The paper highlights the importance of the curriculum of physical and health culture in the Republic of Croatia and the countries of the European Union. Physical activity and exercise have significant positive effects in preventing or alleviating mental illness, including symptoms of depression and anxiety- or stress-related illnesses. At the level of the European Union, in recent years there have been attempts to standardize the curriculum of physical and health culture. The paper describes the implementation of the subject Physical and health culture in school institutions. The issues of programs and curricula of physical and health culture at the EU level are defined. Schools play an important role in promoting physical activity, eating habits and social interaction, as well as developing healthy skills and habits. When it comes to the programs and curriculum of physical and health culture in most EU countries, national governments have the greater part of the responsibility for the curriculum that is harmonized with the guidelines of the European Commission. Where decentralized forms of government exist, responsibility is shared, but usually lies mainly at the regional level. Furthermore, some member states are promoting innovative and appropriate policy responses that can serve as an example to other countries that are currently less committed to investing in the quality and quantity of physical education at school level.