The European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) promotes collaboration between cancer registries, defines data collection standards, provides training for cancer registry personnel and regularly disseminates information on cancer incidence and mortality in Europe.

The ENCR is in operation since 1990 and was established within the framework of the Europe Against Cancer programme of the European Commission on the initiative of the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC), Association of Nordic Cancer Registries (ANCR), International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) and Latin Language Registry Group (GRELL).

The project was supported by the European Commission (SANCO) until 31 March 2004. Funding for ENCR activities was also received from Cancéropôle Rhone-Alpes for the years 2007, 2008 and from the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission through the EUROCOURSE project in 2009-2012. IARC co-funded the ENCR since its inception until the end of 2012.

In 2012, the two Directorate-Generals of the European Commission (DG SANTE and the DG JRC) entered a formal collaboration to address actions in support of the ENCR, paving the way towards further coordination and harmonisation of cancer data in Europe. The support has also ensured the continuity of the ENCR secretariat, including the administrative functioning and networking of the ENCR.