Source: European Parliament
The Commission recognises that cardiovascular diseases have a significant impact on many people, communities and health systems in the EU.
The ‘Healthier Together’ initiative[1], co-created with Member States and stakeholders, provides the strategic framework to support Member States in tackling non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases.
The Commission supports knowledge sharing, such as the exchange of best practices[2] between Member States, and activities to improve health literacy.
Financial support is provided under the EU4Health Programme[3] to implement best practices that contribute to reducing preventable deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases.
The President of the Commission announced in her political guidelines that the Commission will step up work on preventive health, focusing on improving cardiovascular health through coordinated efforts, and entrusted the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare with leading this work.
As it was announced by the Commissioner, the Commission is currently developing an ambitious Plan for European Cardiovascular Health, building on the success of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
Work is ongoing through the joint action on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and with technical support from international partners, such as the World Health Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Commission is working closely with the Expert Group on Public Health[4], the main forum for discussions with Member States on key public health challenges.
Member States may also decide to organise specific awareness campaigns at national level with the aim of increasing knowledge on the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in sportspeople.
- [1] https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/healthier-together-eu-non-communicable-diseases-initiative_en
- [2] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/dyna/bp-portal/
- [3] EU4Health programme 2021-2027: https://health.ec.europa.eu/funding/eu4health-programme-2021-2027-vision-healthier-european-union_en; also replied in Answer to Written Question E-000092/2023 (ASW): https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-000092-ASW_EN.html
- [4] https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/expert-group-public-health_en