Region of Southern Denmark hosted the international policy event Health in Europe: Joint Actions, Joint Future in October 2025 during the Danish EU Presidency. The event brought together leading European stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and representatives from major EU Joint Actions under the EU4Health programme to strengthen strategic cooperation, create synergies, and promote knowledge sharing across borders. EUcanScreen was represented alongside several large-scale European Joint Actions focusing on cancer, non-communicable diseases, mental health, dementia, and the European Health Data Space.

The full-day event focused on how European collaboration can contribute to more sustainable and effective health systems capable of addressing some of the most pressing public health challenges facing Europe today. Discussions highlighted the importance of long-term cooperation, evidence-based policymaking, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sectoral partnerships to strengthen prevention, reduce inequalities in health, and improve access to high-quality healthcare services across Member States.

Throughout the programme, participating Joint Actions presented their latest insights, achievements, and sustainability strategies within areas such as cancer prevention and care, mental health, dementia, health data infrastructure, and non-communicable diseases. Several speakers emphasized that no single country can solve these challenges alone and that stronger European collaboration is essential to ensure resilient and future-proof healthcare systems.

A central theme of the conference was sustainability and how the outcomes from Joint Actions can continue to create value beyond the project period. Discussions addressed mechanisms for successful implementation, policy integration, accountability, knowledge translation, and the importance of embedding project results into national healthcare structures and decision-making processes.

The event also underlined the growing importance of collaboration between European institutions, healthcare providers, patient organisations, researchers, and policymakers to ensure that innovations and best practices are translated into real-world impact. Particular attention was given to reducing social inequalities in health, improving prevention strategies, supporting mental health initiatives, advancing cancer care networks, and strengthening the implementation of the European Health Data Space.

By bringing together experts and decision-makers from across Europe, Health in Europe: Joint Actions, Joint Future created an important platform for dialogue, mutual learning, and future collaboration. The event contributed to strengthening the foundation for sustainable European health initiatives and reinforced the shared ambition of improving public health outcomes and healthcare resilience across Europe.

Authors

Camilla Stryhn, Søren Lange Nielsen