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MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2026)0304

on anAn EU cardiovascular diseases strategy

(2025/2132(INI))

Committee on Public Health

PE782.349

European Parliament resolution of 16 September 2026 on an EU cardiovascular diseases strategy (2025/2132(INI))

The European Parliament,

A. whereas cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) comprise a broad spectrum of cardiac and vascular conditions, including those affecting both the heart and the circulatory system;

✦ Formal Replaces the decimal point with a comma in the figure for annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases.

B. whereas CVDs and their associated risk factors are highly prevalent and have a significant impact on health and quality of life, as well as major economic and social consequences; whereas cardiovascular health therefore constitutes a major public health and societal challenge in the EU, since CVDs remain the leading cause of mortality in the EU, accounting for approximately 1.71,7 million deaths each year; whereas in the EU, 62 million people live with the burden of CVDs, and close to 13 million new cases of CVDs occur every year; whereas environmental risks are estimated to cause over 18 % of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in Europe; whereas CVDs are associated with significant morbidity, disability, reduced quality of life and capacity for independent living, losses in productivity, increased risk of complications from infectious diseases and an estimated annual economic cost of EUR 282 billion; whereas an estimated 80 % of CVDs are preventable;

C. whereas CVDs are a major driver of premature mortality and disability from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and whereas reducing cardiovascular mortality is essential to achieving SDG 3.4 by 2030;

AK. whereas according to the Safe Hearts Plan, taxation has played an important role in reducing risk factors linked to citizens’ lifestyles and around 40 % of the decline in smoking in the EU in the past decade can be attributed to taxation;

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AL. whereas nicotine is an addictive cardiovascular toxin, and its use poses serious health dangers; whereas tobacco use, including active smoking, second-hand smoke exposure and new nicotine products, remains a major risk factor for CVD in the EU and significantly increases the risk of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm and peripheral arterial disease; whereas in 2023, tobacco use was responsible for approximately 160 000 cardiovascular deaths and over 3.273,27 million disability-adjusted life years lost in the EU, with a disproportionate burden among men and socio-economically disadvantaged populations;

AM. whereas the economic cost of smoking in Europe, including healthcare expenditures, productivity loss and premature mortality, exceeds EUR 300 billion annually; whereas prevention is more effective than any cure, as well as the most cost-effective long-term cardiovascular control strategy;

BF. whereas healthy diets have a positive impact on cardiovascular risk; whereas dietary patterns in many Member States are characterised by an excessive intake of salt, sugar and saturated fats; whereas balanced, healthy diets such as the traditional Mediterranean and Nordic diets, as well as plant-based diets and certain diets based on organic food are associated with significantly lower CVD risk;

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BG. whereas only 12 % of Europeans eat five portions or more of fruit and vegetables daily; whereas this share is lower among lower-income groups (10.8(10,8 %) than among higher-income groups (14.8(14,8 %), indicating a social gradient in access to and affordability of healthy diets; whereas independent scientific reviews have concluded that dietary patterns rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, berries, pulses, fish and a reasonable consumption of red and processed meats, added sugars, excess salt and processed foods are associated with lower risks of CVD, type 2 diabetes and premature mortality;

BH. whereas the EU is a world leader in research, including in health research; whereas structural barriers in the EU regulatory environment have led to this leadership not being adequately matched by its capacity to translate research into practical therapies; whereas cardiovascular therapies accounted for only 4 % of clinical trials started between 2017-2022; whereas the EU’s scientific leadership should be harnessed to combat CVD; whereas the innovation capacity of the EU’s life science sector needs to be supported and facilitated;

112. Stresses that CVDs in women are frequently underdiagnosed and diagnosed too late or misdiagnosed on account of gender-specific risk factors, persistent gender bias, atypical symptom presentation and outdated diagnostic criteria, with women living with type 1 diabetes facing up to a tenfold higher risk of premature CVD at a younger age; calls for systematic training of healthcare professionals to improve understanding and recognition of gender-specific cardiovascular symptoms and to reduce diagnostic delays that increase morbidity and mortality; underlines the importance of improving the detection and management of congenital heart diseases in women and of strengthening cardiovascular screening and monitoring during pregnancy and the perinatal period in order to identify risks at an early stage;

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113. Highlights that women living with diabetes and other metabolic diseases are, on average, diagnosed up to 4.54,5 years later than men; emphasises that this delay in diagnosis increases women’s risk of cardiovascular mortality by approximately 30 %; stresses that delayed diagnosis results in delayed access to timely and appropriate care, further increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications and exacerbating existing cardiovascular health inequalities among women;

114. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to integrate a gender-responsive approach into cardiovascular health policies across prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, including through targeted awareness campaigns on gender differences in CVDs, on the atypical symptoms that women face in cardiovascular health, and on access to cardiovascular risk assessment for women across the life course; further calls on the Commission and the Member States to institutionalise gender-specific diagnostic protocols; call for the implementation of clinical training for healthcare professionals on gender-specific differences in pathophysiology and treatment response;

160. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in the European Union, responsible for approximately 1.7 million deaths each year and imposing an estimated economic burden of EUR 282 billion annually through healthcare costs, productivity losses and wider social consequences. Despite major advances in medical knowledge and treatment, progress in reducing mortality from cardiovascular diseases has been uneven and insufficient across the Union. The burden of CVDs is largely preventable, as most cardiovascular deaths are attributable to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and environmental exposures. Despite that, only a limited number of Member States are currently on track to meet agreed global targets. At the same time, demographic ageing, combined with continued exposure to these risk factors, is expected to further increase the burden of disease in the absence of sustained action across the life course. This resolution responds to the European Cardiovascular Health Plan : the Safe Hearts Plan, published by the European Commission on 16 December 2025, and sets out the European Parliament’s position on its priorities, implementation and governance.

Cardiovascular health is shaped by a broad range of factors extending well beyond healthcare systems. Social, economic, environmental and commercial determinants play a decisive role in influencing cardiovascular risk and health outcomes throughout the life course. Income inequality, insecure employment, education level, housing conditions, air and noise pollution and climate-related risks all contribute significantly to avoidable cardiovascular harm in the European Union. Recognising this complexity, the resolution situates cardiovascular disease prevention within a wider policy framework that encompasses multiple sectors and levels of governance.

Persistent inequalities in cardiovascular health remain a major challenge. Differences in morbidity and mortality between and within Member States reflect disparities in income, education, geographic location and access to healthcare services. Gender inequalities are particularly pronounced, with women continuing to experience delayed diagnosis and undertreatment of cardiovascular conditions, partly because of historical biases in research, diagnostic criteria and clinical practice. These structural factors continue to influence outcomes and underline the importance of equity as a cross-cutting dimension of cardiovascular health policy.

Early detection and strong primary care are essential to reducing avoidable complications and improving long-term prognosis. Risk-based approaches implemented in primary care settings, supported by effective referral and follow-up pathways, enable timely diagnosis while helping to avoid unnecessary or low-value interventions. At the same time, demographic ageing and the growing prevalence of multimorbidity place increasing pressure on healthcare systems, highlighting the importance of integrated, patient-centred and multidisciplinary care models.

Digital health technologies, data and research offer important opportunities to support surveillance, quality improvement and innovation in cardiovascular care. Their effective use depends on robust governance frameworks, interoperability and appropriate safeguards to ensure transparency, accountability and equitable access. In this regard, sustainable funding, clear monitoring mechanisms and coherence with international commitments are essential for translating innovation into tangible public health benefits.

Taken together, the approach set out in this context seeks to contribute to a more coherent and equitable European response to cardiovascular disease. By supporting the implementation of the European Cardiovascular Health Plan, it underscores the importance of prevention, early intervention and cross-sectoral action in reducing avoidable cardiovascular burden and improving quality of life across the European Union.