Turbulent seas, widening gaps: working for healthier, fairer societies – EuroHealthNet Annual Report 2025/2026
Building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities.
EuroHealthNet is the partnership of organisations, institutes, and authorities working on public health, disease prevention, promoting health and wellbeing, as well as reducing inequalities. We aim to tackle health inequalities within and between European states through action on the social determinants of health.
Structuring our work over a Policy, Practice, and Research platform, we focus on exploring and strengthening the links between these areas.
EuroHealthNet takes a broad, integrated approach to health and health equity, working on social, economic, environmental, and commercial determinants across the life course, whilst contributing to the sustainability and wellbeing of people and the planet.
This annual report describes our activities between June 2025 and May 2026.
Turbulent seas, widening gaps: working for healthier, fairer societies
People facing disadvantage consistently experience poorer health. These inequalities not only affect the individual. They present a huge loss of potential. Poor health and chronic disease are a liability to the economy, and inaction is not an option. EuroHealthNet continues to demonstrate the need for upstream, systemic approaches — creating environments that enable healthy living and addressing the commercial drivers behind health-harmful products.
This annual report highlights how EuroHealthNet leverages the latest evidence and expertise within its membership to raise awareness and drive an evidence-based call to action for policies and practices centred on fairness, stability, health, and wellbeing for all.
The EuroHealthNet Annual Seminar 2025
The EuroHealthNet 2025 Seminar on ‘Climate change and health’ was hosted by the Permanent Representation of Spain in the EU, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Health. It explored how the health argument can spur climate action and featured speakers from EU institutions, WHO, The Lancet, Members of the European Parliament, and national experts.
The discussions resulted in a call for an EU Strategy on Climate and Health to coordinate adaptation and mitigation measures, promote climate justice, and protect the most vulnerable. The statement contributed to a call by seven EU countries, which asked the European Commission to propose such a strategy.
Strategising the Partnership’s work
70 delegates from the Partnership convened in Brussels in June 2025 for the two-day General Council meeting. They debated developments in public health, discussed EuroHealthNet’s activities, and co-created a first draft of EuroHealthNet’s next Strategic Development Plan 2026-2031. Participants also discussed how to implement its new Ethical Framework, including through a new Ethics Advisory Panel.
Discussions were taken further in March 2026, as the Partnership gathered for the Policy and Strategy meeting to discuss, amongst others, the EU Safe Hearts Plan and the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. Participants exchanged views with representatives from WHO/Europe and the European Commission. Breakout groups discussed how best to address shared challenges, including competing political priorities and addressing commercial determinants such as tobacco and nutrition.
Report on social inequalities in health in the EU
EuroHealthNet, working with the Centre for Health Equity Analytics (CHAIN), analysed data from the European Social Survey to identify trends in health inequalities over the last decade. The findings were presented in EuroHealthNet’s flagship report, ‘Social inequalities in health in the EU’, and showed stalled progress on health equity. One third of EU citizens report having poor health, and people from lower socioeconomic groups are twice as likely to do so.
The report was launched with a two-part event at the European Parliament and an online webinar that delved into the situation in four countries. It was presented at various national events, including one organised by the Slovenian Minister of Health.
Thematic Working Groups
Thematic Working Groups (TWIGs) provide a space for EuroHealthNet members to share expertise and build skills. The most important updates include:
The start of the new ‘Commercial determinants of health’ TWIG and the ‘Social participation’ TWIG.
The 'Best Practice Portals’ TWIG organised sessions at the European Public Health Conference, and worked closely with the Joint Action PreventNCD.
The ‘Mental Health’ TWIG published a statement on policy priorities for digitalisation and youth mental health, calling on decision-makers to go beyond phone bans and take a comprehensive approach to safe digital environments.
Our 2025/2026 achievements
EuroHealthNet activities take place across three platforms covering policy, practice, and research.
In addition, a core team unifies and builds connections between the platforms, including communications activities to share and support the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Policy
EuroHealthNet's Policy Platform monitors regional, national, and European policies by looking at a broad spectrum of social, environmental, and commercial factors that affect people’s wellbeing.
This included:
Providing expert insights into the European Semester process, the framework for coordinating EU economic and social policy.
As political priorities have shifted, our 2025 analysis explored how these shifts have affected the balance among economic, social, and health objectives.
Offering concrete recommendations for policymakers at the EU, national, and local levels through resources on the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU long-term budget, physical activity, child wellbeing, cardiovascular health, poverty, and ageing.
Engaging with EU institutions and policymakers, based on the collective expertise, latest evidence, and best practices from our Partnership.
Collaborating with WHO/Europe on a wide range of areas, including the wellbeing of children, healthy ageing, and the wellbeing economy.
Practice
The Practice Platform helps to implement effective strategies, programmes, and initiatives to promote health and reduce inequalities.
This includes:
Creating opportunities for members to exchange and expand their expertise. Our Country Exchange Visits in Slovenia, Greece and Italy focused on (1) promoting social participation, (2) improving health for the most vulnerable, and (3) supporting healthy and active ageing.
Paving the way for health-promoting schools through Schools4Health. This initiative reached over 1,700 students and 130 teachers across primary, secondary, and vocational schools in six European countries.
Contributing to resilient and mentally healthy societies through REMESOS. This EuroHealthNet-led initiative seeks to identify a method for measuring and monitoring population mental health.
Collaborating with partners across sectors on topics such as vaccine equity, innovative financing models for health, social prescribing, and physical activity.
Further developing our Partnership, leading our membership to grow to 86 organisations and strengthening our reputation as a leader in Europe on health promotion and health equity.
Research
The Research Platform provides the evidence base to develop policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing.
This includes:
Mapping social inequalities in health in Europe, working with the Centre for Health Equity Analytics (CHAIN). Our flagship report identifies trends over the last decade, challenges, and policy responses.
Providing members with a space to learn about funding and form consortia, including through an information and matchmaking webinar and a meeting of associate members of the Research Platform.
Generating the evidence and tools needed to mitigate the health impact of climate change through Horizon Europe research focused on air and noise pollution, coastal waters, and nature-based solutions
Contributing to a healthy and
sustainable food system through
the FEAST initiative.
Exploring political and commercial determinants of health and how they can be tackled through policy and governance at our 2025 European Public Health Conference plenary in Finland
Activities to reach out and connect
EuroHealthNet's communications team amplifies the Partnership’s expertise and disseminates the latest information on public health, social equity and determinants of health.
This includes:
Connecting experts and fostering exchange through members-only initiatives, such as EuroHealthNet’s Communications Network and the Network Intelligence newsletter.
Showcasing stories behind developments in health promotion through EuroHealthNet Magazine, with an annual circulation of 50,000 readers.
Disseminating reliable, evidence-based and timely information via our Health Inequalities Portal, press releases, and Health Highlights newsletter.
Capturing good practices on mitigating the links between climate, the built environment, and health in a four-part video series.
Establishing strong media relations by collaborating closely with EU, national, and regional media.
