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29.09.2025
Alcohol as a cross-cutting theme in preventing NCDs in Europe
The European Union is the heaviest drinking area in the world. Alcohol has been ingrained in European societies for generations, and is still an important part of traditions, celebrations, and social rituals1. Unfortunately, the health impacts and risks associated with and caused by alcohol consumption, are eventually well documented. In the WHO European Region, one in every 11 deaths is due to alcohol consumption. Alcohol can cause over 200 diseases, including seven types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, liver diseases and several infectious diseases2. Cancer is the leading cause of deaths due to alcohol in the EU, and there is no "safe level of consumption". Even moderate use of alcohol increases the long-term risk of diseases and harm3. Alcohol harms individuals, families, and communities, including those who are affected by other people's drinking, particularly children. The burden of diseases is also unequally distributed across socioeconomic groups. Individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) experience disproportionately greater alcohol-attributable health harm than individuals with high SES from similar or lower consumption4. As alcohol is integrated in culture and social life, effective prevention strategies need to be implemented across sectors, at all levels, and adopt a life-course approach. This requires multiple stakeholders and actors engaging in coordinated and joint action considering alcohol as a cross-cutting issue.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/cross-cutting-themes/alcohol-as-a-cross-cutting-theme-in-preventing-ncds-in-europe/
15.09.2025
Statement from JA PreventNCD on the Call for Evidence to the EU cardiovascular health plan
This statement and recommendations from the The Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD) respond to the Call for Evidence−Ares(2025)6517618 for the Initiative EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (CVH Plan). JA PreventNCD is funded under the EU4Health programme and brings together 25 European countries with the common goal of reducing the burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), focusing on both personal and societal risk factors. The project addresses health determinants through approaches ranging from policy interventions requiring cross-country and intersectoral collaboration to be effective, through national and local interventions promoting healthy living environments, to preventive care and risk detection, including personalized prevention. Reducing gender-related, socio-economic and geographical inequalities in health is a key priority. All measures aim to protect health equity of European citizens. Furthermore, to strengthen Member States’ abilities to respond to public health challenges, it is essential to have improved data and comprehensive monitoring systems, which include monitoring health inequalities such as those found in the European Cancer Inequalities Registry. To ensure population-level impact, JA PreventNCD was designed to address structural drivers at the population level in addition to targeting high-risk individuals. While interventions across the prevention spectrum are needed, interventions targeting individuals at risk tend to require more personal buy-in, with demands on cognitive and social resources. They therefore run the risk of widening inequalities. To improve health at a population level, it is vital that activities reduce, and with certainty do not increase, health inequalities. A health equity tool is therefore applied across interventions in JA PreventNCD to support the planning, implementation and evaluation of the project’s activities. JA PreventNCD is a unique EU investment in health promotion, NCD prevention and better equity outcomes across Europe, generating deliverables directly relevant for the CVD Plan: monitoring tools, tested best practices, policy recommendations and governance mechanisms. JA PreventNCD recommends that the interventions and initiatives below be included in the EU CVH Plan. These will contribute to lifelong prevention of CVDs and, in many cases, they will also reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity. The activities are evidence-based and supported by the Member States in the Consortium. This statement and recommendations build on inputs received from all work packages in JA PreventNCD. The recommended interventions are structured under three main areas: Early years health promotion and CVD prevention Reaching all by implementing population-level interventions Reaching individuals at risk and supporting personalized prevention
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/policy-statements-recommendations/statement-from-ja-preventncd-on-the-call-for-evidence-to-the-eu-cardiovascular-health-plan/
02.09.2025
JA PreventNCD to Host Pre-Conference Session at the European Public Health Conference 2025
A PreventNCD is pleased to announce its active contribution to the upcoming European Public Health Conference 2025 in Helsinki. On 11 November, 13:30–17:00, the project will host a dedicated pre-conference session titled: Policies supporting NCD prevention at regional, national and local levels – effective, aligned and equitable? This session will bring together experts, policymakers, and public health professionals to explore how stronger, better-aligned policies can support the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Europe. Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions, remain the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The session will highlight how evidence-based policies can make a tangible impact in reducing these burdens, with a special focus on tobacco control, sustainable and healthy diets, health taxation measures, and equity in health outcomes. By addressing both challenges and promising practices, the discussion will provide valuable insights into how regional, national, and local policies can work together to build healthier and fairer societies. Read the full pre-conference programme More information about registration We look forward to welcoming participants in Helsinki for this important exchange of knowledge and perspectives.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/events/ja-preventncd-to-host-pre-conference-session-at-the-european-public-health-conference-2025/
01.07.2025
From evidence to impact: a united call for equity-driven and sustainable action on NCDs
JACARDI, JA PreventNCD, WHO Europe, OECD and the European Commission’s DG SANTE have published a joint Comment in The Lancet Regional Health, based on the findings of the newly published report ‘Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling NCDs: leveraging data for impact’, by WHO Europe. The Comment underscores the critical role of cross-national collaboration in translating WHO findings into actionable policies, with a focus on equity, data-driven solutions, and integrated care pathways. These organizations call for an accelerated, harmonised and equity-driven European agenda on non-communicable diseases.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/press-releases/from-evidence-to-impact-a-united-call-for-equity-driven-and-sustainable-action-on-ncds/
24.06.2025
Highlights from the JA PreventNCD annual meeting in Katowice, Poland
The JA PreventNCD project is gaining momentum across Europe, with several concrete outputs already taking shape. The project annual meeting took place on June 16-17 in Katowice, Poland. While priorities are shifting in today’s complex landscape, the prevention of noncommunicable diseases remains a top priority. Tackling persistent health inequalities and addressing social and commercial determinants of health in a structural way were highlighted as urgent tasks. Partners also emphasised the need to institutionalise stakeholder, youth, and population engagement, alongside strengthening monitoring systems as a basis for prioritising action. Evaluation and sustainability work is advancing steadily, ensuring the long-term impact of this collaborative effort.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/highlights-from-the-ja-preventncd-annual-meeting-in-katowice-poland/
08.05.2025
The CEIP-Framework – From Reaction to Prevention in Health in All and for Policies
This commentary highlights the critical role of Health in All Policies (HiAP), which is key to the complementary Health for All Policies strategy to enable positive outcomes across sectors and allow a broader policy integration. It discusses the impact of political determinants on the main public health risk factors related to tobacco, sugar, gambling and alcohol addressing the barriers hindering the implementation of HiAP in the example of Portugal. It highlights the need to funnel political determinants through a health equity framework to address inequalities. Inspired by the Portuguese experience, a CEIP-Framework is proposed to emphasize the need to strengthen HiAP, when a national agenda is absent. The CEIP-Framework considers comprehensive health legislation (C), enhanced reinforcement and monitoring (E), increased cross-sector collaboration (I), and public health investment (P) from Reaction to Prevention. In this commentary, the importance of strengthening HiAP by addressing four key public health challenges is discussed, by debating the impact of political determinants on health outcomes and proposing the CEIP-framework for fostering effective cross-sector collaboration in Portugal. Furthermore, this commentary gives insights related to barriers such as industry lobbying and cultural acceptance that hamper the effectiveness of health regulations targeting the key risk factors: tobacco, sugar, gambling, and alcohol and to propose a comprehensive framework for strengthening HiAP, emphasising the need for comprehensive health legislation, enhanced monitoring, increased cross-sector collaboration, and public health investment This work has been developed under the scope of WP9 Health in All Policies of the JA Prevent NCD which aims to strengthen the implementation of HiAP across various sectors and governance levels, focusing particularly on key risk factors and determinants to prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Access the full commentary in The Public Health Reviews:Public Health Rev, 21 March 2025, Volume 46 - 2025 | DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2025.1608225
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/the-ceip-framework-from-reaction-to-prevention-in-health-in-all-and-for-policies/
07.05.2025
JA PreventNCD Participates in OECD Policy Dialogue on Cardiovascular Disease in the EU
On 5 May 2025, JA PreventNCD participated in the OECD Policy Dialogue on the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in the EU, held in Paris, France. The event was part of an ongoing effort to strengthen European and broader international approaches to preventing and managing CVD. Hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the meeting brought together a broad group of stakeholders, including representatives from governments across the EU and other OECD countries, as well as civil society organisations and intergovernmental bodies. The aim of the dialogue was to inform a forthcoming OECD report exploring how countries are addressing the burden of CVD — Europe’s leading cause of death — and what more can be done to improve both population-level and individual health outcomes. To ensure that stakeholder priorities are reflected in the report, several organisations and projects were invited to contribute, including JA PreventNCD and JACARDI. Both initiatives were asked to share their perspectives and priorities related to reducing the burden of CVD and improving health outcomes across Europe. As a joint action co-funded by the European Union with over 100 partner organisations in 25 countries, JA PreventNCD was pleased to provide insights on the prevention of CVD as part of its broader mission to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Linda Granlund, Project Coordinator of JA PreventNCD and Director of Public Health at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, presented the project’s current work and strategic approach. She underscored the importance of addressing shared risk factors, such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, which contribute to both cardiovascular diseases and other NCDs. She also highlighted the critical role of policy-based and population-level approaches in reducing risk and improving health equity. JA PreventNCD welcomes the OECD’s focus on this topic and will continue to follow the development of the report, contributing relevant experiences and insights from our ongoing work whenever invited.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/ja-preventncd-participates-in-oecd-policy-dialogue-on-cardiovascular-disease-in-the-eu/