Turning ambition into action

Brussels, 20 May 2026 - The EU Safe Hearts Plan, adopted by the European Commission in December 2025, sets a clear ambition: achieving a 25% reduction in premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality by 2035. Delivering on this target would yield substantial health, societal and economic benefits. Today, CVD remains the leading cause of death in Europe, responsible for over 3.9 million deaths each year and costing the EU economy an estimated €282 billion annually.

Against this backdrop, policymakers, clinicians, patients and civil society representatives gathered in Brussels on May 20 to discuss how to translate this ambition into tangible progress. Organised under the auspices of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in collaboration with the ESC, the event highlighted the importance of coordinated, evidence-based implementation at both EU and national levels.

Discussions focused on two critical and complementary levers for reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease: gender equality and tobacco control. Speakers emphasized that persistent gender disparities in cardiovascular care - including under- and misdiagnosis, delays in treatment, and underrepresentation in research - continue to impact outcomes for women across Europe. Addressing these systemic gaps was identified as essential to achieving equitable and effective cardiovascular care.

At the same time, participants stressed the urgent need to strengthen tobacco control measures. Particular attention was given to the evolving landscape of nicotine consumption, with panellists calling for updated and comprehensive legislation to address the growing prevalence of novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products. This need is further reflected in a recent policy paper by leading experts, published in the European Heart Journal, which provides a clear, evidence-based framework for tackling the cardiovascular harms of nicotine products. And for country-specific insights, the ESC cardiovascular data dashboard (eAtlas) provides detailed data on the impact of tobacco use.

The event highlighted the importance of collective action in delivering the Safe Hearts Plan. “We are stronger when we work together – across countries, sectors, and communities. The Safe Hearts Plan provides a common framework, but it is only through active engagement by Member States that we can achieve meaningful and lasting change,” said ESC President-Elect Prof. Cecilia Linde.

As discussions made clear, achieving the Plan’s ambition will depend not only on strong EU-level direction, but also on effective national implementation. Several Member States are already taking steps in this direction, offering valuable examples of how coordinated action can drive progress.