Várhelyi made the case bluntly at the launch. "Prevention cannot wait," he said. "That is why we are launching the first EU Screening Week: to encourage people across Europe to know their numbers and take action for their health."

He added: "By raising awareness and making screening more visible and accessible, we can help detect risk earlier and prevent serious cardiometabolic diseases before complications develop. Prevention starts with awareness—know your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar."

How does this connect to wider EU policy?

The screening week operates under the EU Safe Hearts Plan, which treats heart disease, diabetes and obesity as interconnected threats to cardiometabolic health—the heart and metabolism working together. It also supports the European Commission's proposal for an EU Council Recommendation on cardiovascular health checks, which encourages member states to strengthen early detection.

ESC president Professor Cecilia Linde tied the effort to health equity. "For too long, a person's chances of preventing cardiovascular disease have been influenced by factors beyond their control, including where they live, their gender or their socioeconomic circumstances," she said. "Screening is our chance to change that."

What do diabetes and obesity specialists add?

EASD president Professor Francesco Giorgino stressed that type 2 diabetes often goes undetected until complications appear, and that the condition sharply raises cardiovascular risk. He also warned that prevention strategies must include people with type 1 diabetes, who face long-term cardiovascular risk as well.

EASO president Professor Volkan Yumuk framed obesity as a chronic disease in its own right and a major driver of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications. "If Europe is serious about prevention, we must identify and address obesity earlier," Yumuk said, calling for screening approaches that move beyond BMI alone.

EUDF president Professor Chantal Mathieu called the launch "a historic moment when cardiovascular disease, with its two most evil associated diseases, diabetes and obesity, takes center stage." She urged member states to turn EU-level plans into national screening programs.

What happens next?

The week includes screening, awareness and education activities across EU member states. The three societies call on national governments to embed evidence-based health checks and early detection into routine care.

Whether the initiative translates into lasting policy change will hinge on how member states act on the Council Recommendation proposal once adopted. For now, organizers stress a simple message: basic health numbers can flag risk before a heart attack, stroke or diabetes diagnosis forces the issue.

Citizens across Europe should visit local screening events, talk to a healthcare professional and check their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, BMI and waist circumference, the associations urged. Early detection, they said, saves lives.