a determinant force in the fight against cancer in Europe and a first step towards the recognition by European authorities of these recommendations.