Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in Europe and 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.
CVD also hits vulnerable and marginalised communities the hardest, widening health inequalities across Europe. Today, more than 60 million people in Europe live with cardiovascular disease, and the burden is rising. The economic impact is staggering: an estimated €282 billion every year in healthcare costs, lost productivity, and informal care.
The evidence is clear: around 80% of premature CVD deaths could be avoided. Stronger EU policies on prevention can reduce this burden, save lives, and create healthier, more equitable communities across Europe.
On World Heart Day 2025, EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi reminds us of the immense burden cardiovascular disease places on EU communities and the economy, and highlights the action the EU is taking with the development of 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 across Europe.
Commissioner Várhelyi thanks the European Heart Network for its contributions:
“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. I wish you a healthy World Heart Day.”
This year, the European Heart Network (EHN) is joining the World Heart Federation campaign, “Don’t Miss a Beat. – Join our mission to make every heartbeat count.”
People worldwide are missing out on time with loved ones, the chance to protect their health, and the opportunities afforded by more sustainable local health systems. Too often, this is due to the early and preventable loss caused by cardiovascular disease.— World Heart Federation, World Heart Day 2025
People worldwide are missing out on time with loved ones, the chance to protect their health, and the opportunities afforded by more sustainable local health systems. Too often, this is due to the early and preventable loss caused by cardiovascular disease.
For EHN, this mission is inseparable from advancing population-wide primordial prevention policies, tackling food and nutrition, alcohol consumption, tobacco and nicotine regulation, air quality, and environments that support physical activity. The forthcoming European Cardiovascular Health Plan must go beyond treatment and care, making prevention the cornerstone of Europe’s response so that no one has to miss a beat.
Effective, equitable prevention can save millions of lives and reduce long-term costs. The EU must use regulation, fiscal tools, and procurement to make healthy choices affordable and accessible.
In June 2025, the European Heart Network (EHN) published its position paper on the impact of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease (CVD). The evidence is clear: alcohol has no protective effect on heart health and contributes significantly to Europe’s CVD burden.
We encourage all stakeholders, policymakers, health professionals, and the public to read the full position paper to gain a deeper understanding of this crucial public health issue and EHN’s evidence-based recommendations.
Alongside this, EHN is inviting everyone to join our call for change by signing the public pledge on Alcohol and CVD, affirming our shared commitment to prevention and to policies that protect heart health across Europe.
Organised by the European Commission | 14:00 – 16:00 CET
Hosted by the Ministry of Health, Romanian Cardiac Society, and Romanian Heart Foundation (EHN member organisation).This event will celebrate the adoption of the Romanian Cardiovascular Health Plan into legislation.
Birgit Beger, CEO of the European Heart Network, will be present at the event.
Supported by EACH at Europe Square, Zagreb, offering free cardiovascular health checks for the public to raise awareness and promote prevention.
As part of World Heart Day (WHD) 2025, EHN members are running exciting campaigns and initiatives across Europe.
As a proud partner of the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH), EHN is supporting the campaign “Stronger Together: Bridging Heart and Stroke Awareness.”
The campaign highlights the commonalities and intersections between heart disease and stroke, 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.”