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29.05.2026
Unmasking the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products: JA PreventNCD and JA-SAFE in conversation on World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day is marked every year on 31 May. In 2026, the World Health Organization’s theme is “Unmasking the appeal: countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.” The campaign focuses on how tobacco and nicotine products continue to be reinvented, repackaged and marketed in ways that appeal to new generations, particularly children and adolescents. Tobacco remains one of the most important preventable causes of disease and premature death in Europe. At the same time, public health efforts are facing a changing landscape, with new nicotine products, cross-border trade, digital marketing, industry influence and regulatory gaps creating new challenges for tobacco and nicotine control. This remains a major priority for public health in Europe and for the European Commission’s wider prevention agenda. It is also reflected in two EU co-funded Joint Actions: JA PreventNCD, which addresses tobacco as a key cross-cutting theme in the prevention of cancer and other non-communicable diseases, and JA-SAFE, which focuses specifically on health promotion and disease prevention, including smoke- and aerosol-free environments. To mark World No Tobacco Day, we spoke with Hanna Ollila, Cross-cutting Theme Coordinator for Tobacco in JA PreventNCD; Taija Voutilainen, who leads JA PreventNCD work on alcohol- and tobacco-related perspectives in all policies; and Constantine Vardavas, Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Coordinator of JA-SAFE and Head of the Technical Group of Chemical and Sensory Assessors for Tobacco Product Flavours of the European Commission, about the current state of tobacco and nicotine control in Europe, the challenges ahead, and why international collaboration is essential. While the two Joint Actions have distinct roles, they are closely connected by a shared prevention agenda. JA-SAFE supports European action on smoke-free and aerosol-free environments, tobacco reduction, cessation, steps towards a tobacco-free generation, and wider health promotion and disease prevention. JA PreventNCD complements this work by addressing tobacco as part of a broader prevention agenda, recognising its role in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, while also working to reduce inequalities and strengthen action on the wider conditions that shape people’s health.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/interviews/unmasking-the-appeal-of-tobacco-and-nicotine-products-ja-preventncd-and-ja-safe-in-conversation-on-world-no-tobacco-day/
20.05.2026
Putting Europe in motion
This article will be included in the Healthy Living Environment Newsletter. You can subscribe here to stay updated. Across Europe, a growing movement is redefining how physical activity is understood in public health. No longer seen simply as an individual lifestyle choice, movement is increasingly being approached as a collective, environmental and lifelong issue –shaped by schools, neighbourhoods, workplaces, families and local communities. Within the European Joint Action JA PreventNCD, innovative pilot actions that aim to make active living more accessible, inclusive and sustainable across all stages of life are being developed. From digital tools helping adolescents discover enjoyable forms of movement, to community walking initiatives for older adults, workplace challenges promoting team-based activity and local platforms connecting citizens with healthy opportunities in their area, the initiative reflects a shared European ambition: embedding movement into everyday life. Between 2010 and 2022, around 25% of the population in the WHO European Region was insufficiently active. Prevalence varies widely between countries, ranging from 8.4% to 51.6%, reflecting strong territorial and social inequalities in access to opportunities for physical activity. While progress has been uneven, 17 countries - mostly within the EU14 - have already achieved early the target of a 15% reduction in inactivity by 2030.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/putting-europe-in-motion/
04.05.2026
Health in All Policies: aligning decisions across society with public health
This article is part of a special series for European Public Health Week, highlighting how JA PreventNCD contributes to each of this year’s daily themes and supports stronger prevention across Europe. European Public Health Week is taking place this week, with this year’s overarching theme focusing on investing for sustainable health and well-being. The week opened with a daily theme that is highly relevant to JA PreventNCD: aligning all policies with public health. This theme is closely connected to one of the central ideas behind JA PreventNCD: preventing major chronic diseases requires action far beyond the healthcare system. Many of Europe’s greatest health challenges, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and mental health conditions, are often referred to as non-communicable diseases, or NCDs. Unlike infectious diseases, they are not passed directly from person to person, but they are strongly shaped by the environments people live in and the conditions that influence everyday choices. The food available to people, the way cities are planned, opportunities for physical activity, working conditions, education, housing, transport, environmental quality and social support all affect health and well-being. This idea is at the heart of Health in All Policies, which is an important part of JA PreventNCD’s work. Following the recent Wellbeing Economy Forum in Reykjavík, where participants explored how societies can redefine success around health, well-being and sustainability, the theme feels especially timely. To mark European Public Health Week, we spoke with Katri Sääksjärvi, from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), who leads the Health in All Policies work in JA PreventNCD, about why this approach matters and how it can support stronger prevention across Europe.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/health-in-all-policies-aligning-decisions-across-society-with-public-health/
29.04.2026
Health-Friendly Companies
This editorial is featured in the Healthy Living Environment Newsletter #2. You can subscribe here to stay updated. Cancer and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a significant part of the disease burden in Europe, much of which is preventable. The Joint Action to Prevent Non-communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD) is designed to address this challenge by supporting strategies and policies aimed at reducing the burden of cancer and NCDs, focusing on personal and social risk factors. The task for “Increasing availability of healthy products” mobilize actions on the determinants of health through the political commitment by intersectoral policies and the participation of the community at local level; promoting social cohesion to co-create actions for healthy living environments with equity perspective. The workplace, where people spend a large part of their time and their entire lives, is precisely the area where personal and environmental factors related to health habits either confront or positively combine. This clash of personal habits and health conditions in the work environment can have a synergistic effect on the individual in both a good and a bad direction. However, the fact is that it is easier to spoil the good habits of an individual if there are no supporting conditions, than to expect that all healthy habits will survive and that the individual will positively influence the problematic work environment and change it for the better. Therefore, the intervention of society (workplace, employer, local or national government) is indispensable for positive developments in preserving the health of the individual and society as a whole. The specific objectives we are focused on are: to implement workplace policies that will contribute to the workers opting for the healthier choice, reduce health inequalities, reduce the availability of alcohol and smoking and encourage physical activity and a socially acceptable work environment.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/editorials/health-friendly-companies/
30.03.2026
Second JA PreventNCD online meeting in Greece focuses on progress, prevention and health inequalities
On 18 and 20 March 2026, the second online meeting with the affiliated entities within the framework of JA PreventNCD took place in Greece to discuss progress to date. The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, public institutions working in the field of public health, and members of the scientific and academic community. The main topics of discussion were Greece’s participation in the Joint Action work packages, as well as recent developments in the field of prevention and in addressing social inequalities, both of which are closely linked to JA PreventNCD. Among the examples highlighted was the “Artemis” Programme, which aims to help adolescents develop healthy habits that will benefit them both now and in the future. The programme includes informative actions on healthy eating, the strengthening of daily physical activity, the prevention of smoking and vaping, and limiting alcohol consumption. It also involves the creation of relevant educational material with the participation of students. The meeting also highlighted the participation of many health structures in the pilot implementation for the creation of Health Structures and Communities Friendly to Infants and Breastfeeding. These structures provide information and continuous support to breastfeeding women and their families, while also offering prenatal and postnatal courses. They are interconnected with secondary and tertiary health structures and implement actions at community level. In addition, they adopt a Written Breastfeeding Policy, committing themselves to the implementation of good practices in support of the health of both mother and infant. This written policy is displayed in a visible place within the structures. A key priority linked to Greece’s participation in JA PreventNCD is the commitment to addressing health inequalities. For this reason, there is a strong focus on health literacy, with the aim of enabling every citizen not only to understand basic information about their health, but also to use this knowledge to improve it and develop essential skills. Alongside this, prevention programmes such as “PROLAMVANO”, initiatives against childhood obesity, and mental health programmes are being advanced to help ensure that no child and no family is left behind.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/second-ja-preventncd-online-meeting-in-greece-focuses-on-progress-prevention-and-health-inequalities/
18.03.2026
From Strategies to Action: A Future Without Non-Communicable Diseases - Slovenian National Stakeholder Forum
“It is important to understand all the parameters that influence the competitiveness of a society, which is not economic growth alone, but also the health and wellbeing of individuals.” This was a key message that emerged in the Slovenian national stakeholder forum. On 11 March 2026, the National Institute of Public Health organised the National Stakeholder Meeting of the JA PreventNCD, aimed at presenting the activities of the Joint Action from the Slovenian side and exchanging knowledge among key national stakeholders in the field of preventing non-communicable diseases. The event programme followed several thematic segments. In the introductory part, it included a keynote lecture on the use of quantitative models and artificial intelligence in evaluating public health policies, as well as presentations of the objectives and activities of the JA PreventNCD. The discussion highlighted the importance of high-quality, connected data systems, which are essential for informed decision-making. This was followed by presentations of individual thematic work packages of the Joint Action, with emerging key messages: Tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol: legislation works only if it is properly enforced. Public food procurement: a powerful tool for population change. Breastfeeding-friendly communities: there is still a spread of misinformation. Cancer monitoring: improved data integration enables better understanding of costs, disease pathways, and recurrence. Sleep as a public health issues highlights sleep as a key pillar of health. Healthy communities: local pilot initiatives such as healthy food in kindergarten, shows that change can start at the community level. Youth engagement: the Youth Advisory Group demonstrates that youth can be active contributors in the effort of reducing the burden of non-communicable disease. The event concluded with a presentation of work on the sustainability of the project, which places particular emphasis on the concept of the wellbeing economy – with the aim of creating measures that promote quality of life while not exceeding planetary capacities. During the event, participants acknowledged and encouraged the importance of work on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of healthy lifestyles through measures to reduce tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy food consumption, and by encouraging physical activity. Only with shared societal effort, there can be a real lever for change. The event successfully brought together key stakeholders of the Joint Action and highlighted the importance of coordinated measures for the prevention of non-communicable diseases at the European, national, and regional levels of Member States.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/from-strategies-to-action-a-future-without-non-communicable-diseases-slovenian-national-stakeholder-forum/
13.03.2026
Sleep as a Key Public Health Priority in the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases
Sleep is increasingly recognised as a fundamental pillar of health, on the same level with nutrition and physical activity. At the same time, sleep is closely intertwined with stress regulation and broader physiological recovery processes. Adequate and regular sleep supports metabolic, cardiovascular, cognitive, and mental health, while insufficient or disrupted sleep is associated with an increased risk of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). For this reason, sleep should not be treated as a secondary lifestyle factor but rather as a core component of prevention strategies aimed at reducing the burden of NCDs. Integrating sleep into public health agendas can therefore strengthen prevention policies and contribute to a more comprehensive approach to population health.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/blog/sleep-as-a-key-public-health-priority-in-the-prevention-of-non-communicable-diseases/