Recombinant poxvirus are disclosed comprising in the viral genome at least two expression cassettes, each comprising a cowpox ATI promoter according to SEQ ID NO:1, a polynucleotide sequence in which not more than 6 nucleotides are substituted, deleted, and/or inserted into SEQ ID NO:1 and still active as an ATI promoter, or a polynucleotide comprising at least 10 nucleotides including nucleotides 22 to 29 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and still active as an ATI promoter and a coding sequence, wherein the expression of the coding sequence is regulated by said promoter or said polynucleotides. The recombinant poxviruses are useful as pharmaceutically active ingredients in the preparation of vaccines.