Sanja Šišović Meets EU Commissioner Várhelyi on Youth Health and Prevention
President of YHO Sanja Šišović meets the EU Commissioner
for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi to boost efforts
on youth’s health in Europe
Our president, Sanja Šišović held a fruitfull meeting with the EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, to discuss cooperation on health promotion, disease prevention, health inequalities and the implementation of the
EU Safe Hearts Plan together with Representatives of EuroHealthNet.
During the meeting, YHO President Sanja Šišović underlined that cardiovascular health is not only a clinical issue, but also a prevention, equity and life-course issue. She stressed that although cardiovascular diseases are often diagnosed later in life, many risk factors begin much earlier, through tobacco and nicotine use, alcohol, unhealthy food environments, physical inactivity, stress, mental health pressures, digital harms and social inequalities.
YHO highlighted that young people should not be seen only as a future risk group or as passive beneficiaries of health policies, but as active partners in prevention today. Meaningful youth engagement was presented as a key delivery tool for making EU health policies more relevant, accessible and effective in schools, universities, youth organisations, digital spaces and local communities.
The discussion also addressed YHO’s ongoing work through the various actions including #WBYouthAction4Health, which strengthens the role of young people and youth organisations in health decision-making processes and supports the transfer of good practices from Slovenia and the wider EU context to the Western Balkans. Building on this experience, YHO expressed its readiness to contribute to the youth dimension of the Safe Hearts Plan at European level through youth consultations, health literacy, outreach, communication and accountability.
YHO continues to vocalise the needs, priorities and perspectives of young people in health policy processes and remains committed to ensuring that young people are not only protected by European health policies, but also trusted to help shape and deliver them.
The meeting opened important space for further cooperation with DG SANTE, EuroHealthNet and European public health partners on youth engagement, prevention and healthier environments for young people across Europe.
