After the peak rate reached in 1988, moderate but steady declines were observed over the last decade in total cancer mortality rates in the European Union (EU). Such a decline was over 7% for both sexes combined over the period of 1988-1996 (i.e. from 147.0 to 136.4/100,000, world standard population). The declines in cancer mortality correspond to the avoidance of approximately 70,000 deaths in 1996 in the EU compared with the 1988 rates. The major determinants of these favourable trends were lung (-7.7%), stomach (-24.8%), intestines (-12.4%), breast (-7.1%), uterus, mainly cervix (-20.6%), and leukaemias (-8.3%) and, after 1992, a levelling off of prostate cancer rates.