1 October 2026
Saija Jarvimaki

The European Commission has proposed new recommendations to support cardiovascular health checks across the European Union. The recommendations place strong emphasis on prevention, early detection, equitable access and reaching people at higher risk, areas that have also been central priorities in JACARDI’s work on cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention.

The initiative aims to improve the early detection of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, helping reduce preventable illness and premature deaths across Europe.

The new recommendations support Member States in developing and implementing national cardiovascular health check programmes. They encourage actions that help identify risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, high blood sugar and obesity at an early stage, enabling timely prevention and treatment.

Shared priorities: prevention, equity and early detection

Many of the themes highlighted in the recommendations align closely with JACARDI’s objectives. Throughout the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI), experts have worked to strengthen prevention, improve early detection of risk factors and reduce health inequalities across Europe. These perspectives have also been reflected in discussions and expert contributions supporting the development of European policies and recommendations.

“Seeing JACARDI’s work reflected in the proposed recommendations is a significant milestone. It demonstrates how evidence generated through European collaboration can help shape policies that strengthen prevention, improve access to health checks and support better cardiovascular health outcomes across the EU,” says Hanna Tolonen, lead of JACARDI’s Screening Work Package and Deputy Director General of Research, Development and Innovation at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

The Commission’s proposal stresses that cardiovascular health checks should be accessible to everyone and pay particular attention to people at higher risk and groups that may face barriers to healthcare. It also highlights the importance of health literacy, public awareness and tailored outreach activities that help people understand their cardiovascular risk and access preventive services.

European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi with JACARDI Coordinator Dr Benedetta Armocida, JACARDI Scientific Coordinator Prof. Graziano Onder, William Leysen, lead author of JACARDI’s Short Guide to Screening, and other JACARDI colleagues at the joint JACARDI–European Diabetes Forum (EUDF) symposium at EASD 2026 in Milan.
European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi with JACARDI Coordinator Dr Benedetta Armocida, JACARDI Scientific Coordinator Prof. Graziano Onder, William Leysen, lead author of JACARDI’s Short Guide to Screening, and other JACARDI colleagues at the joint JACARDI–European Diabetes Forum (EUDF) symposium at EASD 2026 in Milan.

The recommendations additionally recognise the potential of health innovation, including data-driven and artificial intelligence-based tools, to strengthen risk assessment and support prevention when used responsibly and with appropriate human oversight.

For JACARDI, the proposed recommendations represent an important step towards a more preventive, equitable and evidence-informed approach to cardiovascular health across Europe.

Further information:
European Commission press release
EU cardiovascular health recommendations and policy information