Comparisons of cervical cancer screening programmes in the European Union

This paper summarises the similarities and differences between the cervical cancer screening programmes operating in the 15 Member States of the European Union as presented in the separate papers prepared by each country. The screening programmes are compared in terms of their duration of operation, type and sources of funding, invitation methodology, target population, organisation and quality assurance methodology with the aim of shedding some light upon the current situation of cervical cancer screening within the European Union.