Prevention and innovation will defeat cardiovascular disease

"The vote on the new EU cardiovascular diseases strategy shows our strong commitment to a healthier Europe," says Jessica Polfjärd MEP, the EPP Group’s lead negotiator on the file. "We especially welcome the strategy’s strong focus on prevention, highlighting the importance of physical activity as well as the benefits of good nutrition and traditional European diets," adds Polfjärd.

Cardiovascular diseases kill 1.7 million people every year. With the European Parliament set to adopt on Wednesday new measures to tackle cardiovascular diseases, Europe’s leading cause of death, the EPP Group is delivering on its promise to secure an ambitious, innovative European strategy for cardiovascular health. 

Throughout the negotiations, the EPP Group worked to ensure an ambitious and balanced European approach to cardiovascular health, with a strong focus on prevention, better treatment, and access to innovative therapies. The Group pushed to recognise the importance of healthier lifestyles and nutrition, while ensuring that research, innovation, and Europe’s life sciences sector are at the heart of efforts to develop future treatments.

"The EPP Group has also ensured the inclusion of a broader perspective on treatment, emphasising the role of research and innovation in developing the treatments of tomorrow, particularly by leveraging the potential of the EU’s cutting-edge life science sector, and the need for an innovation-friendly regulatory framework," MEP Polfjärd pointed out.

"Cardiovascular diseases remain Europe’s biggest killer, but many deaths and serious complications can be prevented through earlier detection and timely treatment. We need to close the gaps in cardiovascular care across Europe and ensure that patients can benefit from high-quality diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, regardless of where they live. A stronger European approach can support Member States in delivering better outcomes for patients while making our health systems more resilient," adds Tomislav Sokol MEP, the EPP Group’s spokesman on health.