Brussels, 18 August 2025 — The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has today submitted its response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (ECHP), calling for cross-sectoral action to address cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading cause of death and disability in Europe.
“With public health dangerously losing ground on the EU agenda, the commitment to a Cardiovascular Health Plan is a crucial opportunity to tackle Europe’s biggest killer at its roots, and a welcome sign that health is not entirely in the backseat,” said Sara Bertucci, Policy Manager at EPHA.
EPHA’s submission sets out urgent recommendations for the ECHP, including:
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- Ambitious prevention — accelerate measures under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan relevant to cardiovascular health, strengthen tobacco control, regulate marketing of unhealthy products, and phase out subsidies for harmful products and polluting energy.
- Life-course early detection & screening — implement EU-supported, standardised, multi-condition screening pathways, including for related conditions.
- Equitable management, care & rehabilitation — support Member States in creating national cardiovascular care protocols, establish a European network of specialised cardiovascular centres, and issue EU guidance to ensure universal rehabilitation access.
- Cross-cutting enablers — establish robust cardiovascular data systems, launch EU-wide health literacy campaigns, integrate mental health and cardiovascular care, guarantee meaningful patient involvement, and place equity at the heart of all action.
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EPHA warns that without urgent, coordinated action, the burden of CVD will continue to grow, driven by shared risk factors with other non-communicable diseases and by environmental and social determinants. The organisation stresses that success will require coordinated action at both EU and Member State levels, supported by strong governance and adequate resources.
Notes to editors
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- The EU Cardiovascular Health Plan is expected to be published by the European Commission in late 2025.
- The Call for Evidence remains open until 15 September 2025.
- Full EPHA submission:
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