EUPHA Connect - May 2025

EUPHW 2025: A growing movement for public health across Europe

Each year, the European Public Health Week (EUPHW) grows in strength, reach and impact—and 2025 was no exception. With 298 events held across 21 countries and in 14 languages, this year’s EUPHW brought communities, professionals and institutions together to shine a light on public health. From grassroots initiatives to academic roundtables, the week showcased the extraordinary diversity and energy of Europe’s public health ecosystem.

We launched EUPHW 2025 in the European Parliament with a powerful and urgent message: health is a strategic asset. The event brought together high-level voices from across Europe, including Dr. Raed Arafat, Secretary of State of Romania and Chair of NATO's Joint Health Group, who reminded us that “in crisis, we will be judged not only by how we fight, but by how we care.” Discussions focused on how resilient health systems are essential to Europe’s security, how innovation – from Ukraine’s mobile clinics to AI surveillance – must be inclusive and community-led, and why EU4Health and Horizon Europe are long-term investments in our collective defense. We’re grateful to our distinguished speakers, citizen representatives from Romania and Ukraine, and to MEPs Nicu Ștefănuță and Victor Negrescu for hosting us and keeping health high on Europe’s agenda.

Another standout moment of the week was our in-person hackathon in Brussels, where brilliant minds came together to make 3D-printed Braille more accessible, affordable and open-source. In just two days, three Braille embossers were built and validated on-site. Each machine was tested and approved by a volunteer from Ligue Braille with a visual impairment – proof of the project's immediate impact. The finished embossers were donated to Ligue Braille, showing how innovation and solidarity can go hand in hand to reduce health and access inequalities.

Whether in person (183 events), online (103) or hybrid (12), each of the 298 events held during EUPHW 2025 helped reinforce a core truth: public health is not a side conversation – it is central to Europe’s future. The energy, innovation and solidarity we saw throughout the week are the foundation of a growing movement. EUPHW is not just a moment; it’s a movement – a collective force for change. Let’s keep building on it, together.

Tit Albreht , EUPHA President

Charlotte Marchandise , Executive Director

Upcoming EUPHA Section webinars

Before we pause our Section webinar series for the summer, join us for our last session in June. Our Sections have been active throughout the year, bringing together experts across Europe and beyond to discuss pressing public health challenges. Do not miss this opportunity to stay informed and connect with the latest research and policy developments.

• The Italian Fund for Alzheimers and Dementia: the public health response to dementia in Italy: 26 June, 16:00–17:00 CEST

Domitilla Marconi from the University of Siena, Italy, will present the national strategy behind the Italian Fund for Alzheimer’s and Dementia and its role in strengthening Italy’s public health response to dementia. Register for the webinar.

Have you missed a previous webinar? Browse past EUPHA Section webinars (login required).

Health literacy: A cornerstone of Europe’s Democracy Shield

EUPHA, together with our Health Literacy Section, has submitted a contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the European Democracy Shield. Our central message is clear: empowering people to access, understand, and act on health information is essential not only for public well-being — but for the health of our democracies.

To reflect this message, we highlighted the historic KU Leuven Library — burned in both World Wars and rebuilt each time through global solidarity. It stands as a powerful symbol: knowledge can be threatened, but it must never be surrendered. Today, as Europe faces rising waves of disinformation and hybrid threats, we must once again defend evidence — and with it, democracy.

Key messages from our position paper:

• Recognize health literacy as a pillar of democratic resilience
• Embed it in national civic education and EU democracy strategies
• Support community-based health communication and digital inclusion
• Create a rapid response mechanism for health misinformation
• Leverage AI and data to detect and counter hybrid threats
• Establish an EU-wide Health Literacy Scoreboard to track progress

Read EUPHA’s full contribution to the European Democracy Shield.

Declaration on Health Inequalities, Prevention and Risk Factors launched at European Parliament

On 22 May, the MEP Interest Group on Health Inequalities, Prevention and Risk Factors officially launched its new Declaration at a reception in the European Parliament.

During the reception, co-chairs Vytenis Andriukaitis, Manuela Ripa, and Ondrej Dostal shared personal perspectives on what must be done to strengthen health promotion across Europe. They underscored the importance of prevention as a life-saving, cost-effective approach that complements — rather than compromises — personal freedom. Civil society’s vital role in connecting people and policy was also a recurring theme.

Dr. Gauden Galea, Strategic Advisor on NCDs and Innovation at the World Health Organization, delivered a compelling video message. He pointed out that ten countries in the WHO European Region are currently on course to meet their non-communicable disease (NCD) targets — encouraging news ahead of this September’s High-Level Meeting on NCDs in New York. His message was clear: Europe must act decisively and lead by example.

As NCDs continue to account for 80% of deaths in the EU, and absorb up to 10% of GDP in healthcare costs, the need to prioritize prevention, tackle health inequalities, and address risk factors is more urgent than ever. The Declaration calls for these areas to receive greater political attention and adequate investment at both EU and national levels.

The Interest Group is supported by a joint secretariat from European Alcohol Policy Alliance - Eurocare , EuroHealthNet , and EUPHA - European Public Health Association .

Thank you for making EUPHW 2025 a success

To everyone who helped bring European Public Health Week 2025 to life - thank you.

From the local organizers and event hosts to our incredible speakers, partners and attendees, your energy, ideas and dedication made this year’s EUPHW our most impactful yet. Whether you led a session, shared your story, asked a question, or simply showed up - you were part of something bigger.

Together, we held 298 events in 14 languages, online and in person, showing what’s possible when we unite around a common goal: better public health for all.

EUPHW webinar recordings now available

Each morning during European Public Health Week 2025, we kicked off the day with a live webinar exploring the daily theme. These sessions brought together expert speakers, inspiring stories, and practical examples from across Europe—setting the tone for the day and sparking important conversations.

From strengthening health systems to addressing the commercial determinants of health, each webinar offered a fresh perspective on today’s most pressing public health challenges. If you missed them or want to revisit the highlights, all four recordings are now available to watch at your convenience.

Watch the recordings:

• Monday kick-off webinar: Optimising mental health of the health and care workforce
• Tuesday kick-off webinar: One Health in the Global Health agenda: Towards a healthier and more sustainable future for all
• Wednesday kick-off webinar: Healthy Ageing vs multimorbidities in a digital world
• Thursday kick-off webinar: Health equity and social determinants of health

Whether you're looking for insights, ideas or inspiration, these webinars are a great place to start. Thank you to all our speakers and attendees for making each morning count!