On World Cancer Day, Green MEPs Ciarán Cuffe & Grace O'Sullivan are calling for the EU's Green Deal to work in tandem with the Commission's recently launched EU Cancer Plan stating that both policies cannot be standalone strategies particularly when it comes to tackling harmful environmental pollutants.Cancer is a serious problem. Across the EU, 20% of the population will face cancer at one point in their lives. The statistics are even higher for Ireland where 1 in 2 are expected to develop cancer. With an average of 43,000 news cancer diagnoses a year - that is a diagnosis every 3 minutes. While the EU has many public health policies and funded cancer research projects, it is vital, that as cancer rates increase across Europe, there is a 360 approach to all EU strategy.Dublin Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe said: "Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland and has high prevalence rates across Europe. The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that 1,300 premature deaths are attributed to air pollution in Ireland every year. We know that there are clear links between air pollution and lung cancer incidence and mortality. It is time to act."Mr Cuffe went on to say: "We need to do all we can to lower cancer rates both at home and across Europe. This is why I am calling for environmental safeguards on transport to be included in the Connecting Europe Facility. CEF legislation must ensure that the EU's transport network does not make air pollution worse in the coming years."Grace O'Sullivan MEP for Ireland South said: "It's vital that there is joined-up thinking around cancer care and prevention in these trying times. This is particularly true in the context of Covid-19, with drops in diagnosis rates of cancer, and particular concerns around recently released data suggesting patients with lung cancer are experiencing higher levels of general distress, depression and anxiety compared to patients with other forms of cancer."