Background:Between and within country variations in cancer onset, outcomes and control measures frequently reflect inequalities in access to cancer prevention and early detection programs, diagnosis, treatment and care measures. 
Objective: To describe geographic variations in cancer mortality across the European Union (EU-27). This work is part of the Joint Action (JA) "European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers -(EUnetCCC)- flahship n.5 of the European Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP)" aimed at contrasting cancer inequalities in EU-27.
Methods: Updated information from the European Cancer Information System were used to describe mortality patterns in EU-27 in 2024 by country and sex.
Results: 1,268,374 cancer deaths were recorded in EU-27 in 2024, i.e., 249.4 per 100.000 inhabitants (323.3 and 195.0 per 100.000 in men and women, respectively). Mortality rates varied 1.5 times from the lowest (Luxembourg) to the highest (Slovakia). A total of 55.924 excess cancer deaths (30.674 in men, 25.250 in women) were estimated in countries with rates higher than EU-27 average. In men, 85.6% of excess deaths occurred in eastern Europe, particularly in Poland (40.0%). Conversely, in women excess deaths were similarly documented in northern (47.8%) and eastern (52.2%) Europe.
Conclusions: Large geographic variations in cancer mortality persist in EU-27, with diverging patterns in men and women, both between and within countries. Addressing factors that contribute to inequalities in cancer outcomes remains a key priority of the EBCP.