Each year brings with it 58,000 new cases of cervical cancer in Europe and 27,000 deaths from the disease – all the result of the human papillomavirus (HPV). But campaigners say: “It does not have to be this way.” The European Cancer Organization goes on, “Europe has all it needs to put an end to cervical cancer once and for all. “But vaccination and screening efforts remain uneven, resulting in thousands of women still dangerously exposed to HPV.” That’s the message of a new report, “Closing the Gaps”, just released by the organization (ECO). The paper provides the first Europe-wide analysis of national cervical screening programmes. Across the region, participation in screening varies dramatically, from over 80% in some northern countries to below 50% in others.
It says that such variation is often driven by socio-economic, geographic, and systemic barriers, with women in rural areas, those with lower incomes, disabilities, or migrant backgrounds facing the highest obstacles to access. “This report makes one message unmistakably clear: Europe has the knowledge and the tools to eliminate cervical cancer, but progress will stall unless we close the persistent gaps in access, data, and programme quality,” said Prof. Daniel Kelly, co-chair of ECO’s HPV & Hep B Action Network.
“By shifting to primary HPV testing, investing in robust registries, and embedding equity at every step, member states can deliver prevention to all – not just to those easiest to reach. Achieving elimination is possible, but only if we deliver screening systems that work for every woman, in every community.” Closing the Gaps combines policy mapping, implementation analysis, and practical recommendations, turning data into actionable guidance for national policymakers and programme leaders.
The report includes specific recommendations that support Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and its goal of screening 90% of eligible women by 2030.
These include: Invitation and call-recall systems: ensuring every eligible woman is invited for screening at regular intervals – including women from underserved or marginalized communities – by using targeted communication and addressing social and cultural barriers
Screening tools and intervals: transitioning from Pap smears to primary HPV testing and introducing risk-based screening intervals and clear follow-up pathways to ensure timely treatment and continuity of care for all women
Registries and quality assurance: establishing robust data systems to track participation, monitor quality, and measure outcomes. These should be interoperable, linking vaccination, screening, and treatment outcomes, and should link national registries with the European Health Data Space
“Behind every statistic in this report is a woman who may be missed by the system – because of where she lives, her income, her disability, or the language she speaks,” said Professor Margaret Stanley, co-chair of the ECO HPV & Hep B Action Network. “Closing the gaps means meeting people where they are: offering self-collection, community outreach, trusted local support, and clear information in every language and format. Cervical cancer elimination will only be achieved when every woman feels seen, heard, and enabled to access the care she deserves.”
