Luxembourg has reached a major milestone in the fight against cancer. The Luxembourg Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC), initially launched as a pilot project in Luxembourg, is among the first 30 centres officially designated by the European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (EUnetCCC).

This designation represents a significant structural step forward for the organisation of oncology care in Luxembourg and reinforces the country’s integration within the European cancer care ecosystem.

A European Recognition with a Strong Impact

Every year, 2.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer in Europe. In response to this major public health challenge, the European Union is strengthening coordination between centres of excellence to ensure more equitable access to high-quality cancer care.

The EUnetCCC-designation does not constitute an accreditation or a formal quality certification. Rather, it represents a strategic starting point, recognising centres that already play a structuring role in organising cancer care and research for a defined population within their national health systems.

The process begins at the national level, with the involvement of national authorities, followed by a European evaluation carried out by the Designation and Admission Committee (DAC) within the framework of the Joint Action EUnetCCC.

In Luxembourg, the Ministry of Health and Social Security has confirmed strong support for the implementation of a CCC through the official designation of the Luxembourg Comprehensive Cancer Center as the national candidate centre for the admission and subsequent certification phases of the Joint Action EUnetCCC. This national designation reflects a strong institutional commitment, and highlights the national authorities’ intention to structure and strengthen oncology care at the national level, in alignment with the priorities of the National Cancer Plan (PNC2).

By recognising the Luxembourg CCC as a national consortium covering the entire territory and acting as a focal point for oncology care, research, education and innovation, Luxembourg affirms its ambition to develop an integrated, coordinated cancer centre oriented towards excellence.  This approach is firmly focused on serving patients, while also reaffirming the country’s ongoing its commitment to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP).

A Collective National Commitment Coordinated by the INC

This European designation recognizes the Luxembourg collaborative model, based on the integration of care, research and innovation at the national level.

In Luxembourg, the implementation of the CCC is coordinated by the National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer - INC), which ensures the national structuring of the project and strategic alignment among the partners forming the CCC:

• Centre Hospitalier du Luxembourg (CHL) ;
• Hôpitaux Robert Schuman (HRS) ;
• Centre Hospitalier du Nord (CHdN) ; 
• Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (CHEM)
• Centre François Baclesse (CFB) ;
• Laboratoire National de la Santé (LNS) ;
• Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) ;
• Université du Luxembourg (Uni.lu).

As a starting point, this European designation now enables the Luxembourg CCC to enter a structured pathway of continuous improvement, including:

• Strengthening governance and organisational structures
• Developing quality management tools
• Fostering European cooperation and peer learning
• Supporting clinical and translational research
• Enhancing integration within the European cancer ecosystem

The objective is to consolidate a fully integrated centre, driving coordinated, innovative and patient-centred oncology care.

A First Step Towards a European Network of 100 CCCs

This first wave of 30 centres across eight European countries marks the operational launch of the network.

Within the framework of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EUnetCCC initiative aims to establish a network of around 100 Comprehensive Cancer Centres by 2028, with a second wave of designations planned for the second quarter of 2026.

This European initiative seeks to transform clinical and scientific excellence into tangible benefits for patients, while strengthening equity and cooperation between Member States.

A European recognition and a renewed commitment to continue structuring and strengthening oncology care in Luxembourg, for the benefit of patients and in close cooperation with Europe.