The Successful Story of the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients’ Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare”

Civil society, patient organisations and Members of the European Parliament working together to strengthen the protection of patients’ rights at the European level: this is both the message and the main objective of the political initiative that has evolved into a model for promoting thematic interest groups within the European Parliament.

Promoted and coordinated by the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva [1] through its EU branch, called “Active Citizenship Network” [2], the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients’ Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare” [3] represents one of the most relevant examples of civil society engagement in European health policy. A real success story, which has also been examined within academic settings [4] (Figure 1).

Since 2015, the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients’ Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare” [5] - whose secretariat is managed by the Cittadinanzattiva–Active Citizenship Network’s representative office to the European Institutions in Brussels [6] – has facilitated the presentation and discussion of civil recommendations, best practices, and case studies at the European Parliament.

Thanks to the sensitivity and vision of numerous Members of the European Parliament [7] who recognised this initiative as a meaningful contribution from civil society, it has been possible to elevate citizens’ health needs on the EU agenda. Through the platform of the Interest Group, dialogue was opened with EU institutions and relevant stakeholders on a broad range of pressing public health issues.

These included the situation of patients with chronic diseases [8], as well as those affected by invisible health conditions such pain and ostomy [9-12]. Furthermore, the Group addressed challenges regarding access to innovative medicines [13] and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) [14,15]. It promoted the value of public health policies on vaccination and emphasized the need to reinforce a life-course immunization culture among the entire population [16-22]; discussed the risks linked to medical desertification and the healthcare workforce crisis [23,24]; and contributed to reflections on how best to prepare for future and neglected pandemics, including COVID-19 [25,26], healthcareassociated infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [27,28]. The Interest Group also focused on key cross-border healthcare issues, beginning starting with the role of European Reference Networks (ERNs) and the phenomenon of “medical travel” [29-32]. Additional discussions centred around the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the strategic role of health data sharing [33].

The official launch of the Interest Group’s third mandate took place on 15 May 2025, during the annual celebration of European Patients’ Rights Day at the European Parliament in Brussels [34] (Figure 2).

The activities of the Interest Group are aligned with the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe [35], which emphasised the urgent need for greater EU involvement in public health. The Group’s mission also reflects the European Parliament’s recent establishment of the SANT standing committee, in response to sustained civil society advocacy — as acknowledged in the committee’s founding documents citing “responding to citizens’ expectations” [36].

The idea of encouraging an informal interest group of MEPs focused on patients’ rights emerged from the widespread request of almost 100 civic and patient organizations [37] calling on the EU Parliament to officially recognize the value of citizens’ initiatives, such as the European Charter of Patients’ Rights [38], based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the European Patients’ Rights Day [39], which has been organized at local, national and EU levels every year on 18 April since 2007 [40].

The proposal was formally launched at the European Parliament in May 2015 during the IX Edition of the European Patients’ Rights Day [41], and was already reflected in the “Report on safer healthcare in Europe: improving patient safety and fighting antimicrobial resistance (2014/2207(INI)) [42]”, which was approved unanimously by the ENVI Committee on 16 April 2015, and subsequently by the European Parliament in plenary in the second half of May 2015.

In its first decade, the Interest Group gained the support of 40 MEPs and hosted over 30 high-level policy dialogues, beginning with its inaugural event in December 2015 [43]. These meetings brought together hundreds of experts from across Europe and beyond, united by a shared goal: strengthening the right to health and making patients’ rights enforceable throughout the EU, in accordance with the principles outlined in the European Charter of Patients’ Rights [44].

Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network expresses deep gratitude to all Members of the European Parliament and partner organisations who have supported our efforts over the past decade to advocate for and protect the rights of European citizens and patients and contributed to this initiative. Special thanks to MEPs Brando Benifei [45] and Tomislav Sokol [46] who have once again agreed to serve as co-chairs of the Group.

The importance given to health issues in this European policy framework will determine whether the creation of a stronger European Health Union is merely an aspiration or a reality, and this will serve as a key metric for assessing the work of the European institutions in this area.

Each of the authors confirms that this manuscript has not been previously published by another international peer-review journal and is not under consideration by any other peer-review journal. Additionally, all of the authors have approved the contents of this paper and have agreed to the submission policies of the journal.

Each named author has substantially contributed in managing the described initiative and drafting this manuscript.

To the best of our knowledge, the named authors listed on the first page declare that they do not have any conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

The official presentation of the MEPs Interest Group took place in Brussel (Belgium) in the occasion of the annual celebration at the EU Parliament of the European Patients’ Rights Day, 15th May, 2025. The event was made possible thanks to the EU-funded project FACILITATE (FrAmework for ClInicaL trIal participants’ daTA reutilization for a fully Transparent and Ethical Ecosystem) [47], and the unconditional support of Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and Viatris. Media partners included Health Europa, TrendSanità-Policy and Procurement in HealthCare and Medvix Publication, publisher of the peer-reviewed Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports.

1. Cittadinanzattiva APS is an organisation, founded in Italy in 1978, which promotes citizens' activism for the protection of rights, the care of common goods, the support for people in conditions of weakness in Italy and abroad.
2. Established in 2001, Active Citizenship Network is part of the Cittadinanzattiva APS legal entity and is one of the most widespread and flexible European networks which - in the recent years - has been able to involve in its initiatives hundreds of civic, patient and users' organisations coming from European and extra-European countries.
3. Towards the establishment of the new MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights and Cross-border Healthcare.
4. (2025) Luiss Guido Carli University, Rome (Italy): Civil society participation in European health policy.
5. MEPs Interest Group. European Patients' Rights and Cross-border Healthcare.
6. (2015) Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva opens new office in Brussels.
7. List of the MEPs who have decided to support the Interest Group. European Patients’ Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare.
8. (2021) Promoting civic information to better address the collateral damage of COVID-19 on cardiovascular disease across Europe”.
9. (2016) Pain therapy and the degree of patient’s pain in the age of Cross-Border Healthcare.
10. (2018) Making visible the invisible on Headache Pain: sharing successul experiences across Europe.
11. (2021) “Patients’ right to avoid pain: reducing the burden of COVID-19, promoting best practices across EU 25 May 2021”.
12. (2025) “Living with an ostomy: from invisible struggles to visible change”.
13. (2017) “How to ensure treatments and the respect of patients’ time across Europe? Focus on timely access to innovative medicines after the European Commission approval”.
14. (2022) “Securing Equitable Patient Access to Advanced Therapies across Europe”.
15. (2023) “Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products in Europe: combining sustainability, innovation and respect for patients' rights”.
16. (2018) “The challenges of life-course vaccination to enhance public health protection in Europe: a multi-stakeholder approach”.
17. (2018) “Active citizens in Europe advocate for vaccination”.
18. (2020) “Joined for vaccination: addressing vaccine hesitancy and increasing uptake in EU, a multi-stakeholder perspective”.
19. (2021) “Routine vaccinations in time of covid-19 across Europe: a multi-stakeholder evaluation”.
20. (2022) “Towards the next Council conclusions: which role of adult vaccination?”.
21. (2022) “Waiting for the next Council conclusions: focus on adult vaccination”.
22. (2024) “Strengthening vaccination policies towards the European elections: from recommendations to concrete experiences”.
23. (2023) “Addressing medical deserts in Europe: a call to action”.
24. (2024) “The key role of HCPs for a healthier Europe. Combining the protection of patients' rights with skills shortage, medical desertification and job strain”.
25. (2021) “Addressing the challenges of concomitant deployment of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination”.
26. (2023) “Prioritizing care for high-risk COVID-19 patients in the EU: policy recommendations".
27. (2019) “Towards higher patient safety in European hospitals. Innovation in hygiene and sanification to reduce healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance”.
28. (2022) “Driving Collaboration in the Fight against Antimicrobial Resistance: Going Further, Aiming Higher”.
29. (2016) “Patients’ rights have no borders…as well as risks!”. www.interestgroup.activecitizenship.net/114-may-3rd-2016-patients-rights-have-no-borders-as-well-as-risks.html
30. (2017) “Exploring areas and benefits of cooperation in cross-border healthcare to protect patients’ rights”.
31. (2016) “Medical travel: a new European challenge”.
32. (2018) “Cross-border healthcare and centers of excellence to enhance patients' rights: access, information and innovation”.
33. (2025) “Exploring the benefits of health data sharing for patients, healthcare systems, and medical research at the EU level”.
34. “MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare”: 2024-2029 term.
35. EU Commission: “Conference on the Future of Europe”.
36. (2024) “EP to establish two new standing and two special committees”.
37. List of the first organizations which have decided to support the institutionalization of the European Patients' Rights Day and the activities of the new MEPs Interest Group on "European Patients' Rights and Cross-Border Healthcare":
38. (2022) Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network: “European Charter of Patients' Rights”. Rome.
39. European Patients’ Rights Day web section.
40. International & National celebrations for the European Patients’ Rights Day.
41. (2015) “The challenges of chronic diseases and patients’ rights in the framework of EU healthcare sustainability”.
42. (2015) Strasbourg: “European Parliament resolution of 19 May 2015 on safer healthcare in Europe: improving patient safety and fighting antimicrobial resistance (2014/2207(INI))”.
43. Watch the launch event of the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare”.
44. European Charter of Patients' Rights web section.
45. Brando Benifei, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.
46. Tomislav Sokol, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats).
47. FACILITATE (FrAmework for ClInicaL trIal participants' daTA reutilization for a fully Transparent and Ethical Ecosystem) project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative.