Health equity, wellbeing and a resilient future: setting priorities – EuroHealthNet Annual Report 2023/2024
Building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities.
EuroHealthNet is the Partnership of public health agencies and organisations building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities. Our focus is on promoting good health and preventing disease for everyone.
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 and environmental determinants across the life course, whilst contributing to the sustainability and wellbeing of people and the planet.
This executive summary of our annual report describes our activities between June 2023 and May 2024.
Health equity, wellbeing and a resilient future – setting priorities
The best way to navigate times of uncertainty is to be guided by a clear sense of purpose, values and direction. Over the past 12 months, EuroHealthNet has defined and communicated its priorities in this European election year, allowing us to re-establish our bearings.
Our aim to improve health equity can only be achieved if we align the work of different sectors, across levels of governance, to make delivering wellbeing a common objective. We have therefore embraced the ‘Wellbeing Economy’ as our guiding principle, advocating for its integration into key EU policies. As this annual report demonstrates, the scope of our work, as we strive for a Wellbeing Economy, is broader than ever.
The highlights
EuroHealthNet Annual Seminar 2023
EuroHealthNet's hybrid Annual Seminar 2023, ‘Making Progress on Health Equity’, was hosted by our member the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The event gathered over 300 experts and policymakers to delve into target setting and policymaking regarding action to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and address health determinants. Discussions also explored how health policymakers and the broader health community can play a more prominent role in driving the climate agenda.
General Council meeting 2023
EuroHealthNet’s 2023 General Council meeting convened 53 participants from 33 members and associate members to debate developments in public health, decide on the course of the Partnership for the coming 12 months, and make progress on the Strategic Development Plan 2021-2026. The General Council meeting also kicked off EuroHealthNet’s Foresight exercise on the future public health landscape.
A new President and Treasurer
In January 2024, members elected Suzanne Costello, CEO of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, to become the new President of EuroHealthNet. Lorna Renwick from Public Health Scotland was elected Treasurer. The new leadership will guide the Partnership in its mission to achieve health equity and prevention-oriented health and social systems.
Foresight report: The future of public health in Europe by 2035
The EuroHealthNet Partnership has conducted a Foresight exercise involving 35 experts. The report investigates the role of public health by 2035 in achieving health equity through health promotion and prevention in the context of the digital and green transition.
Strategising the Partnership's work
At our annual Policy and Strategy Meeting, members convened to champion health equity as a cornerstone of EU decision-making, especially as we approach the 2024 European elections and strive to meet the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting served as a platform to shape EuroHealthNet’s priorities for the 2024-2029 EU policy landscape.
Thematic Working Groups (TWIGs)
TWIGs provide a space for EuroHealthNet members to collaborate on strategies and build skills.
- The new ‘Mental Health’ TWIG fostered international collaboration on mental health, focusing on social determinants.
- The ‘Social Marketing to Address Addictions’ TWIG played a pivotal role in the EuroHealthNet Country Exchange Visit on strategies to address alcohol-related health inequalities.
- Members of the ‘Healthy Living Environments’ TWIG lead a work package in the new Joint Action PreventNCD. The TWIG also published academic articles.
- The ‘Best Practice Portals’ TWIG delivered two workshops at the 2023 European Public Health Conference.
Our 2023/2024 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
The Policy Platform provides policy monitoring and analysis for the EuroHealthNet Partnership and encourages Member States, WHO/Europe and EU initiatives to contribute to health equity.
This included:
Providing expert analysis and insights into EU decision-making processes, including those related to health, research, social programs, the European Semester, the European Pillar of Social Rights, and other key policies impacting wellbeing. We analysed policies in areas like mental health, long-term care, health and education, digital health, working conditions, environment and cancer prevention.
Engaging with WHO/Europe and EU policymakers to prioritise, exchange and shape agendas. We actively engaged in 14 EU and 2 WHO consultations on topics such as the digital transition, fiscal policies, mental health, vaccination, EU funds, tobacco, primary healthcare and more. We continue our work with WHO/ Europe under our Memorandum of Understanding.
Delivering intelligence and assistance to members, strengthening their capacities to engage with European policies and instruments. Recent members-only briefings covered the public health aspects of the Spanish and Belgian EU presidencies, EU action on mental health, and the European Health Data Space.
Engaging with stakeholders to disseminate evidence and contribute to pivotal initiatives. Meetings facilitated in-depth discussions on critical topics, a socially-just green and digital transition, and prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Practice
The Practice Platform helps to implement effective strategies, programmes, and initiatives to promote health and reduce inequalities.
This includes:
Strengthening public health organisations' competencies through capacity-building and informational sessions. A members-only Country Exchange Visit focused on addressing the determinants of alcohol consumption through policy and practice. We also facilitated access to EU funding and technical support, connected professionals with funding experts, and offered expertise on diversity and inclusion strategies.
Collaborating with partners across social, digital, educational and environmental sectors to forge connections and leverage past experiences, aiming to foster cross-sectoral synergies and support initiatives for societal wellbeing.
Expanding knowledge and skills for action on health equity through EU projects, advancing vaccine equity mental health, physical activity, digital inclusion, and innovative finance models for health promotion and disease prevention.
Paving the way towards health-promoting schools through our EU4Health-funded project, Schools4Health.
Developing our Partnership while actively engaging with existing and potential members, and establishing connections within wider European networks
Research
The Research Platform provides the evidence base to develop policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing.
This includes:
Informing about funding opportunities and helping form research consortia, organising events such as Horizon Europe matchmaking days, and gathering members’ feedback for presentation to EU officials.
Raising awareness of the interplay between climate, justice, and health, for example through the WHO 7th Ministerial Conference on health and the environment or EuroHealthNet’s Plenary sessions at the 2023 European Public Health Conference.
Generating evidence and tools to mitigate the health impact of climate change through Horizon Europe projects focused on sustainable lifestyles, costs of pollution, climate risks, nature-based solutions, and sustainable food systems.
Disseminating research on health inequalities, notably as a partner of the Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN).
Contributing to improving food systems and preventing chronic diseases by leading projects which encourage systemic approaches to policy development and stakeholder engagement to promote healthier and more sustainable diets across Europe.
Activities to reach out and connect
EuroHealthNet's communications team amplifies the Partnership’s messages 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.
Disseminating reliable, evidence-based and timely information via our Health Inequalities Portal (health-inequalities.eu), press releases, and Health Highlights newsletter, while prioritising accessibility.
Establishing strong media relations by collaborating closely with EU media bodies and other communication outlets.
Showcasing stories behind developments in health equity and promotion through EuroHealthNet Magazine.
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