On 3 April, consumer groups and public health organisations published a joint letter on the need for a review of the objectives and functioning of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.

The European Heart Network (EHN) calls on all 2019 political candidates and parties to pledge their commitment to improving cardiovascular health and the lives of those living with CVD. We explain why this is so important in our EHN manifesto for the European elections 2019.

World Heart Day 2018 - the right moment to commit to deliver heart health for all Europeans now, and into the future. 

Please click here for the EHN Annual Report 2017

The European Heart Network, the Smokefree Partnership, the World Heart Federation and the European Network for Smoking Prevention organise a Round table on Tobacco Control and Cardiovascular Diseases, and a World No Tobacco Day Award Ceremony in the European Parliament in Brussels

6 June 2018, 11:00 - 13:00, Meeting Room ASP 3F383

Here is a link to the programme

Here is a link to the press release

Gathered at its annual meeting, the members of the European Heart Network (EHN) today celebrate the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).

The European Heart Network welcomes the draft WHO guidelines on saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid intake for adults and children. This detailed, up-to-date review of the latest evidence by WHO, along with the clear message conveyed by the draft recommendations, is a most welcome contribution to the ongoing commentary about this issue.

Here is the EHN comment on the WHO draft Guidelines.

Transforming European food and drink policies for cardiovascular health

Despite considerable progress in tackling cardiovascular diseases, it remains the leading cause of death and a major cause of illness and disability for men and women in Europe and in the EU. More than 49 million people in the EU live with CVD. Each year, more than 1.8 million people in the EU die from CVD.(1)

The members of the MEP Heart Group gathered on 24 April 2018 in the European Parliament to see how transforming European food and drinks policies can contribute to better cardiovascular health.

Prior to the MSP Management Committee meeting on 14 March 2018, EHN and the other ECDA members wrote to First Vice President Timmermans to impress upon him how important it is that the sixth Reflection Paper ‘Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030’ addresses the challenges that the EU and its Member States face because of the large and increasing burden of chronic diseases. To ensure effective attention to this challenge, the ECDA suggests the creation of a “horizontal” sub-group on Health and Social Policy, which would go to the very heart of ‘Better Regulation’, ensuring a coherent and streamlined policy development and echoing EU citizens’ calls for more European-level decision-making in dealing with health and social security issues. Please find a copy of the letter here.

Eleven organisations including the European Heart Network (EHN) representing patients across the UK and Europe have alerted EU negotiators to the risk of drugs getting stuck at borders, regulatory systems for medicines splintering and potential breakthrough research collaborations being forced to stall.

In a joint letter to Brexit negotiators Michel Barnier and David Davis, the organisations make a plea to both sides of the negotiations not to forget about patients.