HEAL considers that a focus on reducing administrative cost and burden to businesses is a shortsighted and narrow perspective, disregarding the significant costs to people's health and the need for strengthened resilience of the natural environment in view of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss.
The EP resolution on cardiovascular health was adopted with a very strong majority (545/ 47/ 75). The text confirmed what was adopted by the SANT committee in July (read HEAL’s reaction).
With more than two out of five deaths, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the European Union. Pollution plays a significant role in the development and aggravation of heart attacks and strokes, and almost 20% of deaths from cardiovascular disease are due to a polluted environment. More frequent and more severe heatwaves exacerbate the already high burden of disease, from the combination of heat and air pollution.
The burden is also unequal. Preventable cardiovascular deaths linked to environmental factors are disproportionately high in central and eastern Europe. People living in disadvantaged areas face higher levels of air pollution.
The European Parliament resolution includes key points on cardiovascular health that HEAL has raised repeatedly with decisionmakers:
- The fact that “environmental determinants, including air pollution, noise pollution, pollution of soil and water, extreme temperatures and chemical exposure, in particular of populations who come in close contact with pesticides in their work or in their communities, are major preventable contributors to cardiovascular disease in the EU”.
- The fact that regulatory action for prevention is needed to protect people – changes to lifestyles do not influence exposure to air or chemical pollution.
- The fact that “effective cardiovascular disease prevention, preparedness, care, and research require adequate, dedicated, stable and long-term EU public funding from all relevant EU programmes”.
MEPs have sent a strong signal for cardiovascular health with this resolution backed by an overwhelming majority.
Now they should follow suit for environmental disease prevention by supporting dedicated financing – a clean air budget line in the next EU MFF – and ensuring chemicals and pesticides regulatory frameworks keep their high level of health protection – HEAL calls for the withdrawal of the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus proposal on health grounds.
HEAL briefing recommending EU’s future actions to reduce air and chemical pollution at the source: End public financing for fossil fuel burning ; Provide dedicated financing for pollution prevention and control in the next EU budget, such as in National Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP); Expedite the implementation of existing legislation, such as the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD); Expedite a universal phase out of the forever chemicals PFAS and REACH modernisation.
HEAL letter to European Commission President Von der Leyen calling for a withdrawal of the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus proposal
