What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 7, 9, 168 and 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Articles 3 and 35 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,

– having regard to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 3.4 on reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one third by 2030 through prevention and treatment,

– having regard to the World Health Organization (WHO) health service delivery framework for prevention and management of obesity, published on 18 May 2023, and the WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity, of 3 July 2023,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 16 December 2025 on an EU cardiovascular health plan: the Safe Hearts Plan (COM(2025)1024),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 3 February 2021 on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (COM(2021)0044),

– having regard to its resolution of 16 February 2022 on strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer – towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy,

– having regard to the Commission initiative ‘Healthier Together – EU non-communicable diseases (NCD) initiative’,

– having regard to the EU Global Health Strategy,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2025/327 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2025 on the European Health Data Space and amending Directive 2011/24/EU and Regulation (EU) 2024/2847,

– having regard to Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC (Tobacco Products Directive),

– having regard to Council Directive 2011/64/EU of 21 June 2011 on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco,

– having regard to Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’),

– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods,

– having regard to Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe,

– having regard to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise,

– having regard to Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (Cross-Border Healthcare Directive),

– having regard to the report of 9 September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘The Future of European Competitiveness’ (Draghi report),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

– having regard to the Commission report of 29 January 2026 entitled ‘Mid-term review of the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan – ‘Delivering clean air, ocean, freshwaters and soil’ (COM(2026)0042),

– having regard to Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC and the evaluation thereof published on 1 December 2025,

– having regard to the reports of the European Environment Agency of 22 June 2023 entitled ‘Beating cardiovascular disease – the role of Europe’s environment’ and of 3 November 2025 entitled ‘Preventing cardiovascular disease through a healthy environment’,

– having regard to the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change, published on 24 February 2021 (COM(2021)0082),

– having regard to Horizon Europe, the EU4Health programme, the Digital Europe programme and cohesion policy funds,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 14 October 2020 on the chemicals strategy for sustainability (COM(2020)0667),

– having regard to the European Cancer Inequalities Registry,

– having regard to the WHO Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2030, the WHO action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region 2016-2025, and the WHO Second European Programme of Work, 2026-2030: ‘United Action for Better Health’,

– having regard to the political declaration of the fourth high-level meeting of the General Assembly of 8 December 2025 on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly,

– having regard to the WHO’s ‘best buys’ and WHO Europe’s ‘quick buys’ for the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 March 2025 entitled ‘A Roadmap for Women’s Rights’ (COM(2025)0097),

– having regard to the WHO HEARTS technical package,

– having regard to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,

– having regard to the WHO physical activity strategy for the WHO European Region 2016-2025,

– having regard to its resolution of 16 February 2022 entitled ‘on strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer – towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy’,

– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2023 on non-communicable diseases (NCDs),

– having regard to its ongoing work on the EU health workforce shortage crisis,

– having regard to the report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of 15 December 2025 entitled ‘The state of cardiovascular health in the European Union’,

– having regard to the European Economic and Social Committee opinion of 18 September 2025 on the commercial determinants of health,

– having regard to Rule 55 (and Rule 148(2)) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Public Health (A10-0221/2026),

A. whereas cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) comprise a broad spectrum of cardiac and vascular conditions, including those affecting both the heart and the circulatory system;

C. whereas CVDs are a major driver of premature mortality and disability from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and whereas reducing cardiovascular mortality is essential to achieving SDG 3.4 by 2030;

D. whereas CVDs have a profound impact on societies and economies across the EU, affecting labour markets, social protection systems and long-term economic sustainability;

E. whereas coronary heart disease represents the largest share of cardiovascular mortality, followed by stroke; whereas heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease and aortic diseases contribute significantly to disability, avoidable hospitalisations and premature mortality across the EU;

F. whereas only a limited number of Member States met the global target of a 25 % reduction in the prevalence of high blood pressure by 2025, demonstrating insufficient progress in the prevention and management of one of the most significant and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors; whereas hypertension affects approximately 22 % of the EU population aged 15 and above and represents one of the most common risk factors for CVD; whereas inadequate detection and poor management of high blood pressure continue to be a cause of avoidable illness and premature deaths from cardiovascular causes across the EU;

G. whereas standardised death rates from diseases of the circulatory system continue to show stark regional disparities across the EU, reflecting a persistent east-west divide; whereas these gaps point to unequal exposure to risk factors and unequal access to timely prevention, diagnosis and quality care across regions; whereas only 11 out of 27 Member States have national cardiovascular plans; whereas there is a need for a common European approach to harmonise these plans to exchange information and for the Member States with no such plans to adopt the Safe Hearts Plan;

H. whereas demographic ageing, combined with the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, is projected to further increase the burden of CVDs and related chronic diseases in the absence of integrated and strengthened prevention, early detection and healthcare system responses, while putting extra pressure on the healthcare workforce; whereas CVD affects all age groups, with early-life exposure to risk factors and delayed recognition in children, adolescents and young adults shaping lifelong outcomes; whereas a lifelong approach to cardiovascular health is therefore essential;

I. whereas CVDs are closely linked with other major NCDs, including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic kidney disease, obesity and many others; whereas a substantial share of cardiovascular conditions arise as complications of diabetes and related disorders that remain undetected, are diagnosed at a late stage, or are inadequately managed; whereas once CVD develops, managing diabetes becomes more complex and costly;

J. whereas diabetes affects approximately 34 million people across the EU, and whereas around one third of people living with diabetes will develop CVD in their lifetime, making diabetes a major, preventable driver of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Europe; whereas people living with type 1 diabetes, a lifelong autoimmune disease often diagnosed in childhood, face a substantially increased lifetime risk of CVD despite the absence of modifiable behavioural causes; whereas up to 40 % of children are diagnosed following diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition;

K. whereas childhood overweight and obesity remain a major concern in Europe; whereas one in ten children aged 5 to 19 are obese and 25 % are overweight;