EU Presidency Proposes Softer Heart Check Targets
The Irish Presidency's compromise would drop numerical 2035 cardiovascular targets while keeping voluntary health checks for high-risk groups.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Heart Disease
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The Irish Presidency of the EU Council presented a compromise on a cardiovascular health checks recommendation to the Council's Working Party on Public Health on 30 October. The text removes the 2035 numerical targets from the operative part of the recommendation and lets Member States adapt check frequency to their populations' needs.
Why it matters
Cardiovascular diseases cause 1.7 million deaths each year in the European Union, and fewer than half of Member States currently offer cardiovascular health checks. The compromise reflects national reservations about targets, resources and administrative obligations, adapting European screening ambitions to the specificities of national health systems.
The original Commission proposal set 2035 targets including a 25% reduction in premature cardiovascular mortality and blood pressure measurement for 75% of ages 25-64 and 90% of those over 65. The compromise removes these numerical targets from the operative part, while the EU's cardiovascular diseases carry an economic cost exceeding €282 billion a year per the OECD.
The players
Irish Presidency of the EU Council
Ireland holds the rotating Council presidency, guiding negotiations on EU health recommendations during its term.
European Commission
The EU's executive body that proposed the Safe Hearts Plan and the original cardiovascular health checks recommendation.
The details
The compromise, sent to delegations on 23 October, gives priority to people at high cardiovascular risk, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. It also requires Member States to submit an initial report to the European Commission three years after adoption and every four years thereafter.
Timeline
December 2025: The European Commission presented the Safe Hearts Plan on cardiovascular health.
28 September: The Commission presented the original recommendation proposal.
23 October: The compromise text was sent to delegations.
30 October: The compromise was presented to the Working Party on Public Health in Brussels.
2035: Target year for the numerical cardiovascular goals removed from the operative part.
Big Picture
The compromise trims the ambitions of the Commission's Safe Hearts Plan, announced in December 2025, by stripping numerical 2035 targets from the operative text. It shows the tension between EU-wide cardiovascular goals and national control over health systems.
If the compromise is adopted, Member States will choose how often and to whom they offer cardiovascular checks, so the screening available to you will depend on your country's health system. People at high cardiovascular risk, including those with type 2 diabetes, are prioritized under the proposed text.
The takeaway
Heart disease prevention in Europe will vary by country, so check whether your national health service offers cardiovascular screening if you are at higher risk. Ask your doctor about blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checks, especially if you have diabetes.
Further reading
Explore more on Heart Disease and how European health policy shapes screening programs.
More information
Read the original compromise document (French version) from the Council of the EU.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Agence Europe.
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