Prevent NCD

19/06/2026

Why does the next EU budget matter for health promotion and prevention?

JA PreventNCD recently published a position paper calling for stronger EU investment in health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention and health equity in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

In this follow-up conversation, Knut-Inge Klepp, Caroline Costongs and Mojca Gabrijelčič discuss why health promotion and prevention must be visible, funded and measurable in the next EU budget.

The interview looks at prevention not as a cost, but as an investment in healthier lives, more sustainable health systems, stronger communities and a more resilient Europe.

Read the full conversation here:
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/interviews/investing-in-prevention-a-conversation-on-why-the-next-eu-budget-matters-for-health/

JA PreventNCD calls for stronger EU investment in health promotion, NCD prevention and health equity in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

18/06/2026

“Decisions made in the next Multiannual Financial Framework will shape Europe’s capacity to prevent non-communicable diseases for years to come.”
Knut Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator of JA PreventNCD

As discussions on the next EU budget continue, the JA PreventNCD Consortium has published a position paper calling for stronger EU investment in health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention and health equity.

JA PreventNCD brings together 25 countries and more than 100 partners across Europe, giving a strong collective public health voice to this discussion.

The position paper calls for:
🔹clear EU funding for health promotion and NCD prevention throughout the next MFF
🔹earmarked funding for health promotion in the European Competitiveness Fund
🔹a stronger prevention focus in National and Regional Partnership Plans
🔹health promotion, NCD prevention and health equity to be embedded in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism
🔹a standalone Health Cluster in Horizon Europe
🔹performance indicators that measure prevention, equity and long-term population health outcomes

Prevention is an essential investment in Europe’s health, resilience, equity and long-term prosperity.

Read more and download the full position paper: https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/policy-statements-recommendations/ja-preventncd-calls-for-stronger-eu-investment-in-health-promotion-and-ncd-prevention-in-the-next-mff/

JA PreventNCD has published a position paper calling for stronger EU investment in health promotion, NCD prevention and health equity in the next MFF.

11/06/2026

As the final day of the JA PreventNCD General Assembly comes to a end, we leave Rome with many reflections on how the work of the Joint Action can create lasting impact. 💬

Today’s policy brief workshop encouraged us to consider how our work can be translated into clear, useful and actionable messages for policy and practice. Important questions were raised: Can the work be sustained? Can it be evaluated, scaled or adapted elsewhere? Can others learn from it and use it?
These questions go to the heart of what this Joint Action aims to achieve. As was said during the meeting: “the real success of JA PreventNCD will be measured by what remains, what is adopted, and what improves people’s lives.”

In the closing session, Anna Iwona Bulzacka Bogucka from European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) congratulated the consortium on the progress made so far, highlighting not only the scale of the collaboration — bringing together more than 100 institutions across 25 countries — but also its quality. She emphasised the importance of continuing to learn from one another, share experiences and grow together as the project moves forward. 🤝

The project’s External Expert Advisory Board also encouraged us to reflect on the key messages emerging from JA PreventNCD: what the project has taught us about the major risk factors, what can be done differently, and how these lessons can support stronger prevention efforts in the future.
We carry these reflections with us into the next phase of the project and beyond.

🌱 A warm thank you to everyone who joined, contributed, prepared and hosted these inspiring last days.

11/06/2026

A few highlights from the General Assembly 2026 🎥

Thank you to Istituto Superiore di Sanità for hosting this successful event and thank you to all participants for valuable discussions and collaboration. 🇪🇺🇮🇹

10/06/2026

𝗗𝗮𝘆 2 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗡𝗖𝗗 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 2026 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲



The work continues with presentations, workshops, panel discussions, posters showcasing ongoing activities, group work, and valuable exchanges to strengthen collaboration and build synergies across the Joint Action.



𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴:

🔹 Shaping healthy food environments to prevent NCDs

🔹 Addressing commercial determinants of health

🔹 Physical activity across scales: from local action to global strategies

🔹 Opportunities for sustainability in JA PreventNCD

🔹 Alcohol policy and NCD prevention: from gaps to opportunities

🔹 Modernising to***co control legislation in the EU to achieve a Tobacco-Free Generation



One highlight of the day was the session "𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗡𝗖𝗗: 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀."

𝗗𝗿. 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗶 from the University of Edinburgh explored the links between commercial determinants of health and social inequalities, highlighting how commercial actors and practices shape health outcomes and influence policy environments.The session demonstrated how understanding commercial determinants can support healthier, more sustainable societies and help address conflicts of interest in health policymaking.



👏 It was another inspiring day filled with valuable insights, engaging discussions, and meaningful exchanges. Thank you to all participants, speakers, moderators, and organisers for their contributions and commitment to advancing NCD prevention across Europe.



***cocontrol

10/06/2026

🇪🇺 Yesterday, we kicked off the General Assembly 2026 in Rome, bringing together partners from 25 European countries to strengthen our shared commitment to preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

As JA PreventNCD has entered the second half of the project, this year's General Assembly is an important opportunity to reflect on achievements, share lessons learned, and discuss how we can maximise the impact, sustainability, and uptake of our results.

Opening the event, our Project Coordinator and Director of Public Health at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, Linda Granlund, highlighted the importance of prevention in shaping Europe's future health systems:

"We are meeting at an important moment for public health in Europe. In the EU, there is recognition that prevention is essential for sustainable health systems and healthier societies."

A key highlight of the first day was the discussion on the EU's new Safe Hearts Plan, with contributions from Marianne Takki from DG SANTE. The session explored how JA PreventNCD's work can support implementation of the Plan through innovative approaches to cardiovascular health, including personalised prevention strategies, digital tools and to***co control.

The programme also featured important discussions on:
🔹 Reducing social inequalities in cancer and other NCDs
🔹 Strengthening Member States' capacities for prevention
🔹 Addressing gaps in NCD monitoring in rapidly evolving commercial environments

Another exciting milestone was the launch of the new JA PreventNCD communication campaign, designed to make prevention more visible and accessible (stay tuned!).

Thank you to all participants, speakers, and partners for making the first day a success. We look forward to continuing the conversations, sharing emerging results, and strengthening collaboration over the coming days.

Read the related press release here: https://lnkd.in/dZMAEcZu

09/06/2026

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: This week, JA PreventNCD partners gather in Rome for the General Assembly, hosted by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.

The meeting brings together public health leaders, policymakers, researchers and partners from across Europe to strengthen cooperation on cancer and NCD prevention, cardiovascular health, shared risk factors and health equity.

The General Assembly will be opened by Antonio Parenti, Director for Public Health, Cancer and Health Security at DG Sante, and includes contributions from Dr Giovanni Capelli, Marianne Takki and Linda Granlund, among many partners working across Europe to advance prevention.

With 25 participating countries and more than 100 partners across Europe, including WHO/Europe, JA PreventNCD supports stronger prevention policies, improved monitoring and action on the determinants of chronic diseases.

The meeting also connects JA PreventNCD’s work with Europe’s wider prevention agenda, including Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Healthier Together initiative and the Safe Hearts Plan, Europe’s cardiovascular health plan.

Prevention works, and together we can help turn evidence into stronger policies and healthier environments. 🌍

Read the full press release here: https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/press-releases/europe-s-efforts-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-and-other-chronic-diseases-including-cancer/

Public health leaders meet in Rome for the JA PreventNCD General Assembly to advance prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.

05/06/2026

On World Environment Day, JA PreventNCD reflects on how the wellbeing of people and planet are deeply connected.

A new blog highlights insights from the Wellbeing Economy Forum 2026 session “Protecting the Wellbeing of People and Planet at a Global Scale – Leaving No One Behind,” where speakers explored climate action, health, equity, Indigenous perspectives, youth participation and future generations.

As Kumi Naidoo said during the session: “We need to make sure that we don’t continue to treat climate change as a standalone issue.”

For JA PreventNCD, this message is central: preventing cancer and other non-communicable diseases means addressing the wider conditions that shape health, including the social, environmental and commercial determinants.

Read the full blog:
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/blog/world-environment-day-climate-action-for-the-wellbeing-of-people-and-the-planet/

Reducing Europe's cancer and NCD burden through coordinated strategies on health determinants. Focusing on effective policies, societal and personal risk factors.

04/06/2026

How can healthier living environments help prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases?

From 26–28 May, JA PreventNCD partners working on Healthy Living Environments met in P**a, Croatia, hosted by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

Multidisciplinary and cross-sector teams from across Europe shared experiences on how to create healthier places to live, learn, work and play. Discussions focused on stronger policy action, healthier urban environments, Baby-Friendly Communities and Health Services, environments free of unhealthy products, evaluation, sustainability and communication for impact.

The meeting highlighted that prevention cannot rely on individual responsibility alone. Healthier environments require coordinated action across sectors, from local communities to national and European policy.

🔗Read more:
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/coordinating-efforts-for-healthier-living-environments-in-pula-croatia/

JA PreventNCD partners met in P**a, Croatia, to strengthen cooperation, share insights and advance action on healthier living environments for cancer and NCD prevention.

03/06/2026

🚶‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Physical activity is shaped by much more than individual choices

The schools we attend, the communities we live in, the places we work, and the environments around us all play a role in enabling healthier and more active lives.
Across Europe, partners in JA PreventNCD are working to make movement more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable throughout the life course.

From school-based initiatives and digital tools for young people to community programmes and workplace interventions, these pilot actions demonstrate how supportive environments can help make physical activity part of everyday life.

The experiences from Croatia, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, and France showcase a shared ambition: creating healthier living environments where active lifestyles are easier choices for everyone.

🔗 Read more: https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/putting-europe-in-motion/

Across Europe, JA PreventNCD pilot actions are helping schools, communities and workplaces make physical activity more accessible, inclusive and sustainable.