In 2004, the European Commission and Council of Ministers targeted Health Technology Assessment (HTA) as “a political priority”, recognising “an urgent need for establishing a sustainable European network on HTA”.

A Commission call was answered in 2005 by a group of 35 organisations throughout Europe, led by the Danish Centre for HTA (DACEHTA) in Copenhagen which led to the activities of the EUnetHTA Project.

The consequent activities of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) were organised through establishment of the EUnetHTA Collaboration 2009, the EUnetHTA Joint Action 2010-2012, EUnetHTA Joint Action 2 2012-2015 and EUnetHTA Joint Action 3 2016-2020.

The EUnetHTA Joint Action (2010-2012) refined the collaboration structure and tools with attention to global developments in the field. EUnetHTA Joint Action 2 (2012-2015) extended this by strengthening the practical application of tools and approaches to cross-border HTA collaboration, further supporting and refining a system of collaboration in HTA. These two Joint Actions have proven the ability of national HTA organistions to work together and produce valuable products. EUnetHTA Joint Action 3 (2016-2021) developed the final phase of establishing a permanent HTA working structure for Europe, and was succeeded by EUnetHTA 21 (2021-2023), which will build on the achievements and lessons learned from the EUnetHTA Joint Actions and focus on supporting a future EU HTA system under the HTA Regulation.