Special edition on our commitment
on vaccination and respiratory care

Italian MEP Ignazio Marino has endorsed the ACN's “10 Policy Recommendations to Promote Vaccination”
"The 10 Policy Recommendations to Promote Vaccination”, developed by Active Citizenship Network in the context of the EU project VaccinAction together with 35 civil society organisations from 16 EU countries, represent a concrete call to action for European institutions. Grounded in the European Charter of Patients’ Rights, the recommendations highlight the importance of transparency, equity, and patient participation. Now is the time to put health back at the centre of the political agenda by strengthening healthcare systems, tackling preventable diseases and ensuring access to vaccines for all ages. As a surgeon and Member of the European Parliament, I support this Manifesto because I believe that prevention is fundamental to building a healthier, fairer and more resilient Europe”.
Read more and watch the video message (in Italian) by MEP Ignazio Marino (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance).

2-3 October 2025 I Brussels (Belgium): Two policy related activities 
Active Citizenship Network is organizing two high-level workshops to be held in Brussels on 2 and 3 October 2025. Tailored for leaders of PAGs, CSOs and NGOs linked to ACN, these workshops provide a valuable opportunity for information sharing, capacity building and networking among patients and civil society organisations. Participants will also be involved on both days in creating communication content to be shared in their respective countries and networks, helping us to amplify key messages and build stronger advocacy together. In particular:
As part of the EU project VaccinAction2025, the workshop on 2 October will explore the link between vaccination and chronic condition management, focusing particularly on cardiovascular diseases. Together with external experts, we will discuss how immunisation strategies can help to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote healthier communities. Concrete advocacy experiences at national/regional/global level will be also presented. Read more
 

As part of the EU project Advancing Respiratory Care at the EU Level, the workshop on 3 October will focus on shifting the EU's approach to respiratory care from emergency-driven responses to integrated, long-term strategies embedded in broader health policies. On this occasion, it will also presented the collaborative Call-to-Action: "Towards the Development of an EU Respiratory Health Plan". Read more.

Co-Operator at work: 4th Transnational Meeting in Palermo (Italy)
From 23 to 24 July 2025, it was held in Palermo (Italy) and online the 4th Transnational Meeting of the EU-funded project Co-OPERATOR - Developing a Country-Observatory to share best practices for vaccination promotion. It was attended by all members of the consortium, including Cittadinanzativa - Active Citizenship Network.
During the meeting, hosted by consortium partner CESIE, several aspects of the project were discussed, including dissemination and sustainability strategies, research, policy aspects and implementation areas.
The meeting ended with a stakeholder event, which provided an opportunity to engage with citizens, healthcare professionals, researchers and other local stakeholders and collect inputs from them.
To know more, click here and watch the photo gallery of the meeting here.

Share your experience: survey for people using breathing support devices at home
The IMPORTANCE team is made up of healthcare professionals and patient representatives who want to improve the care for patients using breathing support devices at home. This includes CPAP for sleep apnoea and bilevel ventilation (e.g. BiPAP) for conditions such as COPD and neuromuscular disorders.
To make sure their work focuses on what matters most to patients, the IMPORTANCE team wants to hear from people who currently use a breathing support device at home. By sharing your experiences and opinions, you can help make sure that future research and care are centred on patients’ needs.
The IMPORTANCE team aims to promote international guidelines for the use of these breathing support devices at home, that are evidence-based and prioritize valuable person-centred care. If you would like to share your views and contribute shaping this important work, please complete this survey (EN – IT language). The survey will be open until 31 October 2025.
IMPORTANCE-Implications of Positive Airway Pressure and Home Mechanical Ventilation - TowArds optimal patient CarE is a European Respiratory Society Clinical Research Collaboration.

An overview of vaccines for adults that are authorised, recommended and implemented in the European Union
The growing recognition of immunization as a lifelong public health strategy is reflected by the increasing number of vaccines for adults being implemented in vaccination programmes. However, there is currently no comprehensive overview of all authorised, recommended and implemented vaccines for adults in the EU. To address this issue, the Adult Immunization Board — of which Active Citizenship Network is a member — has developed a 'vaccines for adults tracker and landscape' to map the range of vaccines approved for adults across the EU. Read more

Vaccination as a new form of cardiovascular prevention
The European Society of Cardiology Clinical Consensus Statement provides data on the risk of cardiovascular complications following infections, including pneumococcal pneumonia, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus. It also describes the inflammatory mechanisms that may be responsible. It then summarises evidence for the beneficial effects of vaccines in reducing cardiovascular events following various viral and bacterial infections, particularly in at-risk patient groups. Read more.

Migraine Day: EU Roadmap & key policy recommendations
On the occasion of the International Migraine Day of Action (12 Sept.) and in continuity with the Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, Active Citizenship Network underlines the topicality of the document “Towards a European Migraine Action Plan: key policy recommendations” addressed to the EU Institutions, and it is glad to endorse the European Migraine & Headache Alliance “The Misunderstood Campaign” and first of all the “EU Roadmap for Migraine” that outlines strategic recommendations to ensure migraine is meaningfully included in the European Neurological Health Strategy.
Read the ACN last publication on the topic: “The Role of Patients’ Advocacy Groups to Reduce Headache Pain in the European Union: from the Italian Case History to the European Migraine Action Plan” hosted by the international peer reviewed Journal of Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

Incorporating COVID-19 into the broader narrative on respiratory diseases. A citizens' and patients’ perspective on the development of an EU Respiratory Health Plan
As COVID-19 transitions from a pandemic to an endemic disease, its integration into the broader policy and healthcare framework for respiratory diseases becomes imperative. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative survey carried out by Active Citizenship Network (ACN) among patient advocacy groups (PAGs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Europe. The survey aimed to evaluate progress and identify gaps in policy, service transformation, public awareness and preparedness for future respiratory health threats. Read the article, drafted by ACN and recently published in the Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports.

Towards a standardised framework of patients' rights across Europe
A true European Health Union cannot exist without a shared, standardised framework of patients' rights. Without this foundation, the Union will always be incomplete, lacking the crucial 'rights' pillar. That is why, alongside 17 patient advocacy groups, civil society organisations and health networks across 13 EU member states, we strongly welcome the Polish institutions' initiative to give political prominence to the topic of patients' rights during the 2025 Polish presidency of the EU council. We now encourage the upcoming Danish Presidency to build on this momentum and take decisive steps towards a stronger, more cohesive European approach to patients' rights. Read the article drafted by ACN with the direct involvement of PAG leaders and recently published in the Journal of Medical and Clinical Studies.

9 September 2025 I EU webinar "Is Preventative Medicine a Human Right?"
Active Citizenship Network will be providing its point of view on citizen rights concerning preventive care at the MEP Interest Group on Life Course Immunisation webinar, which is titled "Is Preventative Medicine a Human Right?" and will take place on 9 September from 2:00 to 3:30 PM GMT.
The initiative will explore whether prevention, including vaccination, should be recognised as a fundamental human right and consider how EU policy could better reflect this commitment. Read more.

11 September 2025: Shaping trust in bio-based products innovation: digital tools for reliable certification
How can we build trust in bio-based innovation? The final BioReCer Stakeholder Meeting was scheduled for 11 September 2025, from 14:00 to 16:00 CEST. At this online event, we presented the results of the EU-funded BioReCer project (of which Cittadinanzattiva is a partner), along with a live demonstration of the BIT Tool. This digital solution is designed to support transparent and reliable certification schemes in the bioeconomy.
The session also included an interactive roundtable with various stakeholders to validate the tool and gather feedback. If you work in the bio-based sector as a certifier, innovator, policymaker or consumer advocate, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of sustainable, trustworthy certification. Read more.

22 September 2025 I online: EU Working Group on Respiratory Care second meeting
As a follow-up to the first meeting organised in May, RPP Group and Active Citizenship Network are organising a closed online meeting with members of the EU Working Group on Respiratory Care. Taking place on 22 September from 14:30 to 16:30 CEST, the meeting is part of the EU project “Advancing Respiratory Care at the EU Level”.
During the meeting, selected patient advocacy groups, medical associations, and leading experts who advocate for the prioritisation of respiratory care in EU health policy, will finalise the Call to Action. This document aims to improve access to treatments, particularly for those affected by COVID-19, by transitioning from emergency responses to proactive, actionable strategies in the new 2025 EU Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidelines. To know more, click here. 

24 September 2025 | Defining consumer rights education in school curricula: how do we stand?
As part of the new EU-funded project CoRe-Consumer (Re)generation, Cittadinanzattiva is organising the first multi-stakeholder discussion meeting in partnership with the Union of working Consumers of Greece (EEKE) and the Romanian consumer association InfoCons.
The aim is to initiate a dialogue on the importance of defining consumer rights education within school curricula in a coherent, structured and continuous manner.
The online meeting is scheduled for 24 September 2025 at 15:00 CEST and is intended for school principals, teachers, education experts, consumer association leaders and representatives of NGOs active in this area.
To know more, click here. 

25 September 2025 I Brussels (Belgium): “Viral threats, immune challenges: shaping the future of respiratory care – the PID patients’ perspective”
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the upcoming International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI) Round Table.
The event will bring together experts and patient representatives to address the challenges posed by viral threats and immune conditions. The ACN Director's contributions will support the development of expert recommendations, building on the Policy recommendations on Covid-19 high-risk patient pathways in the EU, to which IPOPI contributed and which were already presented at the EU Parliament by ACN. Watch the video interview with the IPOPI President and the ACN Director.

2 October 2025 I European Health Forum Gastein (Austria): End of life, end of autonomy? Examining the reality of the current end-of-life paradigm
The Deputy Secretary General of Cittadinanzattiva will be one of the panellists at the conference organised by the Centre National pour la Fin de Vie et les Soins Palliatifs and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, as part of the 2025 European Health Forum Gastein. The session on end-of-life care, scheduled for Thursday, 2 October 2025 (16:15–17:30), will emphasise the responsibility of governments to ensure clear policies that protect dignity and quality of life at the end of life, as part of the social contract.
This is a particularly relevant issue in Italy as well, where Parliament is currently debating a new law on the subject. Read Cittadinanzattiva’s perspective here (IT).

6 October 2025 I Amsterdam (The Netherlands): Stakeholder Session during the PROPHET workshop: Join us!
The EU-funded PROPHET project - of which Cittadinanzattiva is a consortium member – is pleased to invite you to participate in the stakeholder session during the PROPHET workshop organised for 6 October 2025 in Amsterdam. The workshop will include presentations and group discussions. The primary aim of this session is to present the SRIA and related Roadmap to external stakeholders. It will also be possible to follow the session online. If you are interested in participating and are available, please register via this link. Read more.

6 October 2025 I Amsterdam (The Netherlands): Join us to discuss the future of health data sharing in Europe!
As a partner of the EU-funded PROPHET project, we are pleased to invite you to the event “The European Health Data Space: Implementation and Implications for Health Data Sharing in Europe”. This half-day meeting will bring together experts, stakeholders and researchers to explore how the European Health Data Space (EHDS) will shape the way health data is shared and used for research and innovation across Europe. Participants will have the chance to learn about national implementation experiences, the impact of the EHDS on biomedical research. There will also be concrete examples of how personalised prevention can benefit from better data sharing — with a special spotlight on the PROPHET project.  
Date: 6 October 2025  Time: 09:00 – 13:00  Location: Amsterdam University Medical Center. Register here. Read more.

7 October 2025 | Advocating for Accessible Pain Relief for Older Adults in the European Union
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the online round table on “Advocating for Accessible Pain Relief for Older Adults in the European Union”, organized by the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), ACN’partner. This multi-stakeholder round table will convene diverse experts, including older adults living with pain, healthcare professionals, advocacy leaders, ageing organizations, and key decision makers. Read more.

7-10 October 2025 I Salamanca & Zamora (Spain): OH-FINE General Assembly, cross visit & international forum
From 7 to 10 October, Cittadinanzattiva will participate in several activities as a consortium partner in the EU-funded OH-FINE project. On 7 October, the project's General Assembly will be organised in Salamanca by consortium partner IRNASA-CSIC. A local cross-visit will also be organised on 8 and 9 October by the Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture and Agroecology-SEAE, and on 10 October the first OH-FINE forum, 'Cultivating the Future: Organic and Regenerative Agriculture in Action', will take place in Zamora. The forum will coincide with Ecocultura – the Spanish-Portuguese Fair of Organic Products, which has become the leading cross-border event for producers, processors and distributors of organic products. This one-day forum is dedicated to regenerative organic farming and is designed to inform, inspire and connect. Whether you are a farmer, researcher, policymaker, civil society representatives, consumers’ organization, educator, or changemaker, your contribution is valuable, and we would be honoured to have you join us! We will publish the final programme, including the list of speakers and participating projects, in the coming weeks. Registration will open soon, so keep an eye on our website.

8–10 October 2025 | Geneva (Switzerland): Vaccines, Virology and Immunology Conference
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the Vaccines, Virology and Immunology Conference, where the world's leading experts in vaccine technology and global researchers meet to discuss and generate ideas that advance the success of immunization. The title of his presentation is "Grassroots Mobilisation: Leveraging Civil Society and Community Leadership to Bridge Gaps in Vaccine Coverage". Read more.

13 October 2025 | Berlin (Germany): AMR roundtable at the World Health Summit
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the AMR roundtable discussion at the World Health Summit in Berlin. The session, which is co-hosted by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, the Global AMR R&D Hub and the Fleming Initiative, will explore the question, “Why does the ‘value disconnect’ in antibiotics stick? Collaborative action to deliver novel antibiotics for-and-with society”. This invitation-only event will bring together policymakers, NGOs, patient organisations, academia and industry to debate global strategies against antimicrobial resistance. The programme can be found here.

15 October 2025 | European Parliament, Brussel (Belgium): - Closing immunisation gaps: A comprehensive EU framework for respiratory infection prevention
The Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections, of which Active Citizenship Network is a member, is delighted to invite you to its annual event. This is the first event since the group evolved from the Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination.
During this year's discussion, which will be hosted by MEP Billy Kelleher, we will launch a new manifesto highlighting our call for a new Council Recommendation on the value of immunisation against respiratory infections. This would recognise the increasing strain placed on populations and healthcare systems across Europe by respiratory infections, including influenza, COVD-19, RSV and pneumococcal disease. Read more and register here.

20-21 October 2025 | Dubai (United Arab Emirates): 4th International Conference on Cancer and Oncology Research
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak about patients’ access to Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in Europe at the 4th International Conference on Cancer and Oncology Research. This event is taking place at the City Seasons Suites in Dubai.
His presentation builds upon a multi-stakeholder 'Call to Action' led by Active Citizenship Network and its partners. This initiative advocates for a systemic shift in how ATMPs are regulated, financed and accessed at the EU level. Click here to find out more about the event programme.

21 October 2025 | Berlin (Germany) and online: Empowering bio-based choices through smart certification
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the final event of the EU-funded project 3-CO (Concise Consumer Communication through Robust Labels for Biobased Systems).
The project promotes sustainable consumption and stronger consumer rights by using digital tools, social innovation, and improved labelling schemes for bio-based products. The final event will feature four panel discussion sessions. The ACN Director will contribute to the consumer-focused session, also offering insights from the EU-funded Biorecer project (Biological Resources Certifications Schemes), of which Cittadinanzattiva is a consortium member. Read more and read the preliminary agenda. Register here.

22-23 October 2025 I Online: 12th Global Webinar on Public Health
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the 12th Global Webinar on Public Health, which will take place virtually on 22–23 October 2025. This event will bring together leading public health professionals for live interactive sessions, expert panels, and Q&A discussions. The ACN Director will share his expertise with a global audience, contributing to critical discussions that will shape the future of public health. He will provide different typologies of concrete activities that civil society organizations (CSOs) and patient advocacy groups (PAGs) can carry out in support of vaccination policy. Click here for the programme and list of speakers.

29-30 October 2025 I Santiago de Compostela & Vigo (Spain): Biorecer final event
The EU-funded BioReCer project, of which Cittadinanzattiva is a consortium member, invites stakeholders from bio-based industries, research, certification and standardisation, and consumer organisations to its final event. This will take place at the Ciudad de la Cultura in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on 29 October, and in Vigo the following day (hosted by ANFACO), where a visit to a cannery is planned.
This event marks the conclusion of the project, which has worked intensely over three years to improve trust, traceability and certification of biological feedstocks. Read more (here and here), for the registration, click here.

4–5 December 2025 | Paris (France): 10th LifeCourse Prevention Summit
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the 10th LifeCourse Prevention Summit, which is taking place alongside the 17th Excellence in Pediatrics (EIP) Conference at the Melia Paris La Défense on 4–5 December 2025. The summit will focus on “The Building Blocks of Healthy Ageing: How Lifelong Determinants Shape Later-Life Outcomes”, featuring four roundtables on healthy ageing, vaccination equity, respiratory infections, and life-course immunisation.
The 17th Excellence in Pediatrics Conference will bring together paediatricians, researchers, and healthcare professionals for an immersive cross-specialty learning experience.
In continuity with his participation in the 2024 edition, ACN’s Director will contribute to policy discussions and actionable recommendations. Click here for the programme and the list of speakers.