“We are stronger together when we work with ONE common voice”

In December 2025, New Republic participated in the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) conference Cardiovascular Health Summit in Brussels, which took place ahead of the European Commission's launch of a European plan to prevent, detect, and treat cardiovascular disease—the Safe Hearts Plan. EACH is an alliance of several interest groups that have been working together for several years to bring about a European cardiovascular plan.

In connection with the conference, our colleague Stina Kinnerbäck took the opportunity to ask three quick questions to Cecilia Linde, professor of cardiology at Karolinska Institutet and incoming president of the European Society of Cardiology, which holds the secretariat for EACH.

How can Member States and decision-makers be mobilized to push through something as comprehensive as a European cardiovascular plan?

This is a challenge. We at the ESC work closely with our member countries and encourage them to maintain close contact with their health ministers and, where possible, finance ministers. We also work directly with other organizations such as patient organizations, disease organizations such as heart and lung foundations, but also those for other disease groups such as the Cancer Foundation, to establish direct contacts with political parties in order to draw attention to and inform them about our issues when they are formulating their policies. The Safe Hearts Plan also covers issues relating to public health and, very importantly, the health of children and young people.

Why is it important to build alliances such as EACH?

Many diseases and risk factors result in cardiovascular disease and death. That is why we work together toward a common goal rather than competing.

What are some of the most important lessons learned from EACH's work?

That we are stronger together when patient organizations and professional associations around individual health issues such as thrombosis, stroke, and kidney disease work together with industry, research organizations, and professional associations such as the ESC with one common voice. This form of collaboration can also be used nationally to make a bigger impact.

Cecilia Linde, Professor of Cardiology at Karolinska Institutet and incoming President of the European Society of Cardiology, was interviewed by Stina Kinnerbäck, Consultant at New Republic. “3 quick questions...” is an interview series conducted by New Republic.