Abstract
Issue
Sustaining cross-country collaboration in cancer screening remains a major challenge in Europe, where initiatives are often time-limited and fragmented. EUCanScreen brings together 29 countries to improve implementation, quality and equity of screening programmes. Ensuring continuity beyond the 48-month Joint Action is a key policy challenge.
Problem description
To inform sustainability planning, a structured strategic analysis (SWOT, prioritisation and TOWS matrix) was conducted across the consortium. The objective was to identify strategic options for sustaining EU-level collaboration. The analysis examined how strengths, particularly cross-country knowledge exchange, could be leveraged against opportunities such as EU funding frameworks, while addressing gaps in coordination, governance and long-term positioning.
Results
The analysis generated six strategy options across all TOWS quadrants. The highest-priority strategy combines the consortium’s strongest asset – cross-country knowledge exchange with funding opportunities, supporting the positioning of EUCanScreen as a continuous European knowledge platform. This reflects a shift from project-based collaboration towards a sustained coordination function. The resulting model builds on existing activities (governance, training, data systems and cross-border exchange) and enables a community of practice linking policy-makers, programme managers, researchers and implementers. Rather than creating new infrastructure, it focuses on structuring and connecting existing capacities into a coherent, long-term mechanism.
Lessons
Sustainable cancer screening collaboration requires moving beyond project-based approaches towards structured, long-term coordination. Integrating knowledge exchange, implementation support and policy engagement within existing initiatives can enhance efficiency, continuity and impact. This model is transferable to other public health areas facing fragmentation and short funding cycles.
Key messages
• Sustainable EU cancer screening requires coordination beyond time-limited projects.
• Connecting existing initiatives can enable long-term impact and policy uptake.