Europa Donna

Europa Donna, also known as Europa Donna – The European Breast Cancer Coalition, is an independent non-profit organisation representing breast cancer advocacy groups across Europe. Its member organisations, known as national fora, operate in 47 European countries. Although the organisation has an international European remit, its headquarters are in Milan, Italy. The organisation was established in 1994 after a group of women from different European countries developed the idea of a coordinated European voice for breast cancer awareness and patient representation. The concept had been presented in 1993 at a European Society of Mastology congress in Paris by Italian breast surgeon Umberto Veronesi. Europa Donna’s central purpose is to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support available to people affected by breast cancer. It seeks to raise public awareness of breast cancer and the role of lifestyle and early detection, while also promoting access to organised screening, specialist multidisciplinary care, accurate information, psychosocial support, reconstruction where appropriate, and evidence-based treatment. Its advocacy is directed both at national governments and at European institutions, with the objective of reducing differences in breast cancer outcomes and ensuring that patients can participate meaningfully in decisions about their care. The coalition works through public education, policy advocacy, professional and patient education, and participation in cancer research. It has engaged with the European Parliament on breast cancer policy and contributed to the adoption of European Parliament resolutions concerning breast cancer, as well as a written declaration on the fight against the disease. Europa Donna also collaborates with scientific and clinical organisations. It is a co-organiser of the European Breast Cancer Conference alongside the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. The organisation provides patient and advocacy perspectives to international breast cancer trial committees and participates in the Breast International Group Scientific Committee. Education and capacity building are important parts of its operating model. Europa Donna organises pan-European conferences for patient advocates every two years and holds annual advocacy training courses intended to strengthen the ability of national groups to influence health policy and communicate with healthcare institutions. It has also promoted Breast Health Day, observed on 15 October, as an awareness initiative focused on breast health, prevention, and informed action. Under a constitution signed in 1996, Europa Donna is governed by an Executive Board of no more than nine members. At least three board members must be breast cancer survivors, reflecting the organisation’s emphasis on patient participation and lived experience. National delegates from the member fora elect the board. The organisation began as an educational arm of the European School of Oncology and has subsequently developed into an independent coalition. Its work has included support from an operating grant provided by the European Commission. Europa Donna is a network and advocacy organisation rather than a commercial product brand: its principal offerings are information, training, policy representation, coalition-building, and participation in cancer-care and research discussions.

Europa Donna emerged from a European effort to give breast cancer awareness and patient representation a coordinated institutional voice. In 1993, at a congress of the European Society of Mastology in Paris, Italian breast surgeon Umberto Veronesi presented the idea of creating a European organisation of women focused on breast cancer. A small group of women from different European countries subsequently worked to establish the organisation. It began as an educational arm of the European School of Oncology and was formally founded in 1994. The organisation developed as a coalition of national advocacy groups rather than as a conventional centralised charity. Its national member organisations are known as fora, and the network eventually expanded to include groups in 47 European countries. This structure allows Europa Donna to combine a shared European policy agenda with national knowledge of healthcare systems, screening arrangements, treatment access, and patient needs. A constitution signed in 1996 established the organisation’s governance framework and confirmed Milan, Italy, as its headquarters. The constitution provided for an Executive Board of up to nine members, with at least three places reserved for breast cancer survivors. Board members are elected by delegates from the national fora. The survivor requirement embedded patient experience directly into the organisation’s formal leadership model. Europa Donna’s activities have developed around four connected areas: policy, education, prevention, and research. It has advocated for early detection, organised screening, optimal treatment, high-quality breast cancer services, and the inclusion of patients in healthcare and research decisions. Its European-level advocacy has included engagement with the European Parliament, contributing to the adoption of parliamentary resolutions on breast cancer and a written declaration concerning the fight against the disease. The organisation has also worked with national and European policymakers to promote more consistent standards of care across countries. Alongside policy work, Europa Donna has built a programme of public and professional education. Breast Health Day, held on 15 October, has been used to communicate information about breast health, prevention, and lifestyle-related risk reduction. The coalition also organises pan-European conferences for advocates every two years and annual advocacy training courses. These activities help national groups share experience and develop practical skills for campaigning, policy engagement, and patient communication. Research and clinical collaboration form another part of the organisation’s history. Europa Donna has worked with European scientific bodies and is a co-organiser of the European Breast Cancer Conference with the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. It has provided patient perspectives to international breast cancer trial committees and has participated in the Breast International Group Scientific Committee. Through these relationships, the organisation connects patient advocacy with clinical research and treatment-policy discussions. Europa Donna has received an operating grant from the European Commission, supporting its work as a European-level public-interest organisation. Its continuing identity is that of an independent coalition advocating for better breast cancer outcomes, informed patients, and equitable access to quality services. It does not sell consumer products; its principal outputs are advocacy, education, information, convening, and representation.

• 1996

  Constitution signed and governance established

  [1]Europa Donnaen.wikipedia.org

  A constitution formalised the organisation’s structure, headquarters in Milan, and Executive Board governance, including the requirement that at least three board members be breast cancer survivors.

• 1994

  Europa Donna founded

  [1]Europa Donnaen.wikipedia.org

  Women from several European countries established Europa Donna, initially as an educational arm of the European School of Oncology.

• 1993

  European organisation concept presented

  [1]Europa Donnaen.wikipedia.org

  At a European Society of Mastology congress in Paris, breast surgeon Umberto Veronesi presented the concept of a European organisation focused on breast cancer awareness and the representation of women and patients.

• Network expands across Europe

  [1]Europa Donnaen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition develops a network of national fora affiliated with groups in 47 European countries.

• European Parliament advocacy

  [1]Europa Donnaen.wikipedia.org

  Europa Donna’s policy work contributes to European Parliament resolutions on breast cancer and a written declaration on the fight against breast cancer.

Independent, patient-centred European breast cancer advocacy coalition

• Awareness campaign

  Breast Health Day

  An annual breast-health awareness initiative held on 15 October. The programme communicates information about breast cancer, prevention, and the potential role of lifestyle choices in reducing risk, while encouraging people to become better informed about breast health and early detection.

• Training programme

  Advocacy Training

  Annual training courses designed to strengthen the knowledge and practical advocacy skills of people representing breast cancer patients and national member organisations. The training supports engagement with policymakers, healthcare systems, researchers, and the public.

• Conference and convening

  Pan-European Conferences for Advocates

  Advocacy conferences held every two years, bringing together representatives from Europa Donna’s national fora and other stakeholders. They provide a platform for exchanging experience, discussing European breast cancer policy, and coordinating advocacy priorities.

• Research advocacy

  Patient representation in breast cancer research

  Europa Donna contributes patient perspectives to international breast cancer trial committees and participates in the Breast International Group Scientific Committee. This work seeks to ensure that research agendas and trial discussions account for patient priorities and lived experience.

• Breast Health Day

  Europe

  Annual awareness activity held on 15 October to promote breast health, information about breast cancer, prevention, and the relationship between lifestyle choices and risk reduction.

  Outcome. Provides a recurring public-awareness platform across the European network.

  Source

• 1996

  Formalise a survivor-inclusive European coalitionStrategy

  Background

  After its establishment as a cross-border breast cancer education and advocacy initiative, Europa Donna needed a formal structure capable of coordinating national member groups and representing patients at European level.

  Action taken

  The organisation adopted a constitution establishing Milan as its headquarters and creating an Executive Board of up to nine members, with at least three required to be breast cancer survivors.

  Aftermath

  The constitutional model gave the coalition a formal governance basis while embedding patient experience in its leadership.

  Source

• Prioritise European policy advocacy on breast cancer careStrategy

  Background

  Differences in breast cancer awareness, screening, treatment, and support across European countries created a need for coordinated policy advocacy.

  Action taken

  Europa Donna collaborated with national and European policymakers and advocated through the European Parliament for stronger breast cancer policy and improved access to optimal services.

  Aftermath

  The work contributed to European Parliament resolutions on breast cancer and a written declaration on the fight against breast cancer.

  Source

• Integrate patient advocacy with clinical researchStrategy

  Background

  Breast cancer research and treatment policy benefit from the inclusion of patient priorities and lived experience.

  Action taken

  Europa Donna began providing patient perspectives to international breast cancer trial committees, participating in the Breast International Group Scientific Committee, and collaborating with European scientific organisations.

  Aftermath

  The organisation became a link between patient groups, clinical researchers, and European cancer-care institutions.

  Source

1. 1Europa Donnaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Europa Donna official websiteeuropadonna.org