The European Commission launches European Screening Week with new recommendations on cardiovascular health checks

To mark World Heart Day and the launch of the first European Screening Week, the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation on cardiovascular health screening. Its aim is to safeguard the health of European citizens by improving early detection and screening, and ultimately reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the EU, claiming 1.7 million lives each year. They have a significant impact on healthcare systems and cost the EU economy more than 282,000 million euros annually. However, 80 per cent of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by tackling risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and obesity. The Safe Hearts Plan, launched in December 2025, aims to reduce premature cardiovascular deaths by 25 per cent by 2035, including by tackling these risk factors. The proposal represents an important step towards achieving that target.

Health screenings can save and transform lives by identifying cardiovascular risks and diseases at an early stage, enabling people to receive appropriate advice and treatment at the right time. This recommendation will help Member States to design and implement cardiovascular health screenings at national level. It will also help to tackle health inequalities across the EU by proposing that these screenings be accessible to all and, in particular, address the needs of vulnerable and high-risk groups.

The Commission also urges Member States to consider how best to support citizens at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including through personalised prevention and appropriate advice on vaccination. The recommendation highlights how the latest innovations in healthcare, including data-driven tools and artificial intelligence, can offer new opportunities to strengthen risk assessments and monitoring, provided they are used responsibly and with appropriate human oversight.

Furthermore, the Commission has emphasised the role of health literacy in empowering citizens, enabling them to take control of their health and understand the importance of regular cardiovascular check-ups. Member States are encouraged to raise public awareness and promote its widespread adoption. Likewise, the importance of ensuring equitable access through targeted campaigns and screening programmes in community settings, as well as via mobile screening units, is recognised. 

EU Screening Week

In line with these recommendations, and to support the efforts of the Safe Hearts Plan, the Commission has launched the first European Screening Week (28 September to 4 October), which brings together partners from across Europe to encourage the public to get screened and to raise awareness of prevention through events at national, regional and local levels.

The European Commission is stepping up its work on prevention, particularly of cardiovascular diseases, as announced in President von der Leyen’spolicy guidelines .

European Disease Screening Week forms part of theEurope-wide‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of risk factors for cardiovascular health and the importance of undergoing the relevant medical checks. It encourages people to consult a healthcare professional about the importance of monitoring their cardiovascular health, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. This will enable them to better understand the data relevant to their health and look after their cardiovascular health with the appropriate medical support. The campaign will be launched on World Heart Day (29 September 2026) and will run throughout 2027.

 

More information: European Commission