The aim of this joint action is to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, and their risk factors, both at the individual and population level.
Smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption are considered the single most important cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide, with tobacco being the single major cause of premature deaths in the European Union (EU).
JA-SAFE aims to significantly reduce tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke across Europe, contributing to the EU’s goal of achieving a tobacco-free generation.
The project encompasses nine work packages under five thematic areas: smoke-free environments, alcohol prevention, cessation, steps towards a tobacco-free generation, and supporting health promotion and disease prevention in Europe.
Focus areas
Smoke-free environments
Promoting a Smoke and Aerosol Free (SAFE) Europe
Alcohol prevention
Preventing Alcohol-Related Harm in Europe
Cessation
Scaling up Interventions for Tobacco Control and SAFE in Healthcare Settings
Tobacco-free generation
Accelerating the Path to a Tobacco-Free Generation in Europe
Health promotion and disease prevention
Strengthening Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Europe
The full overview of our project ─► download the leaflet here
Latest news
Second-hand Smoke caused 1.66 million deaths among non-smokers in 2023
Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) remains a major public health challenge. A new study published in The Lancet Public Health estimates that second-hand smoke exposure was responsible for 1.66 million deaths among non-smokers and 44.8 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide in 2023. The findings also show that women and children continue to bear a disproportionate share of this preventable health burden.
Protecting the First Breath: Why Midwives Are Key Allies in Building a Smoke- and Aerosol-Free Future
Every child deserves the opportunity to take their first breath in a safe and healthy environment. Yet tobacco smoke, second-hand exposure, and the growing popularity of new nicotine and aerosol products continue to pose significant risks to maternal and child health across Europe. This message was at the heart of the participation of the EU Joint Action on Smoke- and Aerosol-Free Environments (JA-SAFE) …
Unmasking the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products: JA PreventNCD and JA-SAFE in conversation on World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day is marked every year on 31 May. In 2026, the World Health Organization’s theme is “Unmasking the appeal: countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.” The campaign focuses on how tobacco and nicotine products continue to be reinvented, repackaged and marketed in ways that appeal to new generations, particularly children and adolescents.
Events
10th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECTOH) takes place in Milan
The 10th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECTOH) is taking place in Milan from 20 to 22 May, bringing together public health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors from across Europe and beyond to advance tobacco control and nicotine prevention efforts.
JA-SAFE partners meet in Athens
From 21 to 23 October 2026, partners of JA-SAFE gather at the historic Athens Club for the 2nd JA-SAFE Consortium Meeting. Three days of work package sessions will take stock of progress and set the course for the year ahead.
SAFE Knowledge Hub webinar: Creating SAFE Environments
The first webinar in the SAFE Knowledge Hub series will take place on Monday, November 9, 2026, from 15:00 to 16:00 CET. The event focuses on the importance of establishing SAFE environments and addressing the health consequences of secondhand smoke (SHS) and secondhand aerosol (SHA) exposure.