in Euractiv
Hungary will focus its six-month European Council presidency on cardiovascular disease and organ transplantation and intends to take a back seat on other issues, according to its priorities announced on Tuesday (18 June).
“Hungary sees health in a more strategic, rather than legislative way,” a Hungarian diplomat told Euractiv. Health is considered to be “an overarching objective to strengthen the EU’s industry, to foster competitiveness and allow economic growth” while keeping an eye on “demographic challenges such as ageing”.
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is high on the agenda, and the European Commission, the European People’s Party (EPP), the European Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and the Greens/EFA have also identified it as a priority.
According to Eurostat, diseases of the circulatory system are the leading cause of death in the EU, responsible for almost one-third (32.7 %) of all deaths in 2020. Hungary is one of the countries that suffers from a high death rate from coronary heart disease.
Hungary will present a concept paper on cardiovascular diseases at a conference organised by the European Society of Cardiology in Budapest on the 4 July. Hungary plans to draft a European Action Plan that will address prevention, innovation and treatment, taking account of geographical and gender inequalities.
