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Annual Report 2024

11 Jul 2025

The European Heart Network (EHN) is pleased to present its Annual Report 2024, reflecting a year of growing political momentum, strategic expansion of its membership, and meaningful action to strengthen the patient voice in cardiovascular health. The report highlights EHN’s key achievements and initiatives within the evolving European policy landscape.

“Given the global, political volatility as we tackle the world’s biggest killer, it is clear to me that the work of the EHN has simply never been more needed,” said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, President of EHN. “As we navigate such challenging times, it is essential that we remain united as a community to make a profound impact on the lives of those affected by heart disease and stroke.”

A Turning Point for Cardiovascular Health in EU Policy

In 2024, cardiovascular health gained unprecedented political traction. The European People’s Party backed a dedicated EU Cardiovascular Health Plan in its manifesto, followed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen naming CVD a key health priority for the 2024–2029 mandate. The year closed with the Council adopting Conclusions on Cardiovascular Health, an essential step toward coordinated EU action.

Strengthening the Network: New Members Join EHN

As political support grew, so did the EHN community. In June 2024, three new members joined the network: the Czech Alliance for Cardiovascular Diseases (CAKO), the Latvian Heart Health Promotion Alliance, and Science for the Prevention and Education of Heart Health (SPELS) from Italy. These new memberships reflect EHN’s commitment to building a more inclusive and representative alliance, and to expanding its reach in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.

Empowering Patients: New Tools and Spaces for Advocacy

EHN’s commitment to patient empowerment was brought to life through two major developments in 2024. In December, the Network hosted its first-ever Patient Advocacy Workshop in Brussels. The event brought together patient advocates from across Europe for a dynamic programme of training, exchange, and peer support, strengthening their role in shaping cardiovascular policy.

To complement this, EHN released the first volume of its Advocacy Handbook, a practical resource designed to equip individuals living with cardiovascular disease with tools and strategies to become effective advocates at local, national and European levels. The second volume is already in development and scheduled for release in 2025.

Looking Ahead

EHN CEO Birgit Beger shared her reflections and ambitions for the year to come:

“As we look towards 2025 with renewed energy and ambition, we are eager to build on the strengths of our dynamic community and work on our mission of reducing premature and preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
The year ahead presents a unique opportunity to further our strategic goal of achieving a European cardiovascular health plan.”

Discover the EHN Annual Report 2024.