2nd EU-CNCD Prevention meeting held in Katowice
The second meeting of the European consortium on cancer and other Non-communicable diseases prevention (EU-CNCD Prevention) took place in Katowice, Poland, on 17–18 June 2025, marking a milestone for the Joint Action Prevent non-communicable diseases and its long-term sustainability efforts.
The meeting was organised by the JA PreventNCD Sustainability Team (WP4)—led by the National Institute of Public Health Slovenia in collaboration with the Medical University of Silesia—and convened over 100 participants, including representatives from national health authorities, youth delegates, and public health experts from across Europe. The event was hosted at the Katowice International Conference Centre, under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
This in-person gathering built on the success of the inaugural Consortium meeting in Brussels (September 2024, then under the name EU-CCP), deepening the discussion on the structure, scope, and vision of a new EU-level body dedicated to NCD prevention. The proposed EU-CNCD Prevention Consortium is intended to continue and scale up efforts beyond the lifetime of JA PreventNCD, which concludes in December 2027.
A Ceremonial Opening under the Polish EU Presidency
The meeting opened with a Ceremonial Plenary, highlighting the alignment between JA PreventNCD’s ambitions and the public health priorities of the Polish EU Presidency. Welcome remarks were delivered by:
- Tomasz Szczepański, Rector of the Medical University of Silesia (Poland)
- Knut-Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator of JA PreventNCD (Norway)
- Urszula Demkow, Deputy Minister of Health (Poland)
- Waldemar Bojarun, Deputy Mayor of Katowice
The plenary session, moderated by Professor Harry Rutter and Alina Garofil, member of the JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group (YAG), explored the evolving landscape of non-communicable diseases in Europe. Speakers—including experts from ISGlobal, University of Alicante, and WHO Europe—highlighted both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities for integrated, equitable, and sustainable prevention strategies.
Co-Creating a Sustainable European Consortium
The second day focused on shaping the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EU-CNCD Prevention Consortium. Under the moderation of Dr. Mojca Gabrijelčič, WP4 Lead, and Sofia Bergqvist, YAG member, participants explored:
- What actions are needed to reduce the NCD burden in EU Member States
- How these actions can be implemented effectively at national and EU levels
- The role of the EU-CNCD Consortium in supporting coordinated, long-term efforts
Presentations from work package leaders showcased key JA PreventNCD results in areas such as marketing regulations, sustainable health systems, and wellbeing indicators. These insights fed into a series of interactive breakout sessions, where participants provided input on the draft ToR and reflected on how to embed wellbeing, equity, and youth engagement at the heart of the new body’s mandate.
A Vision Rooted in Wellbeing and Impact
In her closing remarks, Dr. Mojca Gabrijelčič emphasized the broader significance of this work:
“The European Commission has asked for the creation of this consortium – and that is the most powerful way of making our efforts sustainable. We are here to define how this body can work, why it is needed, and what actions will truly make a difference in NCD prevention in Europe.
If we succeed in aligning our recommendations with the principles of a wellbeing economy, we can ease the unsustainable pressure on the private sector to prioritize profit at any cost. A competitive Europe without healthy populations is simply not possible. That’s why we must increase awareness—and secure long-term funding—to reduce the burden of NCDs in every Member State.”
Next Steps
The feedback gathered in Katowice will inform the next iteration of the EU-CNCD Prevention Terms of Reference, which will serve as the foundation for establishing a permanent, multi-sectoral consortium dedicated to advancing NCD prevention efforts across Europe. The emphasis on youth involvement, digital contexts, and intersectoral cooperation ensures that this initiative remains future-focused and inclusive.
As Europe continues to face the heavy burden of cancer and other NCDs, the momentum generated by the JA PreventNCD project and its sustainability work—embodied in the EU-CNCD Prevention initiative—signals a promising shift towards systemic, coordinated, and resilient prevention.
The next meeting of the Consortium is foreseen to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in September 2026.