Brussels, 16 December 2025
It is finally here. The long-awaited result of years of tireless advocacy and collaboration among national and European public health stakeholders, spanning civil society and patient representative organisations, as well as research and industry partners.
For the first time, the European Union has put forward a coordinated, structured and strategic response to the leading cause of death in Europe and one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time, affecting more than 62 million people and costing the EU economy over €282 billion every year.
The first-ever EU Cardiovascular Health Plan was presented this afternoon by EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi during the European Parliament Plenary Session in Strasbourg, under the name Safe Hearts Plan. The Commissioner described the Plan as a targeted European approach, ambitious yet clear, built around impactful flagship actions to support citizens and Member States in reducing the cardiovascular disease burden.
The Plan is broadly aligned with the priorities outlined in EHN’s latest Position Paper on a European Cardiovascular Health Plan, notably its three key pillars: prioritising prevention, empowering patients, and strengthening research and innovation. Both documents recognise the need to tackle persistent gender inequities and wider inequalities between countries and population groups, and highlight the importance of prevention across the life course.
Birgit Beger, CEO of the European Heart Network, warmly welcomes the Plan, noting:
“This milestone for the European Union reflects years of dedication by patient organisations and heart foundations across Europe. We welcome the recognition of patient organisations as key partners in shaping, delivering and monitoring action, and stand ready to work with EU institutions and stakeholders to ensure that patient voices are meaningfully integrated into the Plan’s implementation.”
EHN welcomes the prominent role given to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the new Plan. Protecting the entire population through stronger measures on tobacco taxation and tobacco control, including electronic cigarettes and other nicotine products, represents a major step in the right direction.
Equally important is the protection of the EU population through improved access to and consumption of healthier food products. Major commercial actors play a significant role in shaping consumer behaviour. Placing greater emphasis on reducing the consumption of highly processed foods and exploring effective regulatory approaches will be a crucial step forward. Fiscal incentives, such as subsidies for healthy products and/or taxes on products that are harmful to health, are also key measures to support these efforts.
Marleen Kestens, CVD Prevention Policies Manager at the European Heart Network, stated:
“We are fully aware that confronting powerful commercial interests will not be easy. However, this is a moment for the public health community to stand united and ensure the strongest possible level of accountability for commercial actors whose practices significantly contribute to the cardiovascular disease burden across Europe. Around 80% of premature CVD-related deaths are preventable. The European Union has a unique opportunity to create the structural conditions that make heart-healthy living the default choice for everyone.”
At the European Heart Network, we look forward to continuing our work with all stakeholders, placing patient voices at the centre of the implementation of the Plan’s flagship initiatives and advocating for robust, flexible and long-term funding as a core component of successful delivery.
For media enquiries:Alessandra BoschiAdvocacy and Communication Coordinatoraboschi@ehnheart.org