From pandemic to endemic: integrating COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the broader respiratory disease narrative
Fill in the EU civic survey addressed to civil society organisations and patient advocacy groups across Europe, aiming at identifying their opinions and concerns. The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete. Deadline: 16 February 2025
This initiative has been developed by Active Citizenship Network as part of the EU project "Empowering & mobilizing PAGs on COVID-19 prevention & treatments for vulnerable target groups" and, more broadly, is consistent with its long-term commitment to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic at the national & at the EU level.

Launch of the first EU action to address nurse shortage
The EU Commission is launching the first EU action to support Member States in retaining and attracting nurses, with a budget of €1.3 million under the EU4Health programme. The action is established by the European Commission in partnership with WHO Europe. This follows the Commission's contribution agreement with the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO Europe), signed in September 2024, and requests from HCPs and PAGs, including Active Citizenship Network through the  #CareforAll 2024 campaign 'Supporting the health workforce to strengthen patient rights in the EU', the latest European Patients' Rights Day celebrations and, last but not least, an  open letter to the newly elected European Commissioner for Health and Welfare, co-signed by 42 civic, patient and HCP organisations and 5 MEPs from the two largest political groups in the European Parliament. Read more 

The European Parliament's standing committee on public health is finally a reality
In December 2024, the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups decided to upgrade the Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT) to a full standing committee, reflecting the EP's priorities for the current legislative term and responding to requests from key stakeholders, including civil society and patient organizations. Click here to read the Active Citizenship Network's proposal, presented during the 18th European Patients' Rights Day in March 2024, just before the last European elections. Read more

Joint Statement on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the European Union
The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination, of which Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network is a member, welcomes the recognition of vaccination as an important prevention tool outlined in the Council Conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the EU, adopted under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU on 3 December 2024. In particular, the Steering Group strongly supports the recognition of the value of vaccination against infectious diseases, including flu, pneumococcal, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, as important for patients with an increased or existing risk of cardiovascular disease. Read more

20th edition of the Global Risks Report & citizen engagement
The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2025, published in January 2025, highlights the interconnectedness of environmental, geopolitical, and informational risks with global health, once again highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to address these challenges. As a member of the HERA-Civil Society Forum, author of the “Civic Charter of Global Health” and officially involved in the EU-funded ENGAGE & NIGHTINGALE projects, Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network believes that the citizen involvement can reduce the erosion of public trust in health systems during health emergencies. Read more

Co-Operator at work: 3rd Transnational Meeting
From 15 to 17 January, the 3rd Transnational Meeting of the EU funded co-OPERATOR project was held in Pisa (Italy) and online, with the participation of all the members of the consortium, including Cittadinanzativa - Active Citizenship Network.
The meeting was preceded by a workshop on seasonal vaccination on 15 January, followed by the main sessions on 16 and 17 January, held at the University of Pisa. During the workshop, major researchers in the field of vaccination presented their groundbreaking work in specific areas, and seasonal vaccination was analysed from three key perspectives: the individual, national health authorities and the health system. To know more, click here.

FACILITATE at work: General Assembly in Madrid, paving the way for the final year!
On January 16 and 17, 2025, the FACILITATE consortium, with ACN as a partner, met in Madrid for an inspiring General Assembly meeting, marking the beginning of the project's final and most critical year. This meeting brought together representatives from all work packages (WPs) to assess progress, address challenges, and outline the roadmap for achieving lasting and meaningful outcomes in returning clinical trial data to patients. We emphasized the importance of patient-centered data return, transparency and collaboration. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to empowering patients and aligning our work with healthcare systems and sponsors to achieve maximum impact. As we move forward, the focus remains on implementation, collaboration, and long-term sustainability, to ensure that the FACILITATE framework becomes a transformative model for patient empowerment in clinical trials. Stay tuned for updates as we work to make 2025 our most impactful year yet! Read more

The IPSE website is online!
It is finally online the website of IPSE - Italiani per le Politiche Sanitarie Europee (Italians for European Health Policies), the independent, non-profit, multi-stakeholder network - in which Active Citizenship Network also participates - that disseminates knowledge about European health policies and their relevance at national level. To visit it, click here.

Future of Immunization: fill the survey!
As we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 2024, there is an opportunity to renew commitment to Immunization Agenda 2030 goals and define the vision for immunization over the next 50 years. WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi invite you to share your ideas through a short survey. Who can participate? Country, regional, and global stakeholders involved in health and immunization efforts.  
The survey is available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese and should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. To access the survey, click here. Deadline: 31 January 2025.

The European organic farming knowledge exchange community is born
European experts and researchers from 18 scientific and agricultural organisations have started the development of the EU-funded “OH-FINE” project.
This initiative aims to jointly create and share knowledge among European researchers and producers. OH-FINE will identify efficient, healthy, organic and viable alternatives for small farm food production. All this information will then be disseminated and shared at a broader level.
Coordinated by the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Cittadinanzattiva is the only Italian entity officially involved, representing the views of citizens and consumers in the consortium. Read more

NIGHTINGALE final event: a successful conclusion to an extraordinary journey!
The NIGHTINGALE project, of which ACN is one of the partners, celebrated its final event on 16 January 2025, marking the conclusion of an innovative initiative dedicated to the advancement of disaster resilient technologies. This milestone showcased the achievements of the NIGHTINGALE consortium, highlighting innovations in casualty monitoring, multi-agency collaboration, and AI-driven solutions for mass casualty incidents (MCIs) management. The discussion focused on how the NIGHTINGALE Toolkit has the potential to transform emergency medical response, paving the way for a safer and more efficient future. As the project comes to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all partners, stakeholders, and first responders who contributed their expertise and dedication.
Let’s continue to engage citizens and their associations to build a resilient future on this basis! Read more

Ireland: new study finds 16% of people have experienced long COVID
The HSE’s landmark FADA study has found that 16% of the Irish population has experienced long COVID symptoms. The report acknowledges challenges long COVID patients face in accessing healthcare and the resulting isolation patients experience due to a lack of understanding from healthcare professionals and the general public. Click here to see how the Irish Patients' Association (IPA), a long-standing partner of ACN, continues to advocate for patients and their families. Read more about the IPA’s “Flunion” campaign to encourage parents to protect children and the wider community from flu this winter.

30 January 2025 I Brussels (Belgium): MEP Interest Group in Life Course Immunisation Launch event
The initiative is promoted by the Coalition for Life course Immunisation, an official partner of Active Citizenship Network.
The event is a must-attend for anyone interested in European vaccination. Don’t miss the opportunity to contribute to this critical dialogue on life course immunisation. Read more

26 February 2025 I Brussels (Belgium): Youth Policy Dialogue
The first Youth Policy Dialogue, organized by the EU Commission DG ECHO and HERA, will focus on topics related to citizens’ risk awareness and disaster preparedness.
The Dialogue will also enable young people to express their views on policy initiatives in the field of emergency preparedness and societal resilience and to gain a better understanding of the choices behind policy decisions.
Youth people have an important role to play in crisis preparedness, including health crisis, and recovery efforts, and Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network – a member of the HERA Civil Society Forum - is committed to this front through two EU-funded projects: "Engage-Engage Society for Risk Awareness and Resilience" and  "NIGHTINGALE - Novel integrated toolkit for enhanced pre-hospital life support and triage in Challenging and large emergencies". As actors of change, young people can bring unique experiences, perspectives, and skills to strengthen societal preparedness and community resilience in a holistic approach. This is why listening to their voices is of paramount importance. Read more about HERA Civil Society Forum.

7-11 April 2025 I Global Public Health Week
Global Public Health Week (GPHW) is an annual event organized by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), an official partner of Active Citizenship Network. It brings together institutions, communities and public health leaders worldwide to recognize the critical contributions of public health and its workforce in building healthier societies.
If you’d like to participate, WFPHA invites every individual, association and institution to organize an online or on-site event related to public health in the language they prefer. Submit your event using this form. Please note that the deadline to submit events is Friday, March 14th, 2025. Read more

10-12 June 2025 I Brussels (Belgium) and online: The European Sustainable Energy Week
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) has become a cornerstone of Europe’s clean energy movement, which is now preparing for its 19th edition with EUSEW 2025. This annual event brings together a passionate community dedicated to creating a secure and sustainable energy future for the next generations. 
Since its launch in 2007 by the European Commission, EUSEW has grown into a key platform for dialogue and collaboration on EU energy policies and initiatives. Applications are open to host a Policy Conference session and submit entries for the EUSEW Awards. Read about the Cittadinanzattiva’s committment to energy issues.