JA PreventNCD has published a position paper calling on European Union institutions and Member States to ensure that the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework provides clear and adequate funding for health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention and health equity.
The position paper, Investing in Health: Securing EU funding for health promotion and NCD prevention in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, highlights prevention as a strategic investment in Europe’s health, resilience, equity and long-term prosperity.
Why the next EU budget matters for prevention
Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and mental health conditions, remain among the leading causes of ill health and premature death in Europe. Their impact extends beyond health systems, affecting wellbeing, workforce participation, productivity, social cohesion and economic resilience.
JA PreventNCD argues that the next EU budget must recognise health promotion and disease prevention as essential investments in Europe’s future. Long-term prevention requires not only funding for specific interventions, but also investment in capacity building, workforce development, intersectoral governance and implementation infrastructure at national, regional and local levels.
The position paper stresses that health promotion and NCD prevention must be made more visible, adequately funded and measurable across the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
What the JA PreventNCD Consortium is calling for
The JA PreventNCD Consortium calls on European Union institutions and Member States to ensure that the next EU budget strengthens health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention and health equity across key EU funding instruments and policy mechanisms.
Specifically, the Consortium calls for:
- clear EU funding for health promotion and NCD prevention throughout the next Multiannual Financial Framework;
- 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, with ring-fenced funding for NCD prevention, health promotion and health inequalities;
- performance indicators that better measure prevention, equity and long-term population health outcomes.
Together, these recommendations aim to ensure that EU investments support healthier populations, reduce inequalities and strengthen resilience across the life course.
Strengthening how prevention is measured
A central message of the position paper is that prevention must be measurable. JA PreventNCD calls for the MFF Performance Regulation to better capture whether EU investments contribute to health promotion, disease prevention, equity and long-term population health outcomes.
The position paper includes a technical annex with suggested amendments to selected intervention fields and indicators. These include health systems, health promotion and disease prevention, the EU School Scheme, health and safety at work, and climate-induced health impacts.
The aim is to move beyond measuring only expenditure or activity, and towards assessing whether EU-funded investments contribute to meaningful improvements in health, equity and prevention.
Read the full position paper
The full position paper includes the complete set of recommendations as well as a technical annex with suggested amendments to selected intervention fields and indicators.
