What is our mission?
The European Heart Network plays a leading role in the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through advocacy, networking and education so that it is no longer a major cause of premature death and disability throughout Europe.
What do we do?
CVD is the number one cause of death in Europe. It accounts for over 4.3 million deaths in Europe and more than 2 million in the European Union (EU) every year. CVD is estimated to cost the EU economy over 192 billion euros/year (2006 figures).
In order to ensure that EU and its member states recognise this very heavy burden to people and societies throughout Europe, EHN works at several levels to create or raise awareness among politicians. Initiatives to create the awareness include the European Heart Health Charter (launched in 2007), the MEP Heart Group and the regular publication of facts and figures on cardiovascular diseases (European cardiovascular disease statistics – latest edition: 2008).
EHN is actively working on policies that impact on the underlying risk factors for CVD, notably nutrition, tobacco and physical activity. To obtain measures, legislative and others, that enhance the prospect of people eating a healthy nutrition, abstaining from smoking and engaging in regular physical activity,EHN publishes papers which bring together the scientific evidence and make recommendations for policy initiatives. Papers are drafted under the guidance of permanent Expert Groups or commissioned from experts on an ad-hoc basis.
EHN provides a platform for its member organisations for sharing information and good practice in all these areas, on topics relevant to patients and on topics related to governance and management of heart charities. Between 2004 and 2006 EHN and 19 of its member organisations worked on a Commission co-funded project on children, obesity and cardiovascular disease prevention.
Currently, EHN, the European Society of Cardiology and national heart foundations and cardiac societies from 31 countries are involved in the EuroHeart project, also co-funded by the Commission. One of this project’s objectives is to map policies and actions in Europe addressing cardiovascular health promotion and CVD prevention. The project runs from April 2007 till March 2010.
Through its membership of the World Heart Federation, EHN is also active in the creation of a wider international heart network whose aim is to advance the cause of cardiovascular health promotion world-wide.
Involvement in EU policy development
EHN inform EU policies through publications, position papers and responses to public consultations. Over the last couple of years, EHN has responded to Commission consultations on:
EU health strategy
EU strategy on diet, physical activity and health
Smoke free Europe
EHN also participates in expert hearings and meetings, for example on the possibility of having an EU co-funded school fruit scheme. EHN has lobbied for a strong health dimensions in Commission legislative proposals on for example health and nutrition claims and audiovisual media services.
EHN also publishes Heart Matters, a journal describing topical developments in the EU and in the member states with a particular focus on EHN’s members’ activities.
All EHN communication materials are accessible via its website.
EHN is a member of EPHA. It works actively with a number of other European organisations: European Society of Cardiology, Joint European Societies CVD Prevention Committee, EuroHealthNet, European Health Management Association, European Respiratory Association, European Network for Smoking Prevention, Association of European Cancer Leagues.
EHN participates in several Commission-led forums including the Platform for action on diet, physical activity and health, the Nutrition and Physical Activity Network and the EU Health Policy Forum. EHN also participates in many European and international conferences and meetings, often as a speaker.
EPHA related articles
"European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2008" are published by the European Heart Network
Inaugural meeting of the MEP Heart Group on 2 October 2007
Stress and Cardiovascular Disease - New Paper by the European Heart Network
