Members of JA PreventNCD's Youth Advisory Group joined two important policy discussions in Brussels on 14–15 October, offering their perspectives on how decisions made today could shape the health of future generations.
Established in 2025, the JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group (YAG) brings together young people from across Europe, drawing on their diverse backgrounds, expertise and experiences to contribute to the joint action's work on health promotion and the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Through their involvement, the project seeks to ensure that young people are not only considered in prevention policies, but also have opportunities to help shape them.
On 14 October, Stella Goeschl, Adam Skali and Valérie Balvert joined JA PreventNCD's third Policy Decision Making Forum in Brussels. The following day, Stella and Adam attended a policy dialogue at the European Parliament on investing in health through the EU's next long-term budget.
Although the two events had different objectives, both raised important questions about how decisions made today can support healthier lives in the years and decades ahead.
Bringing younger perspectives into policy discussions
The Policy Decision Making Forum brought together JA PreventNCD partners and European Commission representatives to explore how the joint action's findings and recommendations could inform policy and practice.
For the YAG members, an important consideration was whether the needs and perspectives of children and young people were sufficiently reflected in the initiatives being discussed.
The participation of policymakers from across sectors, including health, agriculture, research and taxation, also highlighted how decisions beyond the health sector influence people's opportunities to live healthier lives.
"An important question for us was not only whether the initiatives presented addressed the needs of children and young people, but how those needs had been identified and whether their perspectives had informed the proposed measures at the development stage. Meaningful youth participation should be a part of policy implementation from the outset, rather than an afterthought," reflected Stella Goeschl.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of planning for sustainability from the outset, ensuring that the knowledge, tools and partnerships developed through European projects can continue to benefit communities beyond their funding periods.
"It was encouraging to see how openly project representatives engaged with our questions and perspectives. The discussions also reinforced the importance of considering sustainability from the beginning, including how initiatives can be adapted, maintained and continue delivering meaningful results beyond the project's lifetime," said Valérie Balvert.
Adam Skali and Stella Goeschl pictured in front of the EU Parliament.
Looking beyond the next EU budget
On 15 October, the focus shifted to the European Parliament, where JA PreventNCD and EuroHealthNet organised a policy dialogue on the EU's proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.
For the YAG members, the event offered insights into how European funding priorities are determined and the challenges of ensuring that health promotion and disease prevention receive adequate support.
A key concern was the difference between political and budget cycles and the longer timeframe over which many prevention measures deliver their benefits. In a more flexible EU budget focused on competitiveness and resilience, prevention risks being overlooked in favour of investments promising more immediate returns, particularly without dedicated funding or clear safeguards. Yet sustained investment in prevention is itself important to Europe's long-term competitiveness and resilience. Demonstrating both short-term progress and longer-term health, social and economic benefits will therefore be essential to making the case for prevention in future budget decisions.
"The decisions being made about the next EU budget will have consequences far beyond the funding period itself. If investments are assessed primarily on their immediate returns, we risk overlooking prevention measures whose benefits emerge over a much longer timeframe. That is particularly concerning for younger and future generations, who will live with the consequences of the decisions being made today," reflected Adam Skali.
Yet the YAG members observed that the specific needs and perspectives of children and young people received relatively limited attention in the budget discussions, despite the long-term implications of the decisions being considered. Strengthening intergenerational dialogue could help ensure that future investment decisions reflect both immediate priorities and the longer-term needs of younger and future generations, supporting more equitable and sustainable approaches to prevention.
Giving future generations a voice today
For the Youth Advisory Group, the two days in Brussels provided valuable opportunities to listen, learn and exchange perspectives with policymakers and public health experts.
They also reinforced an important message: meaningful youth participation should be part of how policies and initiatives are developed, not simply an opportunity to comment once decisions have already been made.
As JA PreventNCD approaches its final year, the involvement of young people can help connect the project's work with the needs of future generations, encouraging more inclusive approaches to prevention and a longer-term perspective on health.
The decisions made today will shape the environments in which young people live, work and grow older. Ensuring their perspectives are heard is an important part of building a healthier Europe for the future.