Joint actions : EU support for key public health initiatives 2008 - 2011

Joint actions are designed to encourage national authorities, academic and non-profit organisations to join forces with the European Commission to address major public health issues where the added value of EU-level involvement is high. Funding provided through these joint actions supports the goals of the health programme 2008-13 and directly contributes to the Europe 2020 strategy, by promoting European and national-level investments in the health sector in Europe. Since 2008, 20 joint actions have been funded under the health programme (for the period 2008-11). This has led to organisations joining together to develop the best solutions for common European public health problems, ready to be rolled out at national level. The European Commission's investment over this period has amounted to more than EUR 40 million, with a similar amount invested by participating organisations. This brochure provides a comprehensive description of the joint action funding mechanism and a brief description of each these 20 joint actions, their results and impact on national health policies. The success stories presented in this brochure convincingly illustrate the positive impact to the health of EU citizens attained by working together through joint actions. The European dimension clearly provides a boost to national, regional and local efforts in tackling specific health issues, and much more can be achieved if we continue to pool our knowledge and work together for the good health of all Europeans.