White paper on child health
white-paper-on-child-health-july-2026-final.pdf
2.86 MB
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This section features formal statements and position papers issued by AEPC, reflecting our professional perspectives and ethical stances on matters affecting children, adolescents, adults with congenital and acquired heart disease, and related healthcare issues.
Promoting child health through research & innovation - A key priority for Europe
A joint white paper from AEPC, EAP, ESPE, ESPGHAN & ESPR
Child health must become a much stronger priority in European research and innovation policy. The White Paper, developed by five European paediatric societies including AEPC, highlights a significant gap: although children and adolescents represent almost 80 million people in the EU, child health receives disproportionately little attention in European health research funding. In the 2026–2027 Horizon Europe Health Work Programme, children are explicitly included in only 2 of 38 calls.
Investing in child health is an investment in Europe's future. Health trajectories are shaped early in life, meaning that prevention, research and innovation during childhood and before can have lifelong benefits - including reducing chronic disease and supporting healthy ageing, societal wellbeing and economic sustainability. Europe already has the scientific expertise, networks and innovation capacity needed to lead in this field, but greater and more targeted investment is needed.
We call on European decision-makers to make child health a central pillar of EU research policy, including through the next Horizon Europe programme (2028–2034). Among the key recommendations are increased funding for paediatric research, a life-course approach to health, meaningful involvement of paediatric experts and stakeholders in setting research priorities, and stronger inclusion of children and adolescents in EU-funded health research.
The message is clear: the time to act is now. Ensuring that child health is properly represented in European research policy will require the collective voice of paediatric professionals, researchers, organisations and other stakeholders.
Help drive the call for greater investment in child health research
The White Paper sets out a clear call for action: child health must become a central priority in European research and innovation policy. Achieving this will require a strong and united voice from the paediatric community and its partners.
We encourage AEPC members and colleagues across Europe to read the White Paper, share its message and help raise awareness among relevant decision-makers and stakeholders. Together, we can strengthen the case for child health research and ensure that the health of Europe’s children is recognised as an investment in Europe’s future.
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AEPC Statement on children in war zones
Below statement was also published in Cardiology in the Young.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1047951125110020
AEPC Statement on children in war zones
aepc-statement-on-children-in-war-zones-aug-2025.pdf
82.66 kB
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