Europe have experienced several terror attacks in recent years. Health preparedness and cross sectoral response also involves planning for terror attacks including biological or chemical agents. To be better prepared to handle these types of terror attacks EU have set up a call, as part of the Third Health Programme 2014-2020, to develop a proposal for Joint Action to Strengthen Health Preparedness and Response to Biological and Chemical Terror Attacks. This acronym for the Joint Action is JA BICTRA.

The JA BICTRA is under development, and the main objectives are to (1) to address gaps in health preparedness and (2) the urgent need to strengthen cross-sectoral work with the security, civil protection and health sectors.
The coordinator, has in the development of the proposal, focused on attracting relevant technical expertise from health, law enforcement and civil defense sectors to support delivery on the main objectives.
The work of the Joint Action will be done in eight work packages. Four of which are core work packages: coordination, dissemination, evaluation and integration & sustainability. And four technical work packages that will be addressing the following areas: preparedness and response planning, cross sectorial collaboration, risk and crisis communication and novel threats.
The proposal is supported by 18 applicants, and at the time of submission it includes 34 affiliated entities. If successful, the project will have a running time of 36 months.

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The Joint Action Towards the European Health Data Space (TEHDAS) is a consortium of 26 EU MS and other countries that work to improve cross-border use of health data for the benefit of citizens’ health, for public health, research and innovation.TEHDAS builds on earlier EU actions fostering the digital transformation of European health systems. It contributes to responding to the Member States’ call at the October 2020 European Council to set up a European Health Data Space and proposed by the von der Leyen Commission.The Joint Action helps Members States and the Commission in developing and promoting concepts for sharing of data so that in the future Europe, citizens, communities and companies benefit from a protected and seamless access to health data regardless where it is stored.TEHDAS will suggest options for an operational framework and governance in order to overcome legal and technical differences between countries. TEHDAS is grounded on the principles of transparency, trust and citizen empowerment. It will work on technical and semantic challenges, propose services, architectural and infrastructural elements required in the European Health Data Space.Citizens increasingly manage their data which requires a better understanding and a European perspective. To maintain trust in fair and secure data sharing, TEHDAS will suggest strengthened governance mechanisms for cross-sector use of health data in common data spaces at the EU and Member State levels.TEHDAS will reach out and engage with many types of stakeholders to reflect their needs and expectations, explore views on economic issues, and suggest concrete ways to integrate results into the future the European Health Data Space.
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Topic: • Addressing differences in national General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implementation in the health sector, including the European Health Data Space and the health data use
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InfAct (Information for Action) is a JA on health information (HI). HI is essential to build up country specific and cross-country knowledge. HI is the basis to inform national health policies, to steer population health investment decisions, to assess the effectiveness of different approaches to enhance population health through promotion, prevention, treatments and care. Timely, up-to-date HI is also vital in framing EU wide programs and policies.

The major outcome expected of the JA is a sustainable solid infrastructure on EU HI through improving the availability of comparable, robust and policy-relevant health status data and health system performance information. Through country collaboration, the JA streamlines HI activities, reduces the data collection burden and works for a sustainable and robust data collection in Europe that facilitates and supports country knowledge, health research and policy making.

The JA gives attention to:

• develop the business case and roadmap for implementation of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium on Health Information for Research and Evidence-based Policy
o governance structures,
o national HI consortia and domain specific HI research networks
• assess HI systems (HIS) in MS and regions
• develop a roadmap for training in HI with the objective to tackle HI inequality through Europe
• standardize HI instruments, tools and methods
• strengthen the HI efficiency for public health policy through new ways of using health and non-health data sources
• enhance the introduction of the interoperability of health data sources
• enhance the translation of HI into public policy

The JA watches for the sustainability of all actions taken by the JA. Coordination, dialogue and interaction with the Commission Expert Groups on HI and on HSPA, Eurostat, DG Research and other relevant DGs, international organization (WHO, OECD) reinforce further the sustainability of the JAs’ work and outcomes.

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The general objective of the Joint Action – Innovative Partnership for Action Against Cancer (iPAAC JA) is to develop innovative approaches to advances in cancer control. The innovation that will be covered within the JA consists of further development of cancer prevention, comprehensive approaches to the use of genomics in cancer control, cancer information and registries, improvements and challenges in cancer care, mapping of innovative cancer treatments and governance of integrated cancer control, including a new analysis of National Cancer Control Plans. The development of innovative approaches to cancer control will be supplemented by a Roadmap on Implementation and Sustainability of Cancer Control Actions, which will support Member States in implementation of iPAAC and CANCON recommendations. The Roadmap will act as the central pillar of the JA, integrating the diverse topic areas, providing synergies between the topics, ensuring consideration of transversal issues for all topics and acting as the central comprehensive deliverable, integrating all the JA outputs. A variety of methods will be used to fulfil the general and specific objectives including pilot studies, working groups, expert panels, literature review and surveys. A governmental board will be in place to ensure that implementation and sustainability in national contexts are duly considered for each topic area. The proposal for the iPAAC JA proposes actions to address objective 1 of the 2017 annual work programme, that is promoting health, preventing diseases and fostering supportive environments for healthy lifestyles taking into account the ‘health in all policies’ principle. The work to be developed by the iPAAC JA is complementary to the outcomes of the EPAAC and CANCON Joint Actions, funded by the Second and Third Health Programmes and will build on their outputs, using the stakeholder networks as an optimal base for the development of innovative cancer control actions.
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The SHARP Joint Action will strengthen implementation of Decision 1082/2013/EU, supporting the EU level preparedness and responses to health threats and the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005). The Joint Action implements actions mentioned in Annex 1 of the Annual Work plan 2018 of the EU Health Programme 2014-2020.
Through the Joint Action, the member and partner states and the Unions common ability to prevent, detect and respond to biological outbreaks, chemical contamination and environmental and unknown threats to human health will be strengthened. Special efforts will be employed to fill gaps that have been or will be identified in priority countries (countries that have biggest gaps in the capacity required for full IHR capability). The Joint action consists of 10 Work Packages, covering core public health capacities according to the IHR (2005). In addition to a coordination function, these will cover areas such as Communication, Evaluation, Sustainability, IHR core capacity, Preparedness, Laboratories, Training and exercises, Chemical threats and Clinical management.
SHARP will also collaborate with several other Joint Actions, specifically the “Healthy Gateways” that addresses Points of Entry, the Joint Action on Vaccination (EU-JAV) and the Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (EU-JAMRAI).
The partnership of the joint action consists of 26 Associated Partners and 33 Affiliated Entities, which all will receive Commission co-funding. In addition there are 9 Collaborating Partners that will self-fund all activities that they participate in. Totally 30 countries (24 EU members, 3 EEA/EFTA members and 3 European neighborhood countries) participate in the Joint Action. The SHARP JA will liaise with and collaborate with the ECDC, the WHO EURO regional office and the WHO Health Emergency and IHR unit in Lyon, and IANPHI in relevant activities. Special emphasis will be made to avoid duplication of work for the member states.

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Topic: Joint Action to strengthen preparedness including laboratories in the EU against serious cross-border threats to health and support the implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR)
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The action aims at supporting cooperation and coordination of Member States (MS) to improve their capacities at points of entry (PoE) including ports, airports and ground crossings, in preventing and combating cross-border health threats from the transport sector. In future public health emergencies of international concern, the action will move from interepidemic mode to emergency mode supporting coherent response as per Decision No 1082/2013/EU, International Health Regulations and temporary recommendations. The action objectives will be achieved through: a) facilitating exchange of identified best practices for management of public health events, vector surveillance and control, contingency planning, validated preparedness and response plans and options for improved detection and surveillance of public health events at PoE; b) supporting MS in validating contingency plans by using assessment tools and conduct of tabletop/simulation exercises; c) providing distance and face-to-face training at local, national, European levels about contingency planning and management of events due to infections, vectors, chemical, environmental or other agents at PoE; d) supporting rapid information exchange through electronic tools by the established network for PoE; e) supporting execution of inspections on ships and airplanes; f) producing guidelines to be used by MS for dealing with chemical threats, inter-country communication and information flow in outbreak investigations and management of events on ships, for vector surveillance and control activities at PoE, for inspecting aircrafts and ships including their cargoes for vectors and auditing guidelines for hygiene inspections on ships; g) supporting intersectorial cooperation by promoting implementation of MoU among different sectors at PoE and organizing exchange of visits and exercises among PoE of neighbouring countries. The action falls under the thematic priority 2.2 of Annex I of the 2017 Annual Work Programme.
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The effects of health inequalities within and between EU MS are widely recognized,and reducing health inequalities is on the agenda of many MS. Moreover new challenges like the huge migration flows and the economic crisis and austerity policies that affect EU citizen’s everyday life are worsening the scenario. Despite an increasing concern and awareness on health inequalities, a wide gap exists in Europe in terms of political response.
The Joint Action Health Equity Europe will represent an important opportunity for MS to work jointly to address health inequalities and underlying social determinants of health.
The general objective of the project is to improve health and well-being of the EU citizens and achieve greater equity in health outcomes across all groups in society by a focus on socio-economic determinants of health and lifestyle related health inequalities. A particular priority will be given to migrants, since poor health and lack of access to health services can be an obstacle to integration.
This Joint Action aims to: deliver a policy framework with a menu of actions and recommendations for national, regional and local uptake and implementation; develop better policies improve monitoring, governance, implementation and evaluation; implement good practices and facilitate exchange and learning; identify factors of success, barriers and challenges and how to overcome them.
The Joint Action will contribute meeting two objectives of the Third health Program by introducing the equity lens in “Objective1: Promoting health, preventing diseases and fostering supportive environments for healthy lifestyles taking into account the ‘health in all policies” and in “Objective4: Facilitating access to better and safer healthcare for Union citizens”.
This Joint Action will follow a three-step approach that will facilitate: identification of policy options to tackle health inequalities; implementation of feasible and effective actions in all MS involved; elaboration and dissemination of further recommendations and guidelines.
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Ageing population and increased prevalence of chronic conditions combined with limited human and financial resources are putting health systems under increasing strain. Digital tools, however, bring an opportunity to improve health care sector. Integrating eHealth into health policy and aligning eHealth investments with health requirements is of high importance, especially when recommendations and practices can be transferred across countries. Targeting Members Sates and Countries of the EU and eHealth stakeholders, as well as the general public, this project aims to improve health care with the use of ICT. eHAction is the Joint Action supporting the eHealth Network, which, in its Multiannual Work Programme 2018-2021, sets targets for exploring eHealth to facilitate the management of chronic diseases and multi-morbidity, by increasing sustainability and efficiency of health systems, and by facilitating personalized care and empowering the citizen. Specifically, it will work to find ways to empower people by giving them an active role in managing their health care data and processes, to use health data in an innovative way and to enhance continuity of care through the use of interoperable and cross-border solutions. The eHAction is in line with the Third Programme of EU actions in the field of health contributing to foster health in Europe by promoting the use of eHealth in a structured policy framework.
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Vaccination is a valuable investment in health with highly positive return for the sustained development of populations. It is a preventive tool involving much less cost than the cost of targeted diseases and their consequences. Vaccination is a truly complex cross sectoral issue, as pertaining to basic immunology discovery, benefit/safety evaluation and epidemiological surveillance, to public health policies and health system planning, to forecasting and financing, to health professionals’ education and health literacy, to cultural identities and social norms. By involving a wide variety of stakeholders, the EU-JAV project aims at building concrete tools to improve vaccination coverage in EU and therefore improve population health. EU-JAV will also capitalise on the numerous existing initiatives and projects, to challenge and strengthen the European cooperation of Member states on vaccination while contributing to sustainably integrate EU-JAV achievements in health policies of European countries. The JA Vaccination proposes to address several important issues, common to many countries such as establishing a sustained cooperation of relevant Member State authorities, defining basic principles for vaccine demand forecasting, developing a concept and prototype for a data warehouse for EU-wide sharing of vaccine supply and demand data among dedicated stakeholders, defining common stages and criteria for priority-setting of vaccine research and development, developing a concept and prototype for a vaccine R&D priority setting framework, defining structural, technical and legal specifications as regards data requirements for electronic vaccine registries/databases/immunisation information systems and providing a framework to cooperate on confidence from research to best practices and implementation. To achieve this ambitious concrete actions, the project gathers 20 partners from 20 different countries as well as international organisations and relevant stakeholders.
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The “Joint Action on integrating prevention, testing and link to care strategies across HIV, Viral Hepatitis, TB & STIs in Europe” (INTEGRATE) has the overall objective to increase Integrated early diagnosis and linkage to prevention and care of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in EU Member States by 2020.
A number of tools have been developed to reduce transmission, optimize early diagnosis and linkage to care for one or more of these four diseases. INTEGRATE will map relevant existing tools for cross-linking. A peer-review process will identify which of these tools are complimentary or redundant for other disease(s), and which could be adapted or require further innovation.
HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs are cross-borders public health threats of concern to Europe that affect vulnerable populations disproportionately and require personalised interventions. As multiple dimensional approaches are required to reduce the public health burden, the most optimal profile of approaches that provide additive effects (and that are reasonably cost-effective) should be identified and implemented broadly.
INTEGRATE provides a platform to disseminate and exchange best practice among Member States and facilitate discussions on innovations and emerging issues within the four diseases. In this respect, INTEGRATE is a shared European effort that extends beyond the partners and can create important synergies across European stakeholders, projects and initiatives.
INTEGRATE supports the implementation of the Commission Communication on ‘Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighboring countries’ and the ‘Action Plan on HIV/AIDS in the EU and neighboring countries’ by ensuring better preparedness across the EU and by identifying innovative evidence-based testing and prevention tools to reduce new cases of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in priority groups.
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