Ahead of World Heart Day (29th September) and to mark the launch of the first-ever EU Screening Week, the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation on cardiovascular health checks. It “aims to safeguard the health of European citizens by improving early detection and screening and, ultimately, reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases”. Cardiovascular diseases are the EU’s “number one killer”, according to the EU Commission, claiming 1.7 million lives every year. “They have a significant impact on health systems and cost the EU economy more than €282 billion annually”. However, “80% of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by tackling risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, high blood sugar and obesity”. The “Safe Hearts Plan”, presented in December 2025, “aims to reduce premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035, including by tackling these risk factors.  Today’s proposal is a significant step towards achieving that goal.” “Health checks can save and transform lives by identifying cardiovascular risks and diseases early, enabling people to receive the right advice and treatment at the right time”.