Lung health is not just a health issue, but has social, economic and equity dimensions. This February, the European Parliament became the focal point for two events organised by the European Lung Health Group partners, highlighting the urgent need for stronger EU policies to improve prevention, diagnosis and care for respiratory diseases.
The European Lung Health Group, an initiative of nine European umbrella organisations including patient organisations, healthcare professionals, and researchers, engaged with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to bring lung health to the core of the EU decision-making chamber.
Reinstatement of MEP Lung Health Group
The MEP Lung Health Group, an informal platform for MEPs and civil society to exchange insights on lung health policy, was reinstated. The group facilitates discussions on scientific advancements and policy collaboration. MEPs Nicolae Ștefănuță (Greens, Romania), Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia), Tilly Metz (Greens, Luxembourg) and András Kulja (EPP, Hungary) (co) hosted the events , showing their support for the lung health community and their strong commitment to developing EU health policies for better respiratory care and prevention.
#HealthyLungs4Life: raising awareness with lung testing
On the 4-5 of February, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Lung Foundation (ELF) organised an interactive exhibition to raise awareness about the impact of respiratory diseases. Hosted by European Parliament Vice-President Nicolae Ștefănuță, the event included free lung function tests, allowing MEPs, parliamentary staff and attendees to assess their lung health and get a diagnosis firsthand.
Paul Sommerfeld (TBEC), Hall Skaara (PHA Europe) and Frank Willersinn (Alpha-1 Europe Alliance) at the HealthyLungs4Life Exhibition
MEP Adam Jarubas, Chair of the European Parliament Committee for Health (SANT), emphasised the EU’s role to promote equitable access to care: “It is crucial to ensure that people have access to all available treatments and care across the EU. Health should depend on DNA, not on postal codes.” MEP Stine Bosse, Vice-Chair of the SANT Subcommittee, highlighted the need for cross-border collaboration in healthcare, stressing that 'prevention is a cornerstone of health policy,' and that ensuring equal access to medicines and treatments must be a top priority. As the session came to an end, MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță called for greater engagement with policymakers on lung health matters: “In countries like Romania, we are too poor to get sick (…) investing in clean air is not a cost; it’s a commitment to health for all.”
MEPs Adam Jarubas, Stine Bosse and Nicolae Ștefănuță at HealthyLungs4Life event
Tackling COPD: Raising the bar for COPD care in Europe
The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) brought attention to one of Europe’s most pressing health challenges: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With over 36 million people affected, COPD is not only a health burden but also a societal and economic one. EFA’s policy recommendations “Raising the Standards of Care for COPD in Europe,” call for urgent action to improve care and highlights the need for harmonised policies across the EU.
Taking the results of this report into account, MEPs Romana Jerković, Tilly Metz, and András Kulja hosted the EFA event, reinforcing the message that COPD requires coordinated action at the EU level. “COPD patients cannot afford another decade of inaction. We need to keep working together to ensure that COPD is not forgotten on the health agenda for all to #KeepBreathing,” said MEP Jerković, stressing the importance of putting patients at the forefront of policy. Via a video recording, MEP Metz called for “lung health to be addressed more effectively at the EU level and committed to work together with EFA to achieve it.”
MEPs Romana Jerković, Tilly Metz, and András Kulja at the Raising the bar for COPD care in Europe event
The power of early detection in saving lives
A major recommendation from EFA’s report was the integration of prevention and early COPD detection into primary care across Europe.
Paula Duarte, EFA Member from Portuguese patient organisation Respira, stressed the importance of prevention, “We must especially advance in prevention so that in the next 20-30 years, we can say that COPD is no longer a pandemic as it is now.”
MEP András Kulja emphasised the life-saving impact of early diagnosis: “Timely detection of COPD can change lives. We must integrate early screening into national healthcare systems.”
Chronic diseases like COPD affect not only patients but also their loved ones, who provide daily informal care. Svetlana Atanasova from Eurocarers highlighted key EU actions to support informal caregivers, including education and integration into healthcare systems: “The EU must ensure the invaluable role of informal carers is reflected in all relevant policies.” Read the full report from the event here.
Bridging policy and practice: ensuring millions #KeepBreathing in Europe
These events sent a powerful message: patients across Europe urge for immediate an effective lung health policy action. The European Lung Health Group and its partners are dedicated to follow a vision where , access to care, research and innovation in respiratory diseases remain a policy priority.
With the active support of policymakers and the unwavering commitment of the lung health community, the call for stronger, more effective policies will continue to gain momentum.
