Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
EU regions urge stronger local role in cardiovascular health strategy
The EU Committee of the Regions unanimously adopted recommendations on cardiovascular health at a meeting in Brussels.
The opinion was prepared by Carmine Pacente, a Milan city councillor, and calls for more prevention and a bigger role for local authorities in the EU’s approach.
Cities and regions can promote healthier habits, reduce health inequalities and help people access prevention and good-quality care.
The recommendations address tobacco, physical activity, alcohol and nutrition, as well as stricter air-quality standards and a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels.
Local leaders say cardiovascular deaths and health inequalities vary significantly across EU regions, making fair access to prevention and care a key concern.
The opinion also urges closer links between research, environmental policy and health policy; it does not set out a further decision or timetable.
The European Committee of the Regions unanimously adopted an opinion urging a stronger role for local authorities in the EU cardiovascular health plan.
The opinion calls for more prevention and concrete action in cities and regions.
It recommends measures addressing tobacco use, physical activity, alcohol and nutrition.
It also calls for stricter air-quality standards, a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels and closer alignment between research and environmental and health policies.
Local leaders highlighted regional disparities in cardiovascular mortality and health inequalities across the EU.
- Who
- The European Committee of the Regions adopted the opinion, prepared by Milan city councillor Carmine Pacente.
- What
- The opinion urges stronger local involvement and more prevention in the EU cardiovascular health plan.
- When
- It was adopted during the Committee’s plenary session in Brussels, reported on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Brussels.
- Why
- The opinion aims to address cardiovascular disease and regional disparities in mortality and health inequalities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Adoption
- Unanimously adopted by the European Committee of the Regions
- Rapporteur
- Carmine Pacente, Milan city councillor
- Location
- Brussels
- Prevention areas
- Tobacco, physical activity, alcohol and nutrition
- Environmental measures
- Stricter air-quality standards and gradual elimination of fossil fuels
What people are saying
Cardiovascular prevention is not a cost but an investment
Cardiovascular health must become a shared priority at European level, starting with prevention and concrete action on the ground.
Sources
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