The idea to encourage a MEPs informal Interest Group focused on patients’ rights follows the widespread request of almost 100 civic and patient organizations sent to the EU Parliament to recognize officially the value of citizens’ initiatives, such as the European Charter of Patients’ Rights, based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the European Patients’ Rights Day, which has been organized every year on April 18th since 2007 at local, national and EU level.

The Inter-Institutional Group represents the desire of the civil society to contribute to the SDGs and the Green New Deal, aiming to discuss and raise awareness on how the individual can give her/his contribution. In fact, we strongly believe that citizen and consumer empowerment should be the pillar of the transition towards a more inclusive and sustainable Europe.

Since 2007, to reinforce the principles stated in the European Charter of Patients’ Rights, Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network took the initiative to launch the European Patients’ Rights Day, annual appointment to be celebrated each yearaccross Europe as a common occasion to inform, discuss and take commitments to improve patients’ rights in Europe and in each member State. The European celebrations of the European Patients’ Rights Day are always organized by Active Citizenship Network with the involvement and the support of the EU Institutions and hosted at the EU Parliament with its traditional format of a big multi-stakeholder conference focused on the role played by key actors in the decision-making process on health priorities. 

In 2002, Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network, together with citizens organizations and PAGs from 15 EU countries, established the European Charter of Patients’ Rights. It lists 14 fundamental patients’ rights (+ 3 Rights of Active Citizenship), which each EU country must protect and guarantee. Drafted in 22 languages, it has become a reference for EU citizens’ rights in health care and a milestone for other EU Charters. All these rights, based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (art.35), are crucial in matter of European citizenship and health-care services. Visit the special session of the website dedicated on it.