EuropeActive, together with 24 National Association Members, has submitted a joint response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (11 August - 15 September 2025). Representing the unified voice of the European fitness and physical activity sector, we warmly welcome this important initiative - particularly its strong emphasis on prevention, the most effective and sustainable way to improve citizens’ health and ease the burden on healthcare systems. To ensure its success, we stress that physical activity must be placed at the very heart of the Plan.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in Europe, affecting 60 million people and generating five million new cases every year. Beyond the human suffering, they cost billions annually in healthcare, productivity losses, and informal care. With an ageing and shrinking population, the EU faces increasing pressure on its health and economic resilience.
Physical activity must be placed at the heart of the Plan. Regular exercise is one of the most powerful, evidence-based and cost-efficient tools to prevent and manage CVDs and other chronic conditions. Research shows that physical activity lowers blood pressure, improves vascular function, reduces Type 2 diabetes risk, helps maintain a healthy weight, decreases the risk of several cancers, and delivers substantial mental health benefits. Yet, one in three Europeans still fails to meet WHO activity recommendations, and nearly half report never exercising at all.
To unlock the full potential of physical activity, we call on the Commission to ensure the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan includes the following:
- Prioritise physical activity politically and financially: Recognise physical activity as one of the most cost-effective yet underutilised public health interventions, and allocate dedicated funding and political support to implement it across Europe.
- Integrate physical activity into healthcare and clinical practice: Establish systematic screenings for physical inactivity, assess fitness levels through validated measures such as VO₂ max (maximal oxygen uptake, recognised as a clinical “vital sign” of cardiorespiratory fitness), provide tailored counselling, and develop referral pathways to adapted fitness and physical activity programmes, including for people living with, or at risk of, cardiovascular diseases.
- Foster cross-sector collaboration and increase support: Strengthen coordination between health, physical activity and fitness, transport, education, and urban planning sectors, and expand EU funding for cross-sectoral programmes, digital platforms, and initiatives that promote physical activity, creating environments that make active lifestyles more accessible and achievable across all regions.
- Invest in research and evidence-based solutions: Fund research to identify the most effective strategies for increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour, and scaling successful interventions across Europe.
- Support inclusive, community-based initiatives: Promote initiatives that encourage active lifestyles while reducing health inequalities. Our National Associations are essential in aligning national and European efforts. They bring the evidence, the expertise, and the implementation power from the ground up.
Our National Associations are key to aligning national and European efforts, bringing the evidence and implementation power from the ground up. Together, we are ready to work with EU institutions and Member States to contribute fitness and physical activity sector’s expertise and evidence-based solutions. Our shared goal is to ensure that the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan delivers tangible benefits for citizens, governments, and societies across Europe - and that prevention through physical activity becomes a true cornerstone of cardiovascular health.
List of supporting National Associations:
- Active-FNEAPL (France)
- Active Sweden (Sweden)
- ANIF EuroWellness (Italy)
- Austrian Professional Association of Sport and Leisure Enterprises in the Austrian Economic Chamber (Austria)
- Bulgarian Association for Health and Fitness (Bulgaria)
- Czech Chamber of Fitness (Czech Republic)
- Danish Fitness and Health Organisation - DFHO (Denmark)
- Deutsche Hochschule für Prävention und Gesundheitsmanagement - DIFG (Germany)
- Arbeitgeberverband deutscher Fitness und Gesundheits Anlagen - DSSV e. V. (Germany)
- Fitness.be (Belgium)
- Fundación España Activa (Spain)
- Hovedorganisasjonen Virke (Norway)
- HUNactive (Hungary)
- Ireland Active (Ireland)
- Latvian Health and Fitness Association (Latvia)
- Liikuntayrittäjät - FinlandActive (Finland)
- NL Actief (Netherlands)
- North Macedonia Active (North Macedonia)
- Portugal Activo (Portugal)
- Serbian Association for Recreation and Fitness (Serbia)
- SFRR Chamber of Commerce - GZS (Slovenia)
- Spor Endüstri Derneği (Turkey)
- swiss active - Fitness industry association (Switzerland)
- Syllogos idioktiton gymnastirion S.I.G.A. (Greece)
Full Statement is available below:
