The EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit took place in Brussels on 10–11 December 2025 and showcased a remarkable diversity of voices, bringing together 40 speakers from 20 countries, including 21 women and 10 people with lived experience of cardiovascular disease. Discussions spanned a wide range of critical topics, from health inequalities and equity to translating science into real-world impact, the role of patient voices in shaping policy, synergies between cardiovascular disease and cancer, and gender differences in cardiovascular health.

The success of the Summit underscored the power of collaboration and partnership across the cardiovascular community. Policymakers, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and industry came together to share challenges and co-create solutions, reinforcing the shared commitment needed to drive lasting change.

With the publication of the European Commission’s Cardiovascular Health Plan approaching on 16 December, this work now enters a decisive phase. Momentum continues to build to ensure the Plan’s recommendations are effectively implemented, advancing cardiovascular health for everyone in Europe.

Event Report

The event report captures the key debates, insights and messages that emerged during the two days of the Summit.

Press Release

The press release highlights the key themes and announcements of the Summit, including the keynote address by EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the forthcoming launch of the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.

Next week, we will adopt the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan under the name Safe Hearts Plan. Successful implementation can only be achieved through robust, long-term funding. A micro-levy on unhealthy food, following the polluter-pays principle, will help mitigate the impact of cardiovascular disease on society and finance the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.

– Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

Video Highlights

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Follow updates from EACH on LinkedIn and join the conversation using the hashtags #CVHealthForAll and #EACHSummit2025.

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) is delighted to invite you to join us in Brussels on 10-11 December 2025 for the EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit, held at the Palais des Academies (1 Rue Ducale), with Secretariat provided by the European Society of Cardiology.

We warmly welcome health stakeholders and national representatives to take part in this inaugural Summit where you will have the chance to meet with Members of European Parliament from your country, hear best practices regarding implementation of national action plans, learn the latest science behind emerging trends in cardiovascular risk and prevention, hear from patients and lived experiences, and dig into the latest news around the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. Join us for an interactive, immersive and unforgettable policy experience!

Preview below our draft programme:

REGISTRATION FOR IN PERSON ATTENDANCE HAS NOW CLOSED

To follow the discussions online, please subscribe to our EACH YouTube channel.

Enquiries: each@escardio.org

Heart disease and stroke share many of the same risk factors and often co-occur. Together, they are the leading cause of death in the EU, with substantial economic and societal impacts.

The European Commission is currently preparing an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, expected in December 2025. This is a unique opportunity to shape Europe’s response to its leading cause of death.

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH), together with Members of the European Parliament from the Cardiovascular Health Group are calling for this plan to be bold, coordinated, and equitable, with a strong focus on prevention, treatment, innovation, and fair access to care for all people across Europe.

The campaign aims to highlight the commonalities and intersections between heart disease and stroke, showcasing EACH as a powerful alliance that unites leading experts and partners in both fields, and uniting World Heart Day (29 September) and World Stroke Day (29 October) under one shared message:

The challenge is one, and so must be our response.

On this page, you can watch campaign videos, hear from MEPs, explore upcoming events, and access resources that show how we can make a difference together.

EACH Partners Join Forces for Cardiovascular Health

In this video, EACH partners unite their voices to highlight the urgent need for a bold, coordinated EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. Together, they stress the shared risks and impacts of heart disease and stroke, and call for prevention, innovation, and equitable access to care across Europe.

Watch EACH partners call for prevention, equity & innovation in cardiovascular health.

Voices from the European Parliament: support from the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Cardiovascular Health Group are key allies in the call for stronger EU action on cardiovascular health. On this occasion, they are drawing attention to highlight crucial gaps in cardiovascular health and to call for ambitious EU policies.

Heart and Stroke: two sides of the same Fight

A Holistic Vision for Cardiovascular Health

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Rare Cardiovascular Diseases and the Life-Course Approach

Events

25 September 2025 – High-level event at the European Parliament, Brussels (and online)
Cardiovascular Prevention as the Cornerstone of a Competitive Europe – Scaling Up Lipid Screening to Secure Next Generations
Organised by FH Europe Foundation and co-hosted by MEP Romana Jerković (Chair of the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group) and MEP Tomislav Sokol (SANT Committee on Public Health).
See the programme and register here

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29 September 2025 – World Heart Day Events

Stakeholders webinar on the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan by the European Commission

• 14:10 Video message from Video message from Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare
• 14:15 Preliminary results of the Call for Evidence
• 14:30 Discussion on key themes of the EU plan
  Register here

Gala event in Bucharest
Hosted by the Ministry of Health, Romanian Cardiac Society, and the Romanian Heart Foundation, celebrating the adoption of the Romanian Cardiovascular Health Plan into legislation.

Cardiovascular Health Checks – Zagreb
To mark World Heart Day, EACH will support cardiovascular health checks for the public on 29 September 2025 at Europe Square in Zagreb, Croatia. This initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage prevention by engaging directly with citizens.

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14 October 2025 – European Parliament, Brussels
Closing the Gaps in Stroke Care: A Call to Action for Europe
Organised by the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE) and the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), this event will take place in the lead-up to World Stroke Day, putting stroke at the heart of the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.

• Time: 15:00–16:30 CET
• Location: European Parliament, Room 1E1, Spinelli Building, Brussels
• Hosted by: MEP Romana Jerković and MEP Billy Kelleher

Resources

A European Cardiovascular Health Plan: The Roadmap

In April 2025, the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) launched its new publication: A European Cardiovascular Health Plan: The Roadmap.

The Roadmap sets out a bold vision: to reduce premature and preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe by one third by 2030. Achieving this requires coordinated action on prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation, supported by EU-wide and national policy measures.

It outlines key pillars for the future EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, including prevention (primordial, primary, and secondary), early intervention, rehabilitation, and quality of life. Concrete proposals include a European Cardiovascular Health Check, a CVH Knowledge Centre, a Health Observatory, digital innovation, national action plans, and a dedicated research agenda to ensure evidence-based, person-centred care across Europe.

11 August, 2025 – Brussels

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) welcomes
the European Commission’s recent publication of the proposal for the Multiannual
Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. The new budgetary framework presents a
critical opportunity to strengthen the European Union’s commitment to addressing
cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in Europe.

Brussels, 4 May –

More than 1.4 billion people worldwide are living with elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], an inherited, independent cardiovascular risk factor strongly linked to heart attacks, strokes, aortic stenosis, and premature cardiovascular events. Yet, only 1–2% of the population is tested. This staggering gap leaves millions vulnerable around the world and makes elevated Lp(a) one of the most under-recognised threats in global heart health.

The Brussels International Declaration on Lp(a) Testing and Management was co-created by the Lp(a) International Task Force, chaired by Prof. Florian Kronenberg, and global leaders at a Lp(a) Global Summit, held in Brussels, on March 24-25, 2025.

The Declaration presents a shared global vision for equitable, systematic Lp(a) testing and care integration in efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease and instead to promote cardiovascular health. It presents five clear, actionable asks for governments, health systems, and global institutions. It is designed to align with and strengthen international CVD prevention strategies across the globe, including efforts like the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, the European Health Data Space, and emerging national cardiovascular health plans.

Brussels, 30 May and 16 June –

The European Cardiovascular Health Alliance (EACH) is launching a special series of public advocacy webinars to empower patients, advocates, and the wider community, kindly hosted by FH Europe Foundation. Hear directly from the person who led the efforts towards the Council Conclusions on the Improvement of Cardiovascular Health in the EU adopted in December 2024, Ms Kitti Almer, the Hungarian Public Health Attaché, who will be joined by representatives of EACH.

Learn how the new EU Council Conclusions and the forthcoming European Cardiovascular Health Plan can drive better prevention, care, and research for cardiovascular diseases. Discover how you can engage policymakers, influence national health strategies, and turn policy into action. Featuring top EU health experts, policymakers, and patient voices, these dynamic sessions will give you the knowledge and tools to be part of Europe’s next major health transformation. Don’t miss this opportunity to be heard – and to shape the future of cardiovascular health across Europe!

This webinar will be run live twice to allow more chances to join and ask your questions. Please share with your networks!

Date option 1 – 30 May – REGISTRATION

Date option 2 – 16 June – REGISTRATION

Brussels, 23 April – Today, during the first meeting of the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group at the European Parliament, the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) is launching its new publication: A European Cardiovascular Health Plan: The Roadmap.

The roadmap sets out a bold vision: to reduce premature and preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe by one third by 2030. Achieving this requires coordinated action on prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation, supported by EU-wide and national policy measures.

The Roadmap outlines key pillars for the future EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, including prevention (primordial, primary, and secondary), early intervention, rehabilitation, and quality of life. It proposes concrete actions such as a European Cardiovascular Health Check, a CVH Knowledge Centre, and a Health Observatory. It also calls for digital innovation, national action plans, and a dedicated research agenda to support evidence-based, person-centred care across Europe.

Inclusion and equity must be at the core of a European Cardiovascular Health Plan:

The success and impact of the European CVH Action Plan will be shaped not only
by what is achieved over the next few years, but also by how it is achieved, leaving
no-one and no country behind. The Plan must address societal barriers, underserved
populations, discrimination on all grounds, and fundamental inequalities pervading
health systems across Europe.

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death in the EU, accounting for 36% of all deaths and affecting 62 million people across the region.

Brussels, 17 April –

A significant step forward in addressing the leading cause of death in Europe is set to take place with the official launch of the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group in the European Parliament. Chaired by MEP Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia), this cross-party group is poised to place prevention and tackling of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at the forefront of the EU’s health agenda.

Read the press release below:

Brussels, 9 April –

Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfar Mr Oliver Várhelyi welcomed a delegation from European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) to discuss concrete avenues for cooperation on the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.

The EACH delegation brought together key voices from across the cardiovascular community:
🔹 Arlene Wilkie – representing patient associations
🔹 Andrea Rappagliosi – representing the industry via MedTech Europe
🔹 Prof. Thomas F. Lüscher – clinical representative from the EACH Secretariat

At the heart of the discussion was a shared commitment to ensuring that the upcoming EU plan is shaped through collaboration between patients, clinicians, and industry. The meeting underlined the importance of partnership, alignment, and joint action in tackling the growing burden of cardiovascular disease and building a healthier future for all Europeans.

Brussels, 23 April –

EACH is delighted to be supporting an informal interest group in the Parliament, the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group, Chaired by MEP Romana Jerkovic (S&D, Croatia). The group will kick-off with a first meeting on 23 April, 10:00 – 11:30 in the European Parliament where MEPs will have the chance to meet partners of EACH, hear more on the work programme for the year, and partake in the launch of a new publication by the Alliance, “A European Cardiovascular Health Plan: The Roadmap“.

Places will be limited to attend in person, but you can also follow along online via the livestream link below:

https://europeanparliament.webex.com/europeanparliament/j.php?MTID=m58ab12acc65cc6d6bf69c4edf370e499

Webinar number: 2744 504 8128

Please contact the Secretariat for more information: each@escardio.org