Active Citizenship Network (ACN) is a European network of citizens’ organizations created in November 2001 and promoted by the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva.

MISSION

ACN aims at contributing to the development of a European Active Citizenship and at promoting the participation of citizens’ organizations in European and national public policies.

 

NETWORK 

ACN is based on partnership rather than membership. Some 80 citizens’ organizations from 30 EU and candidate countries have already participated as partners in one or more ACN project and over 300 organizations have taken part in at least one of ACN's initiatives. It is open to all civic organizations that defend citizens’ rights and/or public goods in Europe and that are willing to contribute to its strategy.
ACN headquarters are located in Rome within Cittadinanzattiva’s office, in accordance with its objective of building a direct link between national organizations and EU institutions.

STRATEGY 

ACN promotes the point of view of European citizens in all public policies areas, focusing on patients’ rights, consumers’ rights, corporate citizenship and EU active citizenship. This point of view is always based on civic information, i.e. data collected and analyzed by citizens’ organizations themselves.
It is embodied in civic instruments such as: the European Charter of Patients’ Rights, the European Charter of Active Citizenship, the Guidelines for good CSR partnerships in Europe, etc. These instruments are available to all organizations interested in contributing to the promotion of citizens’ rights in Europe.

FUNDING
Most ACN projects are co-financed by public funds coming from: the European Commission – in the framework of calls for proposals - ; other European institutions; International organizations; national and regional governments. ACN projects are also supported by private foundations and companies through the creation of partnerships in accordance with Cittadinanzattiva’s CSR strategy.