The first in-person meeting of the JA PreventNCD Executive Committee (ExCo) External Advisory Board (EEAB) meetings of 2025 were held on March 5-6, at the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) in Budapest, Hungary.
These meetings are milestones for the project, bringing together work package (WP) leaders, the EEAB members and the project’s coordinators of cross-cutting themes, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco to discuss progress, challenges and the way forward.
Day 1: Strategic Discussions and Project Outcomes
The meeting began with a warm welcome from Dr. Orsolya Surján, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NNGYK, alongside Dr. Krisztina Biró Ministry of Interior, Department for Health Policy and JA PreventNCD coordinators Prof. Knut-Inge Klepp and Dr. Linda Granlund.
The morning sessions focused on sustainability and best practices, with expert insights from the European Commission, WHO, and OECD on leveraging EU Best Practice Portals and WHO Best Buys for effective NCD prevention strategies. Presentations from Dr. Gauden Galea and Dr. Marion Devaux emphasized the importance of policy-driven, evidence-based approaches to public health challenges.
Throughout the day, discussions covered key project outcomes and expected 2025 outputs, with leaders working on regulation and taxation, health in all policies, identifying individuals at risk, social inequalities, healthy living environments monitoring. Additionally, the participants discussed sustainability and long-term strategies for maintaining project impact beyond the Joint Action’s duration.
Day 2: Evaluation, Communication, and Future Strategies
Day two focused on project evaluation, covering key outcomes, methodologies, and plans for selecting implementation case studies. Later in the morning, updates on communication strategies, stakeholder mapping, and private sector involvement were shared, followed by a surprise segment and a group photo.
The afternoon featured parallel meetings, with the ExCo addressing reporting, thematic coordination, and risk monitoring, while the EEAB held its own discussions. The meeting concluded with feedback from EEAB members, final reflections, and a discussion on the next steps for JA PreventNCD presented by the Chair of the Board Prof. Harry Rutter.
Looking Ahead
The Budapest ExCo and EEAB meetings reinforced the project’s commitment to advancing NCD prevention in Europe. With a strong foundation in place, discussions focused on how to move forward, improve strategies, and maximize impact. Work packages addressed previous feedback, fostering valuable reflections from the EEAB. Participants emphasized the importance of breaking silos, creating synergies, and aligning efforts across the initiative. As one of the largest EU4Health Joint Actions to date, JA PreventNCD aims to demonstrate meaningful impact by fostering collaboration, promoting high scientific quality, and ensuring coherence in objectives. The meeting served as a platform to evaluate progress, identify challenges, and explore solutions, laying the groundwork for the next phase of the project.