JA PreventNCD is building momentum across Europe as it turns evidence into action and strengthens connections between science, communication, and policy. This was clear during an inspiring week in Denmark, where the project joined forces with the Region of Southern Denmark for two back-to-back events that brought together partners from across Europe.
The first event, held in Vejle, focused on how evidence can be transformed into effective policy. The second, in Odense, explored how European Joint Actions can work together to build healthier futures for all.
From Joint Actions to Policy: Advancing Strategic Health Messaging for Impact
The week began in Vejle on 27 October with a hands-on workshop titled From Joint Actions to Policy: Advancing Strategic Health Messaging for Impact, hosted by the Region of Southern Denmark in close collaboration with JA PreventNCD’s Communication and Dissemination team.
The event gathered participants from across the project, along with guests from the JANE-2 and EUnetCCC Joint Actions, to explore how evidence can be translated into policy strategies that make a real difference. The goal was to strengthen the link between science, communication, and decision-making so that project results can influence both European and national policies more effectively.
Kerstin Vesna Petrič, Head of the Office for Cooperation with WHO at the Ministry of Health of Slovenia, opened the discussion by reflecting on how to bridge the gap between evidence and policymaking. Dorota Sienkiewicz, Senior Policy Liaison at EuroHealthNet, followed with practical insights on identifying policy windows—moments when change is possible and evidence can have the greatest impact.
Further contributions came from Eeva Ollila, leader of the Health in All Policies work package, who spoke about the importance of framing prevention across all sectors, and from Gabrielle Schittecatte, co-leader for Sustainability, who shared Belgium’s experience developing policy briefs through the EBCP initiative.
The afternoon took a more interactive turn, with participants breaking into working groups to map key themes, processes, and opportunities for the project’s forthcoming series of policy briefs. These group discussions formed the foundation of a shared roadmap for producing at least 60 policy briefs—one of JA PreventNCD’s most visible deliverables.
Topics ranged from how to make policy briefs relevant at national, regional, and local levels, to how to ensure ownership and engagement across all work packages. Participants also reviewed the current template and identified improvements to make the briefs more effective communication tools.
By the end of the workshop, a clear vision had emerged: policy briefs should not only summarise evidence but also tell compelling stories that help decision-makers see prevention as a smart investment in health, productivity, and sustainability across Europe.
As Sólveig Karlsdóttir, Leader of Communication and Dissemination for JA PreventNCD, summarised:
“The purpose of our policy briefs is to make evidence accessible and actionable. They are a way to speak the language of policy while keeping the focus on prevention.”
The workshop also underscored the importance of collaboration. With more than 100 organisations across 25 countries involved, JA PreventNCD’s strength lies in its ability to connect expertise from multiple disciplines. Participants left Vejle with a renewed sense of shared purpose, practical tools to turn results into impact, and growing momentum for the work ahead.
Health in Europe: Joint Actions, Joint Future
The following day, attention turned to Odense, where the Region of Southern Denmark hosted the high-level event Health in Europe: Joint Actions, Joint Future. Co-organised with JA PreventNCD, the meeting brought together several EU-funded Joint Actions and projects under the EU4Health programme to share experiences and look ahead to Europe’s next health priorities.
The event provided a valuable platform for dialogue between policy-makers, experts, and project coordinators. Discussions focused on how the collective work of Joint Actions can contribute to the EU’s broader health agenda, strengthen prevention systems, and build more resilient societies.
Speakers emphasised that many of Europe’s most pressing health challenges—from chronic diseases to health inequalities—require collaboration that crosses borders and sectors. By aligning efforts, Joint Actions can pool knowledge, identify good practices, and create tools that remain in use long after projects end.
For JA PreventNCD, the event was an opportunity to share progress, connect with sister initiatives, and showcase how prevention is central to Europe’s future health strategy. The project’s emphasis on policy briefs as a bridge between science and implementation resonated strongly with the event’s themes of sustainability and joint learning.
The dialogue in Odense also built directly on the outcomes of the previous day’s workshop. Participants discussed how to strengthen communication between technical experts and policy-makers, ensuring that evidence does not stay locked in reports but informs real decisions.
A Week of Collaboration and Momentum
Together, the events in Vejle and Odense captured the spirit of collaboration that defines JA PreventNCD. In Vejle, partners worked side by side to build a shared foundation for the project’s policy outputs. In Odense, they joined the wider EU health community to ensure that prevention remains a central pillar of Europe’s health and well-being agenda.
Both events reflected the project’s commitment to making prevention everyone’s business. Health is not created only in the health sector—it is shaped by the environments we live in, the policies that guide our societies, and the partnerships that bridge sectors and borders.
In his closing remarks, Knut-Inge Klepp, JA PreventNCD Coordinator, invited participants to reflect on two key questions that will guide the project moving forward:
- How can we develop and support inclusive prevention strategies that integrate equity and ensure systematic, cross-sectoral involvement in policymaking to reduce social inequalities?
- How can JA PreventNCD position NCD prevention at the heart of Europe’s policy agenda, ensuring that it resonates with top priorities and drives long-term investment in prevention across all sectors?
These questions perfectly capture the ambition that defined the week in Denmark. They remind us that evidence, communication, and policy are not separate efforts but parts of a single process that can transform how Europe prevents disease and promotes health.
As JA PreventNCD continues to build momentum across Europe, the lessons from Denmark will serve as a reference point. They reaffirm that effective communication, strategic timing, and collaboration across sectors are key to turning evidence into policy and policy into action.
A warm thank you goes to the Region of Southern Denmark for their hospitality, to all speakers and chairs for their valuable insights, and to every participant for their energy and ideas. Together, we are building a stronger foundation for prevention across Europe.