Special edition on MEPs Interest Group
“European Patients' Rights and Cross-border Healthcare”

The successful story of the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare” continues. 
In its first 10 years, the Interest Group received the support of 40 Members of the European Parliament, hosted more than 30 institutional policy dialogue events, involving hundreds of qualified speakers from across Europe and beyond, all with a single common thread: strengthening the right to health for European citizens and making patients‘ rights enforceable throughout Europe, as set out in the European Charter of Patients’ Rights. Read more

MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare”: 2024-2029 term
Ten years after its inaugural launch in 2015, we are pleased to announce the re-establishment of the MEP Interest Group “European Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare” for a third consecutive term.
Created to foster cooperation and close the gap between European institutions, civil society and all stakeholders involved in public health, the Interest Group brings a civic perspective to health policy, placing citizens at its core to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
The official presentation will take place on 15 May 2025 at the European Parliament in Brussels, as part of the 19th European Patients’ Rights Day celebrations. Read more

List of MEPs supporting the Interest Group ‘European Patients’ Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare' during the 2024-2029 term:
Here you can find the list of the first MEPs who have decided to support the Interest Group during the current term. More info here.

Co-Chairs:

Brando BENIFEI (Italy), S&D

Tomislav SOKOL (Croatia), EPP

 Supporters:

Vytenis Povilas ANDRIUKAITIS (Lithuania), S&D

Stefano BONACCINI (Italy), S&D

Elena NEVADO DEL CAMPO (Spain), EPP

Pina PICIERNO (Italy), S&D

Raffaele TOPO (Italy), S&D

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union officially endorses the European Patients' Rights Day 2025
We are pleased to announce that the 19th European Patients' Rights Day 2025 has been officially endorsed by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (January-June 2025) and by the Polish Commissioner for Patients' Rights, who is deeply committed to the implementation of concrete measures aimed at the official adoption of the European Charter of Patients' Rights at EU level, as outlined in the recently published White Paper “Healthcare Policy Recommendations”.

Advancing Respiratory Care at the EU Level
Active Citizenship Network, in partnership with RPP Group, is launching a strategic initiative aimed at advancing respiratory care at the European Union level. The effort seeks to address the persistent lack of political attention given to respiratory diseases, despite their significant and growing impact on public health, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

15 May 2025 I EU Parliament, Brussels (Belgium): XIX European Patients’ Rights Day
The conference entitled “Exploring the benefits of health data sharing for patients, healthcare systems and medical research at EU level” will be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 15 May from 14.30 to 16.30 to find out more about the programme, click here.
This initiative, promoted as always by Active Citizenship Network, will bring together policymakers, patient organisations, researchers and experts to discuss the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and explore the transformative power of health data sharing in improving patient care, strengthening healthcare systems and advancing medical research across the EU.
Case studies from EU-funded projects, such as the Facilitate project and PROPHET.EU, will also demonstrate ethical and patient-centred data sharing.
The event is already fully booked, but we are working to ensure streaming. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Read more.

20 May 2025 I Wien (Austria): OH-FINE: General Assembly
As a member of the EU-funded OH-FINE project consortium, Cittadinanzattiva will participate, together with all partners, in the meeting organised to present and discuss the state of the art of activities already underway, aimed at jointly creating and sharing knowledge between European researchers and producers. OH-FINE is committed to identifying efficient, healthy, organic and sustainable alternatives for small-scale farm food production. Read more.

21-22 May 2025 I Wien (Austria): From pioneers to progress, exploring innovative organic farming practices
A cross-visit is a structured learning and knowledge exchange activity where teams from OH-FINE partner organizations – including Cittadinanzattiva - visit a specific location to observe, analyse and learn from real cases of innovation, best practices, or challenges in organic farming. The cross-visit in the eastern part of Austria, organized by the local partner Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau FiBL/Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, provides insights into selected innovative organic farming practices in a region dominated by arable agriculture. Read more

25 May 2025 I Bucharest (Romania): “Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in Eastern Europe: Strategies for Improving Confidence and Uptake”
Upon the invitation of its local partner, COPAC-Coalition of Patient Organizations with Chronic Diseases, the Director of Active Citizenship Network will participate as a panellist in the event organized as part of the ESPID Congress. The aim of the workshop is to discuss the challenges of vaccine hesitancy, identify and address barriers that may exist within systems in Eastern Europe, and develop recommendations to improve confidence and uptake of routine vaccinations. Read more

28 May 2025 I online: EU Working Group on Respiratory Care kick-off meeting
As a first step in the activities foreseen by the EU project "Advancing Respiratory Care at the EU Level", on 28 May, from 14:30 to 16:30 CEST, the online closed kick-off meeting with the members of the EU Working Group on Respiratory Care will take place.
This Working Group - composed of invited selected patient advocacy groups, medical associations and leading experts to advocate for the prioritisation of respiratory care in EU health policy - is at the heart of the project.
Indeed, the group will lead the development of a Call to Action to advocate for better access to treatments, in particular COVID- 19, transitioning from emergency responses to foster the inclusion of proactive, actionable strategies in the new 2025 EU Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidelines and to push for a more structured, EU-wide approach to respiratory health.
To know more, click here. If your organization is interested in joining this initiative, please contact Bianca Ferraiolo.

25 June 2025 I Let's FACILITATE: Return of Individual Participant Data (RoIPD) by Design – Where Do We Stand?
Join us and participate in the next FACILITATE project public webinar! The event will feature a stakeholders' virtual roundtable, where the aim is to explore the FACILITATE work on the Return of Individual Participant Data in clinical trials (RoIPD). Alongside patient testimonials, we will hear insights from clinicians, representatives from industry, and regulatory bodies. This inclusive panel ensures a holistic discussion that fosters collaboration among all the participants. Have your say and register here