At the beginning of March, JA PreventNCD held its Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting and annual collaboration meeting with the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen. The meetings provided an opportunity to reflect on progress, strengthen alignment, and look ahead to the priorities that will shape the next phase of the Joint Action.
The ExCo meeting, held on 5 March, brought together ExCo members and the project’s Thematic Coordinators to review progress to date, align on strategic priorities for the next phase, and ensure that key outputs and outcomes remain on track in support of the project’s overall objectives.
The meeting also provided space to look ahead. Among the areas highlighted were stakeholder engagement, preparations for major events in 2026 such as the General Assembly in Rome, and the importance of ensuring that the work carried out across the Joint Action is not only delivered effectively, but also positioned to generate lasting value and visibility. As JA PreventNCD moves further into its implementation phase, continued coordination across work packages and thematic areas remains essential.
This broader perspective was also reflected in the annual collaboration meeting between JA PreventNCD and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, held the day before the ExCo meeting. A central question running through the discussions was how progress on NCD prevention can continue long after European Joint Action projects come to an end.
Throughout the day, work package leaders shared updates on joint work across a range of areas, including policy monitoring and regulation, healthy environments, social inequalities, and identifying people at risk. WHO colleagues actively contributed to the discussions, reflecting on how the work of JA PreventNCD can continue to support countries and policy development across Europe.
The meeting also included a contribution from Dr Gundo Weiler, Director of the WHO/Europe Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, who presented the division’s priorities and highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration between WHO/Europe and JA PreventNCD going forward.
Taken together, the meetings in Copenhagen highlighted a shared commitment to the next stage of JA PreventNCD. They also reinforced an important message: preventing noncommunicable diseases requires strong partnerships, shared knowledge and sustained collaboration. As the project continues, the focus remains on turning coordinated work into practical outputs and ensuring that the Joint Action contributes to long-term progress in public health across Europe.