Brussels, 29 September 2025 – Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in Europe and worldwide, as well as one of the greatest social and economic challenges of our time. It causes 1 in 3 deaths in the EU, many of them premature and preventable.
This year, the European Heart Network (EHN) marks World Heart Day with a powerful reminder: 80% of premature CVD deaths are preventable, and primordial prevention policies can save millions of lives while reducing long-term costs.
In a video statement, EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi underlined the EU’s commitment to developing the first-ever EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.
The Plan will take a comprehensive approach: from prevention and early detection to treatment, management, and rehabilitation. It will introduce health checks to identify people at risk, harness new opportunities from technology and personalised tools, and address gaps in research, innovation, and inequalities both among Member States and across different population groups.
Commissioner Várhelyi said: “To make the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan a success, we need everybody’s help. My thanks to the European Heart Network for your contribution. Together, we can improve heart health for everyone.”
EHN highlights urgent actions needed across prevention policies: from nutrition and alcohol consumption to physical activity, tobacco and nicotine use, and early detection. These must be firmly embedded in the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.
This year, EHN is inviting people to take action by recognising alcohol as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite widespread public perception, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption protects against CVD. On the contrary, the latest evidence shows that even low levels of alcohol increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation, challenging the persistent myth that moderate drinking benefits heart health.
Every year, 50,000 people across Europe die from alcohol-related CVD.
By signing the pledge, you are supporting evidence-based EU action to reduce alcohol consumption as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
“On behalf of our 30 members, I warmly welcome Commissioner Várhelyi’s commitment to a comprehensive EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. World Heart Day reminds us that every heartbeat counts, and that we need to act now for every person in Europe to have a longer, healthier future. We stand ready to work with the European Commission to shape a plan that prevents disease before it strikes, improves care, and truly puts patients at the heart of every decision.”Dr Charmaine Griffiths, EHN President
“On behalf of our 30 members, I warmly welcome Commissioner Várhelyi’s commitment to a comprehensive EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. World Heart Day reminds us that every heartbeat counts, and that we need to act now for every person in Europe to have a longer, healthier future. We stand ready to work with the European Commission to shape a plan that prevents disease before it strikes, improves care, and truly puts patients at the heart of every decision.”