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.
The initiative builds on the momentum of the activities carried out by ACN in 2023 through the EU project “Protecting the value of access to healthcare during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: focus on antivirals” and in 2024 through the EU project “Empowering & mobilizing PAGs on COVID-19 prevention & treatments for vulnerable target groups”, which laid the foundations through political engagement, awareness-raising campaigns and collaboration with Members of the European Parliament.
Especially throughout 2024, the project achieved significant milestones, including the successful integration of COVID-19-related health priorities into the EU Health Agenda, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations and workforce development.
The 2025 activity focuses on shifting the EU's approach to respiratory care from emergency-driven responses to integrated, long-term strategies embedded in broader health policies.
Specifically, our main goals for 2025 are to:
- Ensure that COVID-19 prevention and treatment for high-risk patients remains a priority on the EU health agenda.
- Build consensus on respiratory diseases through a collaborative working group to strengthen institutional support.
- Strengthen the narrative on COVID-19 from emergency response to long-term health management.
- Increase awareness of viral respiratory infections, highlighting their ongoing impact on NCDs and the need for prevention strategies, with a particular focus on CVD (in line with the Council conclusions on improving cardiovascular health in the EU).
To achieve this, at the heart of the initiative is the creation of a dedicated working group composed of patient advocacy groups, medical associations, and leading experts to advocate for the prioritisation of respiratory care in EU health policy. This group will lead the development of a Call to Action to advocate for better access to treatments, particularly 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.
The working group will also build consensus on strategic priorities, including better access to treatment for high-risk patients, and position respiratory care within the broader context of prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.
To support these efforts, the initiative includes a comprehensive programme of engagement and capacity building. A workshop will be held for patient advocacy groups (PAGs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to strengthen their ability to navigate EU policy-making and to coordinate advocacy efforts. In parallel, a high-level policy dialogue event will be organized with the involvement of the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights & Cross-border Healthcare”, bringing together institutional representatives, healthcare professionals, and civil society to build political momentum and support the initiative’s goals.
Communication will play a central role, with the launch of the #CareForAll 2025 campaign. This will raise awareness among policymakers and the public, amplify the voices of patients and civil society, and reinforce the urgency of treating respiratory care as a top EU health priority.
Through sustained political outreach, strategic partnerships, and public engagement, the initiative aims not only to embed respiratory health more firmly in EU policymaking, but also to lay the foundations for long-term investment and legislative action in this critical area.
The project is realized thanks to the unconditional support of:
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