European Society for Paediatric Oncology

EU Legislative Interests

SIOPE focuses on policies and programmes addressing healthcare organization & delivery and health research, in particular in the areas of childhood cancer as well as cancer (overall) and rare diseases. Main EU initiatives followed as of October 2025: - Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan across its initiatives e.g. European Cancer Information Systems & Inequalities Registry - EU Cancer Mission - Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe - Critical Medicine Act - EU Lifesciences Strategy - Heath Technology Assessment - European Reference Networks - Horizon Europe - EU4Health - Multi-annual Financial Framework - European Health Data Space - Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Main EU legislative files followed as of October 2025: - Revision of the EU Pharmaceutical Legislation including as pertaining to Regulation and Directive on Medicinal products for human use, Regulation on medicinal products for paediatric use, Regulation on orphan medicinal products, Regulation on advanced therapy medicinal products - Critical Medicines Act - Biotech Act - Innovation Act - MFF - General Data Protection Regulation [implementation and evaluations] - Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare [implementation and evaluations] - Clinical Trial Regulation [implementation and evaluations] SIOPE also follows EU initiatives in other relevant areas such as Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion [e.g., European Pillar of Social Rights], International Partnerships [e.g., EU Global Health Strategy], Justice and Fundamental rights [e.g., EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child], Education, Youth, Sport and Culture [e.g. Erasmus+].

Communication Activities

PUBLICATIONS - SIOPE & CCI Europe European Elections Manifesto of the paediatric oncology and haematology community https://siope.eu/activities/european-advocacy/european-elections-manifesto-2024 - SIOPE Strategic Plan: A European Cancer Plan for Children and Adolescents & Update 2021-2026: https://siope.eu/european-strategic-plan/ - Vassal G et al. The SIOPE Strategic Plan: A European Cancer Plan for Children and Adolescents. Journal of Cancer Policy 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2016.03.007 - Vassal G et al. Challenges for children & adolescents with cancer in Europe: the SIOP-Europe agenda. PBC 2014. doi: 10.1002/pbc.25044 - Prades J et al. Do NCCPs address care & research for children, adolescents, and young adults? A review across 41 European countries. Lancet Oncol. 2025 Feb;49 doi:10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101155 - Vassal G, Pearson ADJ. Cancer research in Europe: a focus on children and young people. Lancet Oncol 2023; 24: 8–9. - Kearns PR et al. European paediatric cancer mission: aspiration or reality? Lancet Oncol 2019. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(19)30487-5 - Vassal G et al. Impact of the EU Paediatric Medicine Regulation on new anti-cancer medicines for the treatment of children & adolescents. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2023. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00344-3 - Schoot RA et al. Market access to new anticancer medicines for children & adolescents with cancer in Europe. EJC 2022. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2022.01.034 - Otth M et al. Essential medicines for childhood cancer in Europe: a pan-European, systematic analysis by SIOPE. Lancet Oncol 2022. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(22)00623-4 - Vassal G et al. Access to essential anticancer medicines for children & adolescents in Europe. Ann Oncol 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.12.015 - Vassal G et al. The impact of the EU General Data Protection Regulation on childhood cancer research in Europe. Lancet Oncol 2022. doi: 010.1016/S1470-2045(22)00287-X - Otth M, de Rojas T, Rauwolf KK. Differences in care delivery for children & adolescents with cancer in Europe - Results from SIOPE OCEAN project. EJC PO 2025 June; 5 doi: 10.1016/j.ejcped.2025.100219 - SIOPE Organisation of Care & rEsearch for children with cANcer in Europe (OCEAN) project - Country profiles etc: https://siope.eu/activities/joint-projects/OCEAN - Otth M et al. The Healthcare Professionals’ and Patient Advocates’ Perspectives on Care for Children with Cancer in Europe-A Report from ESCALIER Project. Current Oncology 2025; 32(2): 84. doi: 10.3390/curroncol32020084 - Kowalczyk JR et al. Towards reducing inequalities: European Standards of Care for Children with Cancer. EJC 2014. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.11.004 - Janssens GO et al. The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers'. Radiother Oncol. 2024 doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075 - Janssens GO et al. Recommendations for the organisation of care in paediatric radiation oncology across Europe: a SIOPE-ESTRO-PROS-CCI- Europe collaborative project in the framework of the JARC. EJC 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2019.03.003 - Joint Action on Rare Cancers. Rare Cancer Agenda 2030: ten recommendations from the EU joint action. https://siope.eu/media/documents/rare- cancer-agenda-2030.pdf CAMPAIGNS - European Elections: Manifesto of the paediatric oncology and haematology community - Gold September-Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: wide engagement incl with MEPs - International Childhood Cancer Day: Annual policy event at European Parliament - Participation to EU World Cancer Day & European Week Against Cancer - Adolescent & Young Adults Cancer Week EVENTS incl - SIOPE ICCD annual event hosted by MEPs [topic 2025: “Cross-Border Access to Care, Research, and Training: Reducing Inequalities for Children with Cancer"] - SIOPE Annual Meeting [https://siopeurope.eu/]

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

https://siope.eu/activities/partnerships/

Organisation Members

The SIOPE membership is based on the European National Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Societies or groups (‘NaPHOS’), which encourage their members to become part of the SIOPE network. In countries without NaPHOS, medical institutions and treatment centres specialised in paediatric cancer care can join SIOPE. Such centres can allow the paediatric haemato-oncology professionals in their institute to also become members of SIOPE. To ensure an open and continuously growing community, oncology professionals who are not members of a NaPHOS can also join SIOPE. List of members: https://siope.eu/about-siope/members/

Additional Information

The SIOPE accounts for 2024 are being finalized and information will be updated imminently.