Partnerships

EFA represents the voice of over 200 million people living with allergy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Europe. We are active in a wide range of official bodies, organisations and initiatives aligned with our four pillars: Community, Prevent, Care and Climate change.

We work hand in hand with healthcare professionals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, scientific research community and industry to build long-term, trusted partnerships. These collaborations enable us to broaden our impact, deepen our expertise and bring the patient voice forward.

EFA is a trusted partner of leading public institutions in allergy, atopic, eczema, asthma, and COPD:

		EFA is an Eligible Patient and Consumer Organisation and member of the European Medicines Agency Patients' and Consumers' Working Party (EMA PCWP) since 2013, represented by EFA Vice President Karoly Illy and Health and Care Policy Officer Anna Murdock.
		EFA is a registered stakeholder of the European Food Security Authority (EFSA) since 2017, under the category Environmental/Health NGOs and Advocacy groups. Represented by EFA Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
		EFA is an accredited stakeholder organisation to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) since 2017, represented by EFA Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
		EFA is an accredited non-state-actor (NSA) to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe since 2017, represented by EFA Director Susanna Palkonen. EFA is also a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission (CSC) since its creation in 2023, represented by EFA President Marcia Podestà.
		EFA is a participating non-state actor of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) since 2023, represented by EFA Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
		EFA is a founding member of the World Health Organisation Global Alliance Against Respiratory Diseases (GARD) established in 2006. It is a voluntary alliance of organizations, institutions and agencies working towards a common vision to improve global lung health according to local needs.
		EFA is an Observer since 2019 in the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Codex Alimentarius Committee, the international body setting standards, guidelines and codes of practice relating to food safety. EFA is a member of the Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) and the Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH). We also have an active role in several electronic Working Groups of CCFL on allergen labelling, internet sales of food, and the use of technology in food labelling. EFA is represented by Sabine Schnadt from EFA Member organisation German Allergy and Asthma Association and EFA President Marcia Podestà.

EFA is a member of the following European Commission Directorate-Generals and working groups:

	EFA is a member of the Health and Emergency Response Authority (HERA) Civil Society Forum since its creation in June 2022 and is represented by EFA Deputy Director Isabel Proaño. EFA also actively participates in HERA's Critical Medicines Alliance, contributing to the development of EU policies addressing medicine shortages. This engagement is further strengthened through the Critical Medicines Alliance’s collaboration within the European Patients’ Forum’s Task Force on shortages.
	EFA is a member of the European Commission Stakeholder Contact Group on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan which sets out to improve a broad range of health aspects covering prevention, early detection and care, research, patient participation and quality of life. EFA is represented by Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
	EFA is a member of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform since 2021, which brings different stakeholders together to address different policy needs nder the European Green Deal. It is co-led by the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions. EFA is represented on the platform by EFA Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis and Deputy Director Isabel Proaño.
	EFA is a member of the European Commission DG SANTE Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Stakeholder Network since its creation in 2023 to bring the perspectives of patients with allergy, asthma and COPD to the work at the EU level in the area of health technology assessment. Prior to that, EFA was member of the HTA Stakeholder Pool created in 2017 to inform the Union legislative work towards the HTA Regulation which entered into force in 2021. EFA’s representatives are EFA Director Susanna Palkonen and Policy Officer Anna Murdock.

EFA is a member of various independent, non-for-profit, international organisations and initiatives:

		As part of the European Lung Health Group, a coalition of nine organisations, EFA empowers patients with lung diseases by supporting early diagnosis, enhancing care, advancing quality of life and promoting research. At the European level, we amplify our members' voices to push for better EU lung health policies through our #KeepBreathing campaign.
		EFA is a full and a founding Member to the European Patients’ Forum. EFA Deputy Director Isabel Proaño was elected EPF Board Member in 2022. EFA Director Susanna Palkonen was a Board Member of EPF from 2006 to 2017. EPF is the voice of patient organisations in Europe, working to advance the interests of patients and patients’ communities throughout Europe. EFA is also member of the EPF Digital Health Working Group, the EPF Universal Access Working Group and the EPF Task Force on Shortages.
		EFA is a sustaining partner of the European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI) and a member of the EUPATI Partners Forum. Suzanne Bocoum, EFA Community Engagement Manager, represents EFA in the Forum. EUPATI is a patient-led initiative enhancing patient engagement in medicines R&D and training patient experts through its recognised EUPATI Fellow Programme.
		EFA is an associate member to the International Alliance of Dermatology Patients Organisations (IADPO/Global Skin) since 019. Panagiotis Chaslaridis, EFA Senior Policy Advisor represents EFA in the Atopic Eczema Advocacy Group. IADPO is a global alliance working to improve the lives of those affected by dermatological conditions throughout the world.
		EFA is a partner organisation in the World Skin Health Coalition (WSHC) since 2022. Susanna Palkonen, EFA Director, represents EFA in this patient-led, multi-stakeholder group. The Coalition works globally to elevate skin diseases as a public health priority, advocating for better access to diagnosis, care and treatment, and supporting the WHO Resolution on skin diseases.
		EFA is a member as an international organisation, of the Global Allergy and Airways Patient’s Platform (GAAPP) represented by EFA Director, Susanna Palkonen. GAAPP is the global network to empower patients with allergies, asthma, atopic eczema and urticaria.
		EFA is a full and founding member of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) under the European and International Networks category. HEAL addresses how the environment affects human health in the European Union and beyond. EFA is represented by Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis, who also sits in the HEAL Executive Committee.
		EFA is a founding member of the EU Healthy Air Coalition (EUHAC) since early 2024. EUHAC advocates for science-based policy change addressing the largely preventable burden of deaths and disease caused by air pollution in Europe. EFA is represented by Senior Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
		EFA is an associate member and partner, of the European Network for Tobacco Control and Tobacco Control (ENSP) since 2005, under the category of Specialised Network Representatives, represented by EFA Director Susanna Palkonen. ENSP aims to create greater coherence among smoking prevention activities and to promote comprehensive tobacco control policies at both national and European levels.
		EFA is a member of the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance (EU4Health CSA), launched as a campaign in 2017, represented by Panagiotis Chaslaridis. EU4Health CSA brings together organisations that share the vision of a Europe where all people are as healthy as they can be throughout their lives.

EFA works very closely with medical and healthcare professional associations:

		EFA is a member of the EADV Patient Advocacy Taskforce, a platform that brings patient organisations and dermatologists together across a range of skin conditions. Represented by EFA’s Director, Susanna Palkonen, this collaboration focuses on advancing atopic eczema prevention, care, and patient education across Europe.
		The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is an association of health professionals, dedicated to improving the health of people affected by allergic diseases. EFA is a member of the EAACI Patients Organisation Committee (POC) which acts as the Patients reference body in Allergology, promoting patient-centred healthcare in the specialty and participates in numerous EAACI taskforces represented by EFA Senior Policy Advisor, Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
		The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a leading international organisation of healthcare professionals, scientists and other experts working in respiratory medicine and long-term partner of EFA. EFA is also a member of the SHARP Patient Advisory Group, contributing to the Severe Heterogeneous Asthma Research collaboration to advance patient-centred research, improve care, and end reliance on oral steroids in severe asthma across Europe.
		EFA is a member of the European Lung Foundation Patient Advisory Committee (ELF PAC). The Committee provides guidance and support to ELF in order to integrate the patient voice within the European Respiratory Society (ERS) activities. EFA is also a member of the ELF Patient Advisory Groups on Asthma and COVID-19 represented by EFA Programme Manager Valeria Ramiconi and EFA Board Member Anna Andrałojć.
		The International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) is a clinically-led non-profit organisation. It focuses on research and education to improve prevention, diagnosis and care of respiratory diseases and is a long term partner of EFA.
		The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) is a global organisation that works with patient advisors, health care professionals and public health officials to reduce asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. EFA Director Susanna Palkonen is a GINA advocate.
		The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) raises awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) around the world to improve prevention and treatment of this lung disease.

EFA maintains a broad network of partnerships across disciplines, including collaborations established through EU‑funded projects:

		The European Human Exposome Network (EHEN) is a collaboration between 9 EU-funded research projects,studying the impact assessment of the totality of environmental exposure on human health. EFA is represented by EFA Policy Advisor Panagiotis Chaslaridis.
		The BBMRI-ERIC is a European research infrastructure for biobanking that includes the main players from the biobanking field, researchers, biobankers, industry and patients, to boost biomedical research. EFA is a member of the Stakeholder Forum represented by EFA Deputy Director Isabel Proaño.
		AutoPollen (Automatic Pollen Detection Network) is a programme under the auspices of EUMETNET, the network of European national meteorological services. The programme aims to establish a prototype real-time pollen monitoring network across Europe. EFA participates in the project to help define the end-user needs, the development of new pollen monitoring products and the assessment.
		EFA continues to bring the patient voice to EU-funded research through the high-level Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) projects 3TR and ImmUniverse. These projects are now part of the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), which promotes integrated, patient-centred approaches to asthma, COPD and atopic eczema.
		The Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections – Vaccines Europe collaborates with experts to promote respiratory virus vaccination across Europe. EFA is represented by Director Susanna Palkonen and highlights the vital importance of immunisation for patients with allergy, asthma, and COPD, advocating for increased vaccination rates for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV to improve public health and strengthen healthcare systems.
		EFA is part of SynAir-G, one of the seven projects of the EU-funded IDEAL Cluster initiative addressing the health impacts of indoor air pollution. The SynAir-G project focuses on improving the understanding of indoor air pollutants in schools and developing effective solutions for vulnerable populations. EFA leads the work of science-to-policy translation for the whole cluster, including the policy strategy and the policy briefs.
		EFA is a member of GA²LEN, a network of the leading European clinical and research facilities in allergology and asthma. GA²LEN addresses the growing public health concern of allergic diseases.

Finally, EFA collaborates with many international organisations and initiatives:

		The International Ragweed Society (IRS) consists of researchers who study the properties and harmful effects of the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) plant, which is the leading cause of pollen-related allergies in North America and Europe.
		The European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) is an independent organisation, founded as a European health policy conference. It provides a neutral platform for the discussion and advancement of health policy in the EU and beyond.