Join organisations across Europe this September as part of the first-ever EU Screening Week, a European Commission initiative that aims to encourage people to get their health checked and act early to prevent disease.
This September, the respiratory and cardiovascular communities will join together in a collective effort to encourage people to know their health numbers and take a proactive approach to their health. Timed to coincide with World Heart Day on 29 September, EU Screening Week will encourage people to learn more about their health, identify potential risks early and take steps to protect their long-term health.
EU Screening Week is a new European Commission initiative taking place from 28 September to 4 October 2026, designed to create a Europe-wide focus on preventative healthcare, health screening and early detection. Coinciding with World Heart Day and the EU’s Safe Hearts Plan, it encourages organisations and communities across Europe to organise and showcase activities that help people take simple actions for their health.
For the respiratory community, EU Screening Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of lung health, promote lung function testing and other prevention activities, and demonstrate why lung health checks should be considered alongside other routine health assessments.
Respiratory and cardiovascular health are closely connected. By organising and registering lung health activities during EU Screening Week, organisations can help raise the profile of lung health across Europe and support ongoing efforts to see lung health checks included within routine approaches to prevention and early detection.
Respiratory organisations, healthcare providers, patient groups and community organisations are invited to register their planned activities on the European Commission platform by 20 September 2026. Registered activities will be featured through EU Screening Week communications, helping to showcase prevention and screening initiatives taking place across Europe.
Activities could include:
Every activity helps raise awareness of lung health, promote prevention and early detection, and contribute to a Europe-wide movement for better health.
Healthy Lungs for Life is the joint ELF and European Respiratory Society (ERS) campaign that promotes lung health through awareness, prevention and early detection.
For more than 10 years, the campaign has supported events, projects and activities that help people learn more about their lungs and take action to protect their lung health.
We are encouraging organisations across Europe to host and register lung health activities during EU Screening Week. We will help showcase respiratory-focused events taking place during the week and highlight the important role of lung health checks within a preventive approach to healthcare.
If you are looking for inspiration, visit our Hold your own event page for ideas, resources and guidance on planning and delivering a lung health activity.
To register your activity, visit the European Commission platform. Activity titles and descriptions can be submitted in national languages, helping organisations reach local audiences while also contributing to a shared European initiative.
Register your activity for EU Screening Week
If you are taking part, please also let the Healthy Lungs for Life team know at healthylungsforlife@europeanlung.org so we can help spotlight and promote lung health activities across Europe.
