Register here to attend in person.
Please note that registration is free but mandatory, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations might be closed at any time if the maximum capacity is reached.

18 March 2026 | European Parliament, Brussels | Council recommendation on the value of immunisation against respiratory infections: a step towards an EU Respiratory Health Plan?
Under the EU Safe Hearts Plan, the European Commission will propose a Council recommendation on immunisation against respiratory infections. However, the first draft of the European Parliament Committee on Public Health's (SANT) report on an EU cardiovascular diseases strategy makes no mention of vaccination.
Including vaccination in the text would provide a significant opportunity to ensure that the prevention of respiratory infections becomes a political priority. Hosted by Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP Group), the event will bring together experts and representatives of EU institutions interested in the Council recommendation on the value of immunisation against respiratory infections. Read more and register here to attend in person.

Policy recommendations for an EU Respiratory Health Plan: Call to Action
Promoted by Active Citizenship Network and RPP Group, the EU Working Group on Respiratory Care is a collaborative initiative that brings together EU-level scientific societies, healthcare professionals and PAGs. It was set up to address the growing burden of respiratory diseases across Europe.
The recommendations outlined in the Call to Action are intended to provide robust, evidence-based input to ensure that the specific needs of respiratory health are fully addressed and embedded in an upgraded, unified European framework for infection control. Read more about the document endorsed by more than 30 associations.

Intervention for psychological trauma in children affected by the war in Ukraine
Children are among the most vulnerable groups as the war has disrupted the environments that are key to their development, such as family life, school and the wider community. Against this backdrop, the new official national partner of Active Citizenship Network, Sincere Heart Charity Foundation, has implemented six-day psychosocial recovery camps based on the ‘mother-child’ model in Lviv since September 2022, as part of the Recovery Camp programme. This intervention aimed not only to temporarily reduce distress levels, but also to identify children at risk early on, develop self-regulation skills, and establish mechanisms for ongoing support. Read more

The Ukrainian patient community is expanding access to medicines amidst war.
Despite four years of full-scale war, Patients of Ukraine CF, the new official national partner of the Active Citizenship Network, has significantly expanded treatment access and public influence. To ensure transparency, "Patients of Ukraine" has set up 30 supervisory boards in regional hospitals and sits on the public control council of the national health service (NHSU). Read more

Returning Individual Participant Data “by Design”: watch the highlights
Did you miss our European Parliament event on 4 December about the FACILITATE project? Watch the essence of the event in a smart video recap. Journalist Mariam Zaidi distils the importance of returning Individual Participant Data (RoIPD) and explains how the FACILITATE Principles transform ethics and law into day-to-day practice: planned from the outset, respectful of participants and practical in real life. Watch the video summary here. Prefer the full story? Full recording here.
The FACILITATE project – in which Cittadinanzattiva- Active Citizenship Network is officially involved - is supported by the Innovative Medicines Initiative, a partnership between the European Union and the European pharmaceutical industry. Read more

PROPHET at work in Italy
On 22 January 2026, Cittadinanzattiva–Active Citizenship Network (ACN), a partner of the EU-funded project PROPHET, conducted a 90-minute online session. The event explored personalised prevention using clear, everyday language and real-life examples (breast cancer, cardiovascular risk and pharmacogenomics). A spotlight segment explored the 'genetic/pharmacogenetic passport': what it is, how to obtain it and its potential to help doctors and patients select the most appropriate preventive approach. The session was attended by over 130 participants from across Italy, including citizens, patients and volunteers from Cittadinanzattiva’s network. Watch the recording (in Italian). One participant summed it up well: “Thank you — this meeting was very interesting. It enriched me and gave me information that I will share with others. Sharing knowledge expands everyone’s toolkit and helps us to make informed choices”. Click here to find the programme and the presentations.

A global patient coalition urges Ireland to lead the EU-wide adoption of the European Charter of Patients' Rights
The global patient coalition, which is anchored by the Irish Patients' Association (IPA) and supported by Active Citizenship Network and many other partners, has formally called on Ireland to prioritise adoption of the European Charter of Patients' Rights as part of Ireland's 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Read more (A – B)

Linking Adult Immunization and Chronic Disease Management in the EU
Active Citizenship Network is proud to have contributed to the Global Coalition on Aging’s Call to Action: Linking Adult Immunization and Chronic Disease Management in the EU.
The call to action provides policymakers and advocates with actionable recommendations to increase adult immunisation uptake.. Read more.

“Rights to be heard”: the podcast of the EU-funded SCUDI project is now online
“Diritti all’ascolto” ("Rights to be heard") is now online. The podcast was created as part of the SCUDI – School of Human Rights: Strategic Litigation to Protect Migrants’ Rights project, implemented by Cittadinanzattiva in collaboration with the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD) and funded by the European Union under the CERV Programme.
Produced by CILD, the podcast translates SCUDI’s specialised training content into an accessible and engaging narrative, demonstrating how the law can be used as a practical tool to combat discrimination. Consisting of four episodes, the podcast features the voices of lawyers, activists, and practitioners. Each episode weaves together legal frameworks and real-life cases, focusing on four key themes: citizenship, asylum and international protection, access to justice, and gender discrimination. Read more on Spotify (IT)

Civil Society Week: People, Democracy, Resilience. Our Future!
Organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) from 2 to 5 March 2026 in Brussels (Belgium) and online, the Civil Society Week 2026 will bring together a wide range of voices, from grassroot activists and youth representatives to EU policymakers, journalists, and organised civil society from across Europe including, candidate countries. 
The event will focus on promoting diversity, civic engagement, equality, and inclusion as vital ways of renewing Europe's social and democratic commitments for future generations. Read more.

Active Citizenship Network keeps growing, and not only within the European Union. In this newsletter, we will report on a series of agreements formalised in the last period. These agreements demonstrate a growing interest in our work, as well as our willingness to collaborate with the many civil society actors who share our goals.

Official agreement with the Sincere Heart Foundation from Ukraine
Active Citizenship Network is pleased to announce the signing of an official Memorandum of Understanding with the Sincere Heart Foundation. Established in Ukraine in 2014, this charitable non-profit organisation aims to create a society in which everyone affected by war, regardless of gender, age or circumstances, has equal access to quality psychological assistance and support for adaptation and social integration. Read more about ACN's new partner.

Official agreement with the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation
Active Citizenship Network is delighted to announce the signing of an official Memorandum of Understanding with the Ukrainian Diabetic Federation (UDF), an ACN historical partner for many years. The UDF’s mission is to promote the interests of people with diabetes in Ukraine and protect the rights of diabetic patients for a healthy and decent life and adequate, modern treatment. The diabetes movement began in Kharkiv in 1988 with the establishment of the first non-governmental organisation in Ukraine. The UDF has been a member of the International Diabetes Federation since 1996 and is the creator of the Ukrainian Union of Patient Organisations (UUPO). Read more. 

Valentina Ocheretenko, Chair of the UDF Board, at the European Parliament during the European Patients' Rights Day event (18 April 2007)

Policy Priorities to Strengthen Respiratory Health Strategy in the European Union
Starting from the current burden of respiratory diseases in the EU - including the Vaccine Preventable Respiratory Diseases (VPRDs) – a consensus-based expert policy analysis was conducted through a multidisciplinary European Working Group on Respiratory Care, comprising healthcare professionals and leaders of civic and patient organisations. This article aims to outline policy priorities to support a more integrated, equitable, and resilient European respiratory health strategy, emphasizing the collaborative role of all the actors, publics and privates, of the HCPs-Health Care Professionals and of the so-called intermediated bodies of the society: patients’ associations, PAG-Patients Advocacy Groups, CSOs-Civil Society Organizations. To download the publication, click here.

Civic survey on obesity and morbid overweight: From the Italian “Feel Good” experience to the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan
The “Feel Good” information and awareness campaign, led in Italy by Cittadinanzattiva shows that there is much to be invested in health education and in healthcare institutions. In line with the European Safe Hearts Plan, the first-ever comprehensive EU strategy to tackle cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which cause 1.7 million deaths annually, a set of recommendations has been advanced on the topic. To download the publication, click here.

10 March 2026 I Online: understanding personalised prevention together!
We are pleased to invite you to our new online session, “Right to Innovation: Understanding Personalised Prevention in Europe”, which will take place on 10 March 2026 from 15:00 to 16:30 CET via Zoom. (register here). In 90 minutes, we will try to explain what personalised prevention is, why it matters now and how PROPHET, a project in which ACN is a partner, is putting it into practice, using plain language and real-life examples. Together, we will learn how personalised prevention is changing health for all of us: an innovation and a right that matters to every family and citizen.  Highlights will include a first-person testimony from 'EVITA' about how personalised prevention can effect change for families affected by hereditary cancer. Read more

11 March 2026 | EU Seminar: Understanding Agroforestry Systems
Are you ready to explore how agroforestry could transform organic farming practices across Europe? The EU-funded project OH-FINE  (of which Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network is an official consortium member) is delighted to invite you to an upcoming technical seminar: "Understanding Agroforestry Systems" – a knowledge-sharing opportunity designed for farmers, researchers, agronomists, and sustainability professionals. During the seminar, you will discover how agroforestry systems integrate trees, crops, and livestock to enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and build climate resilience whilst supporting productive organic farming. To know more and to register, click here.

19 March 2026 | Brussels: 2nd EU policy lab on the challenges of vaccine promotion
The co-OPERATOR project, funded under the EU4Health programme, aims to improve communication and knowledge skills to address systemic barriers and facilitators to effectively communicate vaccination messages to populations. In this context, a Policy Lab aims to translate evidence from the co-OPERATOR project into actionable vaccination policies to address COVID-19 and flu vaccine hesitancy in the EU. Following the Policy Lab organised in April 2025, a second closed-door Policy Lab will be organised in March 2026, involving key stakeholders such as health professionals and leaders of civil society organisations and patient advocacy groups from various Member States. 
The work stream within the project that focuses on translating research evidence into policy recommendations is led by the Cyprus University of Technology and supported by the Active Citizenship Network and Maastricht University. To find out more about the co-OPERATOR project, click here.

19-21 March 2026 | Singapore: 6th edition of the Singapore Nursing Research Conference
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the 6th edition of the Singapore Nursing Research Conference. The title of his presentation is “From the first Civic Survey on health personnel in Italy to the “EU Call to Action” to the European Commission to urgently address the health workforce crisis”.
Focusing on the theme “Nursing Without Borders: Innovation, Collaboration, and Holistic Care”, the conference will provide a global platform for nursing professionals to explore new developments, share research, and engage in meaningful discussions that will improve healthcare and patient outcomes. Read more

26 – 27 March 2026 | Rome (Italy) | The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and Roadmap on Personalized Prevention
The EU-funded PROPHET (A PeRsOnalised Prevention roadmap for the future HEalThcare in Europe) project, of which Cittadinanzattiva is a consortium member, has developed the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and the Personalized Prevention Roadmap. This provides a comprehensive, structured framework for advancing personalised prevention on a large scale. This event offers a dedicated platform to promote the implementation of the SRIA and Roadmap, showcasing PROPHET’s initiatives aimed at operationalising personalised prevention across Europe. Read more

13-15 April 2026 | Paris (France): 4th International Nursing Networking Conference
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the 4th International Nursing Networking Conference (INNC 2026), with two presentations  (A – B). INNC 2026 is a global platform to share insights, innovations, and best practices in nursing and healthcare. With the theme “Nursing Innovations for Global Health: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Delivery”, the event features keynotes, panels, and presentations from leading experts. Read more. 

23-24 April 2026 | London (UK): 5th International Conference on Pediatrics, Neonatology & Healthcare
The Director of Active Citizenship Network (ACN) has been invited to speak at the 5th International Conference on Pediatrics, Neonatology & Healthcare, which is taking place on 23 and 24 April 2026 in London, UK.
The title of his presentation is “Grassroots Mobilisation across Europe: Leveraging Civil Society and Community Leadership to Bridge Gaps in Vaccine Coverage”. On this occasion, it will be presented the new ACN handbook “Leveraging Civil Society and Community Leadership to Support Public Vaccination Policies” as well as “Vaccines and Vaccinations for Adults: A European Textbook”. For detailed information, please click here. Read more

25-27 June 2026 | Barcelona (Spain): International Conference on Advanced Pulmonology, Respiratory Medicine & Lung Health” (ICPRL 2026)
The Director of Active Citizenship Network has been invited to speak at the “International Conference on Advanced Pulmonology, Respiratory Medicine & Lung Health”. The title of his presentation is “Incorporating COVID-19 into the broader narrative on respiratory diseases. A citizens' and patients’ perspective towards the development of an EU Respiratory Health Plan”. Read more

12 May 2026 | European Parliament, Brussels: 20th EUROPEAN PATIENTS’ RIGHTS DAY: MEP Brando Benifei will host the event
The 2026 European Patients’ Rights Day will be hosted by the Italian MEP Brando Benifei (S&D), who’s also the co-chair of the MEPs Interest Group "European Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare", once again underlining the long-lasting partnership and attention to citizens' health matters.
The conference, which marks the 20th anniversary of the initiative promoted by Cittadinanzattiva/Active Citizenship Network since 2007, is titled “Empowered citizens, personalised care: a new era for prevention in Europe”. The event aims to foster recognition of personalised prevention as a human right, which is directly linked to the “Right to Preventive Measures”, the first principle stated in the European Charter of Patients’ Rights. Currently, EU member states dedicate 97% of their healthcare budgets to treatment, while spending an average of just 2.8% on preventive care. In a scenario of tighter budget constraints, the value of prevention becomes immeasurable. By reducing disease prevalence and avoiding costly treatments, prevention plays a crucial role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of healthcare, social care, and welfare systems. Read more

3 -5 December 2026 | Copenhagen (Denmark) | EIP2026
The 18th Excellence in Pediatrics Conference brings together pediatricians, researchers, and child healthcare professionals for an immersive cross-specialty learning experience. Taking place in Copenhagen and online, from 3 to 5 December, this year’s conference introduces enhanced sessions, hands-on workshops, and a new track on tech & innovation, all designed to keep you at the forefront of pediatric medicine. The initiative as always is organized by Excellence in Pediatrics Institute (ACN’s official partner), a non-profit global network dedicated to advancing pediatric healthcare. Read more.