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Monthly Newsletter edited by Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network
Civic Activism | Patients' Rights | Consumers' Rights | Support ACN


Year 3th, number 18 - February 2013
Highlight

Chronic pain on the European agenda
Chronic pain is part of the list of priorities of the EU during the Italian Presidency, which will begin in July 2014. Accordingly, and for the first time, the issue will be brought to the attention of all EU health ministers.
This important sign is contained in the Report about the programmatic participation in the European Union for the year 2014, which sets out guidelines and priorities in respect of that activity of the European Union, to developments in the European integration process and to each public policy initiative of the Union.
For all those who have worked in this important result is certainly gratifying, but it is also and above all a not insignificant challenge that lies ahead: to reduce the impact of chronic pain in Europe by ensuring that the right to avoid unnecessary suffering is guaranteed everywhere and to everyone. Read more

Mariano Votta, Director Active Citizenship Network

More information:

Please find here (and then, click to "17-18 Nov : SIP 2014") the English transcript of the interview that was broadcasted by an Italian television station towards the end of last year. (Italian version)

Download the Programmatic Report on the participation of Italy to the European Union for the year 2014.

Civic Eu Recommendations on chronic pain

Focus

VII European Patients’ Rights Day 2014: JOIN US!
Active Citizenship Network is glad to invite you to attend this important European event on  “The role of citizens' organisations in the empowerment of patients with chronic diseases” on the 12-13 of May 2014, in Brussels. Read more
As the places available are limited, the registration is needed, please fill in the registration form and send it by e-mail to: e.blasucci@activecitizenship.net

Best Practices on Empowerment in Chronic Disease: GET ACTIVE!
Active Citizenship Network is looking for Best Practices! The most significant will be published and showed during the next European Patients’ Rights Day (12-13 May, Brussels): the invitation to participate is addressed both to single associations of patients with a chronic disease and networks/umbrella organisations. The deadline to participate is the 30 of March 2014.
To participate click here or write to Daniela Quaggia d.quaggia@activecitizenship.net.

News
Patients' Rights

Out of office: An overview of workplace absenteeism in Europe
It’s the Economist Intelligence Unit report presented during the EU Parliament event promoted by EFNA last 19 of February in Brussels. It examines the causes of sick leave, how the cost of sick leave cover is divided between State, employer and employee, and how workplace absenteeism can be prevented. Download the document

Share good nursing and social work practices in eHealth services
ACN is pleased to announce the launched of ENS4Care questionnaire to collect key information on examples of good practices (e.g. online platforms, services, products, protocols, guidance, clinical guidelines, education and training programes, etc.) in the EU and EEA countries as regard, nurses and/or social workers use of ICT tools/systems in one of the following areas: prevention, clinical practice, advanced roles and nurse ePrescribing. Please provide your input by clicking here

A new website helps pain patients to better express and explain how their pain feels like
Pain can appear in many forms and affects people in different ways. A correct and early diagnose is crucial to find the right treatment. Therefore patients need to describe their symptoms in as much detail as possible to their doctor. At the new website "My pain feels like…" patients find a questionnaire that helps them to describe in detail how their pain feels like, how it affects their life and where the pain is allocated. Read more

Health: EU takes action against cancer
On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the European Commission presents 10 little known facts about EU action in the field of cancer. Read more

Health: Public hearing on electromagnetic fields preliminary opinion
The European Commission and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) are organising a public hearing on the preliminary opinion on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF), to be held on 27 March. Read  more

Consumers' Rights

Empowering Consumers: A record year for the European Consumer Centres
The Network of European Consumer Centres across the EU handled more than 80,000 enquiries from citizens across the EU in 2013. This represents an increase of 11% compared to 2012. Read more

European Parliament votes on air passenger rights
The European Parliament has voted last 5 February on proposals from the European Commission to strengthen passenger rights including: measures to ensure that air passengers have new and better rights to information, care and re-routing when they are stranded at the airport. At the same time there will be better complaint procedures and enforcement measures so passengers can actually obtain the rights to which they are entitled. Read more

Civic Activism

Democratic Europe Now! Start of Campaign
A European-wide campaign for a more democratic EU and a new European Convention it was launched last 20 February 2014 in Brussels. The alliance of organisations from all over Europe under the banner ‘Democratic Europe Now’ is calling for an EU Convention under Article 48 of the Lisbon Treaty, so that proposals for democratic and other reform can be debated in an open forum. Read more

Important inter-institutional agreement about listening citizens
In Strasbourg, Wednesday, February 5, 2014, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has signed with the President of the European Parliament European Parliament (EP) and with the Chairman of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), an important agreement between the three institutions . Confronted with the necessity to do more to hear the point of view of European citizens, as foreseen in the Lisbon Treaty, the EP will strengthen cooperation with EESC and CoR throughout the legislative process, ensuring better coordination of the work of the three institutions. There will be a cooperation that is upstream, thanks to the initiative opinions, and cooperation in the valley, in which the committees will carry out a field assessment of the impact of policies and programs in Europe. Read more

Stepping up action against global inequalities: Europe’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals process
Recent resolution 1975 (2014) adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe represents the position of the 47 member countries of the Council of Europe. The hope is that Europe takes a leading role in addressing the challenges of gender inequality and the high rate of violence against women and children. Need to increase public aid for development. Read more

News

12 March, Brussels (Belgium): Collective Redress Through Alternative Dispute Resolution
The event is organized by the Association for International Arbitration (AIA) with the aim to better understand the impact of Collective Redress mechanisms on Consumer Protection. Read more

14 March, Thessaloniki (Greece): European Consumer Day
EU conference organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the 16th edition of the European Consumer Day will be held on 14 March 2014. This time on the agenda will be a very important topic – "Consumer protection and social inclusion in times of crisis". Read more

18 – 20 March, Barcelona (Spain): Eyeforpharma Barcelona Awards 2014
Eyeforpharma Barcelona 2014 is the world’s largest meeting of commercial pharma executives. The conference will aim to demonstrate real innovation and real value for  customer. One of the most important initiative selected this year, a collaborative approach among industry, citizens and patients. Read more

 

Credits
Director and Editor in chief: Mariano Votta
Vice-director: Alessandro Cossu
Editors: Daniela Quaggia
Coordination and Production: Giacomo D'Orazio 
We thank "Expert network EU4U" for collaboration

To contribute, plase write to: press@activecitizenship.net
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