To mark World Heart Day and EU Screening Week 2026, members and partners of the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) are taking action across Europe to raise awareness, promote prevention, advocate for stronger cardiovascular health policies, and encourage people to know their cardiovascular health and risk.

Explore how our partners are making a difference across Europe.

World Heart Federation

European Society of Cardiology

European Heart Network

FH Europe

MedTech Europe

COCIR

Brussels, 29 September 2026 – Young, fit or seemingly healthy does not mean cardiovascular disease or stroke are off the table. This World Heart Day, the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) is launching Look Beyond the Usual, a new campaign aiming to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in younger people and ultimately improve its recognition.

Young people can and do experience cardiovascular disease, but they may not fit the image of the “typical” cardiovascular patient. Symptoms can be attributed to more familiar explanations such as stress, anxiety, tiredness or lifestyle before a cardiovascular cause is considered.

Recognising cardiovascular symptoms early can make a significant difference to outcomes. This is particularly important in time-sensitive conditions such as stroke. Dr Michele Romoli, neurologist and Young EACH representative, said: “Nearly one in ten young adults with ischaemic stroke may initially be misdiagnosed. When neurological symptoms appear suddenly, stroke must remain in view: early recognition offers the best chance of preserving cognition, function and independence.”

Look Beyond the Usual challenges assumptions about what a person with cardiovascular disease is expected to look like. With a particular focus on frontline and emergency-care settings, the campaign encourages healthcare professionals to look beyond age and appearances when symptoms warrant further attention.

At the heart of the campaign is a call to action:

PAUSE. RECONSIDER. REASSESS.

• Pause: Don’t let appearances alone shape clinical judgement.
• Reconsider: Could the symptoms be telling a cardiovascular story?
• Reassess: Go back to family history, signs and symptoms. If something still doesn’t add up, investigate further, refer or escalate.

Looking beyond the expected patient

The campaign speaks primarily to healthcare professionals working in emergency departments, primary care, urgent care and other first-contact settings, where early recognition and appropriate assessment can be critical. It also aims to challenge the wider misconception among young people, families and the public that cardiovascular disease is primarily a condition of older age.

Through a campaign video, social media materials and condition-specific resources, Look Beyond the Usual will highlight how assumptions can influence the way symptoms are interpreted and encourage a closer look when something does not add up.

• Watch the campaign video
• Explore Look Beyond the Usual
• Follow the campaign on LinkedIn

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About EACH

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) brings together 22 leading European and international organisations to promote cardiovascular health as a policy priority at EU level. The Alliance provides a platform to aggregate knowledge and expertise of key stakeholders active in the field of cardiovascular health, and to advise and guide policymakers. The Alliance calls for greater focus on improving cardiovascular health and reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease at European level.

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About young EACH

Young EACH is the youth-focused platform within the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health, bringing together representatives from EACH partner organisations working on young populations and young people with lived experience. Its objective is to ensure that the cardiovascular health needs, experiences and perspectives of younger generations are reflected in awareness, advocacy and policy action.

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For more information, please contact:

Sophie Millar, EACH Secretariat, at each@escardio.org

11 August 2026

Today, the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) submitted its position on the revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Europe, and a significant proportion of this burden is preventable. As the EU updates its tobacco control framework, it is essential that legislation keeps pace with evolving tobacco and nicotine products and the growing challenges posed by digital marketing and youth uptake.

In our submission, EACH calls for:

✅ Comprehensive regulation of all tobacco and non-medical nicotine products
✅ Stronger protection of children and young people from nicotine addiction
✅ The closure of advertising, promotion and sponsorship loopholes, including online and social media marketing
✅ A future-proof framework that places public health above commercial interests and supports Member States to take stronger action where needed.

Preventing tobacco and nicotine addiction is one of the most effective ways to reduce cardiovascular disease and support healthier, longer lives across Europe.

Respond to the consultation before 14 August 2026

28 September – 4 October 2026

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) is pleased to support the first-ever EU Screening Week, a European Commission prevention initiative taking place from 28 September to 4 October 2026, around World Heart Day on 29 September.

EU Screening Week forms part of the wider Know Your Numbers campaign, under the prevention agenda of the Safe Hearts Plan. It aims to create a visible European moment for prevention, bringing together organisations, professional networks, patient groups, public-health actors and other partners across Europe.

At the heart of the campaign is a simple message: Blood pressure. Cholesterol. Blood sugar. Know the numbers that matter.

Many people may feel healthy while having silent risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. These can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions. Knowing these key numbers and discussing them with a healthcare professional can help identify risks earlier and support informed action.

How to take part

Participation is deliberately flexible. Organisations across Europe can take part through screening activities where feasible, awareness stands, public events, workplace or pharmacy activities, webinars, media initiatives and online communications.

Organisations planning an activity are encouraged to register it by 20 September 2026. Registered activities can be included in the EU Screening Week interactive map, helping make prevention activities taking place across Europe more visible to citizens.

Register your activity here

Campaign resources

The European Commission has launched dedicated webpages and campaign resources to support organisations and citizens taking part in EU Screening Week and the wider Know Your Numbers campaign.

EU Screening Week
Find out more about the initiative, activities taking place across Europe and how to get involved.

Visit the EU Screening Week website →

Know Your Numbers
Learn more about blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, why these numbers matter and how to get a health check in your country.

Visit the Know Your Numbers website →

Join the campaign

EACH encourages its members and partners to mobilise their national networks and join this collective European effort to put prevention and early detection at the heart of cardiovascular health.

During EU Screening Week, share your activities and help spread the message: know your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar – and take action earlier.

#KnowYourNumbersEU #EUScreeningWeek #SafeHearts

In his reflections on the first six months of 2026, Professor Ivan Pećin, Vice-President of the Croatian League for Hypertension, looks back at the continued growth of Hunting the Silent Killer, a campaign that has transformed cardiovascular prevention by bringing it directly into communities across Croatia.

For more than eight years, the initiative has demonstrated that prevention is most effective when it leaves the clinic and becomes part of everyday life.

The Croatian League for Hypertension has developed one of Croatia’s most recognisable and far-reaching public health initiatives: Hunting the Silent Killer, together with its programmes Do You Know Your Numbers? and Mission 70/26. Focused on the early detection and control of cardio-kidney-metabolic risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, elevated glucose, obesity, smoking and physical inactivity, the initiative has become an internationally recognised model for community-based prevention.

Hunting the Silent Killer arose from the conviction that prevention should not remain confined to professional documents, congress halls or outpatient offices, but truly reach citizens. By combining scientific knowledge, clinical expertise and public health responsibility, the League has developed a model that brings free preventive check-ups, counselling and education where people live, work, study, exercise and participate in the life of their communities.

In this way, prevention has become visible and accessible – in public squares, schools, pharmacies, public institutions, shopping centres, sporting events, rural communities, island and remote areas, and, symbolically, even in the European Parliament.

A Community Model of Prevention

Building a culture of prevention

The campaign extends well beyond community health checks. Healthcare professionals are supported through webinars, newsletters, the HealthMed educational platform and the School of Communication in Hypertension, recognising that effective communication is itself a therapeutic tool.

The same innovative approach shapes the League’s public engagement activities. Schools, sporting events, media partnerships and campaign ambassadors help translate complex health messages into everyday language and bring prevention closer to communities.

From Croatian Communities to the European Parliament

Today, the Croatian model is attracting growing international attention, inspiring similar initiatives in countries including Poland, the Czech Republic and Brazil.

Yet the true success of Hunting the Silent Killer lies not only in the number of citizens reached, but in the culture it is helping to create:

• Citizens are encouraged to know their own numbers.
• Healthcare professionals are empowered to communicate more clearly and act more proactively.
• Volunteers gain experience, empathy and a deeper connection with their communities.
• Institutions increasingly recognise prevention as a national priority.

More than an awareness campaign, Hunting the Silent Killer has become a model of modern, multidisciplinary and community-based prevention. It demonstrates that prevention can be scientifically grounded, professionally delivered and deeply human, offering an approach that is not only transforming cardiovascular health in Croatia, but inspiring action well beyond its borders.

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) has contributed to the European Commission’s public consultation on the proposed Council Recommendation on cardiovascular health checks.

The proposal reflects consolidated inputs from the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) and its partners, and acknowledges proposals supported by several EACH partners and medical communities for a Cardiovascular-Renal-Metabolic (CVRM) Health Check Protocol.

In its submission, EACH supports the development of a coordinated, evidence-based European framework for cardiovascular health checks aligned with the objectives of the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan – Safe Hearts Plan. The proposal highlights the importance of prevention, early detection and equitable access to cardiovascular care across the life course.

The proposal is built around several guiding principles, including life-course prevention, early risk detection, equity and inclusion, and integrated care pathways. It promotes a combination of systematic health checks, risk-based screening and opportunistic detection approaches, alongside stronger referral, treatment and long-term follow-up pathways.

The proposed EU Cardiovascular Health Check Protocol consists of a life-course structure for screening and prevention, a minimum core dataset for cardiovascular risk assessment, additional risk-based modules, improved identification of high-risk and inherited conditions, and structured follow-up and care pathways linked to guideline-based intervention and personalised care.

The proposal also underlines the importance of accessibility, health equity, stronger primary care integration and coordinated implementation across Member States, while recognising different national healthcare systems, capacities and resources.

Read the EACH proposal for a European Cardiovascular Health Check Protocol

Consult the European Commission consultation page: Cardiovascular diseases – health checks

27–28 April 2026 | Brussels and online (hybrid)

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) highlights the upcoming PERFECTO Closing Event, titled “Advancing Screening for Inherited Lipid Disorders – Untapped Potential for the Safe Hearts Plan in Europe.”

The event is organised by the FH Europe Foundation, coordinator of the EU4Health-funded PERFECTO project and a member of EACH, and is held under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will take place in a hybrid format in Brussels, at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union, and online.

Why this event matters

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality in Europe. Inherited lipid disorders, including familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], are significant but underdiagnosed risk factors.

This high-level EU Presidency event will bring together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, patient organisations and representatives from EU institutions to advance the transition from evidence to implementation. Discussions will focus on scaling up early detection and screening strategies across Member States.

The event contributes directly to EU priorities on health system resilience, prevention and citizen wellbeing, in line with the Strategic Agenda 2024–2029 and the Trio Programme.

Endorsement

The event is endorsed by leading international cardiovascular and patient organisations, including the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH).

Registration

More information and registration are available at:
https://perfecto-fh.eu/perfecto-closing-event/

The European cardiovascular and cancer communities call on EU policymakers to ensure that health remains a clearly identifiable and sufficiently resourced priority within the future European Competitiveness Fund and the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

Together, cardiovascular disease and cancer account for nearly 3 million deaths each year in the European Union and are estimated to cost the EU close to €500 billion annually. Beyond their human impact, these conditions generate substantial avoidable healthcare expenditure, productivity loss, and social security costs, affecting workforce participation, innovation capacity, and public finances across Member States.

Chronic diseases require coordinated European action. EU flagship initiatives such as the EU Safe Hearts Plan and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan reflect this growing recognition and provide a strong framework for improving prevention, care, and health system resilience.

The European Competitiveness Fund will be a central instrument in shaping Europe’s industrial capacity and strategic autonomy, supporting sustainable growth and long-term value creation. In this context, cardiovascular and cancer prevention and care are not only public health priorities but also key enablers of Europe’s competitiveness, productivity, and social sustainability.

Investment in health delivers dual returns: improved population health and stronger economic performance. A healthier population translates into higher labour market participation, more productive working lives, and reduced pressure on health and social care systems. The EU4Health programme has demonstrated the value of a dedicated EU health instrument in strengthening prevention, cooperation, and preparedness—an approach that must be preserved.

As discussions on the future EU budget progress, we call on policymakers to:

• Ensure health remains a standalone priority with strong, ringfenced and dedicated funding
• Safeguard the visibility, predictability and scale of EU investment in health within the European Competitiveness Fund
• Support implementation of both the EU Safe Hearts Plan and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan through the full period of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–34
• Recognise health as a strategic driver of competitiveness, particularly in life sciences, medical technologies, and digital health
• Strengthen the resilience and crisis preparedness of health systems in the face of geopolitical challenges and future shocks

We stand ready to work with EU institutions and Member States to ensure that Europe’s competitiveness agenda fully reflects the strategic importance of investing in health.

Funding health is not a cost — it is a strategic investment in Europe’s future.

As the European Parliament lead committee on the Report on the Regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) holds a decisive responsibility in safeguarding Europe’s progress, ambition, and global leadership in the fight against cancer.

Against this backdrop, and with the deadline to table amendments set for 6 May, the EU’s cancer and cardiovascular communities urge all members of the ITRE Committee to table targeted amendments, prioritising the following statement:

‘The EU4Health programme has demonstrated its value as a transformative instrument for strengthening public health systems and securing the Union’s strategic autonomy. Recognising that a healthy population and a resilient workforce are fundamental to European competitiveness, health must remain a standalone programme with strong levels of dedicated funding to implement the EU Safe Hearts Plan and sustain the progress of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.’

AMENDMENT:

Heading 2: Competitiveness, Prosperity, and Security
Original Structure	Proposed revised Structure
04 — Competitiveness Fund	04 — Competitiveness Fund
04 02 — European Competitiveness Fund 04 02 01 — Clean transition and decarbonisation 04 02 02 — Health and bioeconomy 04 02 03 — Digital leadership 04 02 04 — Resilience, Defence Industry and Space 04 02 05 — Competitiveness Hub and Cross-cutting Competitiveness Actions 04 02 06 — Contribution to ECF InvestEU Instrument	04 02 — European Competitiveness Fund 04 02 01 — Clean transition and decarbonisation 04 02 02 — Health and bioeconomy 04 02 02 (new) – Health 04 02 03 (new) – Bioeconomy 04 02 03 — Digital leadership 04 02 04 — Resilience, Defence Industry and Space 04 02 05 — Competitiveness Hub and Cross-cutting Competitiveness Actions 04 02 06 — Contribution to ECF InvestEU Instrument

We also call on all partners, stakeholders and broader cardiovascular and cancer communities to actively approach Members of the European Parliament and urge them to reflect these priorities in their draft reports.

A Joint Appeal to EU Leaders to Keep Health at the Core of EU Priorities

Brussels, 20 April 2026 – The European cardiovascular health and cancer communities have issued a direct appeal to EU Heads of State and Government to make health investment a sustained priority ahead of their European Council (EUCO) Summit on 23–24 April.

The joint statement, signed by the European Alliance on Cardiovascular Health (EACH) and the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), calls for health to remain clearly identifiable and adequately resourced within both the future European Competitiveness Fund and the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading causes of mortality in the European Union. Together, they are responsible for nine million diagnoses and almost three million deaths each year. Beyond the profound human toll, these conditions cost the EU close to €500 billion annually , driving up avoidable healthcare costs, reducing workforce productivity, and adding pressure on social systems.

The time for political action is now

EU citizens consistently rank public health among their top priorities for EU investment, as reflected in the latest Eurobarometer findings . Members of the European Parliament have also given overwhelming support for a dedicated EU health programme within the next long-term budget . However, health is not yet treated as the political priority it must be—despite its scale, cost and impact. It is now up to EU Heads of State and Government to translate this ambition into concrete investment and policy commitments. 2 3

If Europe is to remain resilient in the face of geopolitical instability, economic pressure, and future health crises, it must significantly scale up investment in cardiovascular and cancer care. These areas represent the highest disease burden and are among the most vulnerable when health systems come under strain.

The joint statement calls on EU Heads of State and Government to:

• Ensure that health remains a standalone priority with sufficient, dedicated, and ringfenced funding
• Safeguard the visibility, predictability and scale of EU investment in health within the European Competitiveness Fund
• Support the full implementation of both the EU Safe Hearts Plan and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan throughout the full period of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-34
• Recognise health as a strategic driver of European competitiveness, particularly in life sciences, medical technologies, and digital health
• Strengthen the resilience and crisis preparedness of health systems in the face of geopolitical challenges and future shocks

Quotes:

Dr Isabel Rubio, President of the European Cancer Organisation said: ‘The burden of cancer in Europe continues to grow, costing millions of lives and placing increasing strain on our health systems and economies. This is not sustainable. We need a standalone EU health budget to deliver real solutions. The decisions taken on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework will determine whether Europe accelerates progress or loses momentum in cancer care.’

Professor Thomas Lüscher, President of the European Society of Cardiology and representative of EACH said: ‘Cardiovascular health is the bedrock on which broader population health, economic resilience and societal stability are built. When we invest in prevention and care, we reduce long‑term costs, strengthen productivity and enable Europe to better withstand future shocks. Health policy must be recognised as an essential component of Europe’s competitiveness strategy.’

Notes to editors

1 – The close to €500 estimation was created by summing data offered from the European Heart Journal and the Swedish Institute for Health Economics.

2 – Standard Eurobarometer 104 – Autumn 2025 – On the question QF3ab: ‘ And on which of the following would you like EU budget to be spent firstly? Any others?’ the answer ‘Employment, social affairs and public health was placed on top, maintaining stable support when compared to the previous edition.

3 – On 4 February 2026, the European Parliament called for the EU to renew its political commitment, funding and coordination to support full implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with 427 votes in favour, 15 against and 93 abstentions. The call also highlighted the need for a dedicated EU health programme in the next EU’s long-term budget. More information here.

The full joint statement is available here.

About EACH

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) brings together 23 leading European and international organisations to promote cardiovascular health as a policy priority at EU level. The Alliance provides a platform to aggregate knowledge and expertise of key stakeholders active in the field of cardiovascular health, and to advise and guide policymakers. The Alliance calls for greater focus on improving cardiovascular health and reducing the burden cardiovascular disease at European level.

About the European Cancer Organisation

The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) is the largest non-profit, multi-professional federation in the European cancer community. It brings together hundreds of different professional societies and patient groups to advocate for more effective, efficient, and equitable cancer care. More information is available here.

7 May 2026 | 09:30 – 11:30 CEST
European Parliament (SPINELLI 1H1), Brussels

MEP Aurelijus Veryga (ECR, Lithuania), Member of the European Parliament’s Interest Group on Cardiovascular Health, will host a high-level event on early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), bringing together policymakers, healthcare professionals, patient representatives and other key stakeholders. The event is organised by the EFPIA Cardiovascular Health Platform in collaboration with EACH.

The discussion will focus on the importance of strengthening prevention and early diagnosis of CVD. In particular, it will explore how comprehensive health check programmes can support earlier detection, reduce inequalities and improve outcomes across Member States, in the context of recent EU policy developments, including the EU Safe Hearts Plan and the proposed Council Recommendation on cardiovascular health checks.

Building on this momentum, the event aims to provide a platform for discussions between EU and national-level stakeholders on the current landscape of health check programmes across the EU. It will also promote dialogue between policymakers, scientific societies, clinicians and patient representatives.

The event will feature keynote interventions and two interactive panel discussions, fostering exchange on best practices, implementation challenges and opportunities to support more coordinated and effective approaches to cardiovascular health checks across Europe.

Moderator: Prof. Michal Vrablik, Professor of Internal Medicine at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic

For more information, please visit the EFPIA event page.