Earlier this month, ECI Ambassador Sebastian Berchesan (Stand Up for Europe, Belgium) led an engaging workshop in Brussels on “Forms & Tools of Youth Participation in the EU Decision-Making Process.”

Forty young participants from seven countries took part in a simulation of the EU legislative process, assuming the roles of Members of the European Parliament. They also explored the European Citizens’ Initiative, examining successful campaigns and reviewing current ECIs open for signatures.

Thank you for helping make the ECI better known!

Heading to Strasbourg for the European Youth Event (EYE) 2025 on 13–14 June? Don’t miss your chance to connect with the ECI!

Visit us at the EYE Village’s European Commission stand ‘Engage with the EU!’ to learn how young people can shape EU policy through the ECI.

The European Commission has opened a tender for the management of the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum.

Interested organisations can apply by 25 June 2025. All relevant documents and specifications are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

If you missed the ECI Forum’s latest webinar, don’t worry! You can catch up on everything you need to know about the ECI and how it works.

Watch the recording to learn from ECI organisers as they share tips, challenges, and success stories.

In times of global upheaval, citizen voices are vital.

A new blog on the ECI Forum highlights the power of the ECI, featuring insights from Commissioner Šefčovič and other EU leaders. They urge citizens to get organised, stay engaged, and shape EU policy from the ground up.

Can you truly own a video game? The ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’ campaign is taking a stand for digital ownership, cultural preservation, and players’ rights – with over 440,000 supporters already on board.

Meet the gamers driving the movement and find out why they chose ECI to drive their cause.

Organising an ECI requires planning, people, and resources. The updated 'How to raise funds' guidance note offers practical tips on identifying potential funders, crafting effective outreach strategies and building lasting support to help organisers launch strong initiatives.

Building a successful ECI starts with the right support. In the Forum’s latest video on partnership-building , ECI organisers share real-world tips and lessons learned from their own journeys. Get inspired and learn how to connect with allies who can take your campaign to the next level.

Explore the latest Communication materials now available on the ECI website, featuring new audiovisuals and web banners with ECI Ambassadors.

Earlier this month, ECI Ambassador Sebastian Berchesan (Stand Up for Europe, Belgium) led an engaging workshop in Brussels on “Forms & Tools of Youth Participation in the EU Decision-Making Process.”

Forty young participants from seven countries took part in a simulation of the EU legislative process, assuming the roles of Members of the European Parliament. They also explored the European Citizens’ Initiative, examining successful campaigns and reviewing current ECIs open for signatures.

Thank you for helping make the ECI better known!

The ECI Ambassadors are essential in sharing information about the ECI locally and nationally, helping citizens make the most of their EU citizenship rights. We would like to welcome our newest Ambassador:

• Tiarnán McDonough, Democracy Researcher at Think-tank for Action on Social Change (TASC), Ireland

Meet the ECI Ambassadors.

To launch or sign a European Citizens’ Initiative, you must be old enough to vote in European Parliament elections. This is usually 18, except in:

• Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Malta, where the age is 16
• Greece, where the age is 17

In Estonia, you can sign an ECI at 16, but to launch one, you must be old enough to vote in European Parliament elections, which is 18.

Curious about the process? Check out how the ECI works step by step.

The European Commission is regularly improving the central online collection system, offered to ECI organisers free of charge for collecting signatures online. In a recent update, BlueSky has been added to the list of social media platforms that organisers can choose to invite signatories to follow their initiative.

The blog from the ECI Forum introduces the latest features of its revamped website, designed for a smoother user experience.

What does it take to run a successful European Citizens’ Initiative? Martina Rubino, campaigner for 'My Voice, My Choice' ECI, shares the strategic insights behind their groundbreaking campaign, which secured over 1.1 million signatures well ahead of the deadline.

The ECI Ambassadors spread the word about the ECI in their local context and empower citizens to make use of their EU citizenship rights.

Recently, the ECI Ambassadors network welcomed three new members:

The ECI Facebook group has over 1,900 members - let's go for 2,000! As a member of the group, you can exchange with other citizens and ECI organisers on all matters related to the ECI; you can also get the latest updates on what various ECI communicators, from all around the EU, are doing.

Make sure you have joined and invite 3 friends to join today!

The Have Your Say portal is a one stop shop for all citizen engagement tools managed by the European Commission, including the ECI. Via this portal, the Commission invites Europeans to share their ideas for the next multiannual EU budget (post-2027).

Join the online debate on the Citizens’ Engagement Platform to ensure your insights inform the Citizens’ Panel on this topic.

Planning to launch a European Citizens' Initiative? The ECI Forum provides free, personalised guidance on legal matters, campaigning or fundraising – available in your preferred EU language.

The European Citizens’ Initiative Forum has been redesigned to better meet the needs of organisers at every step of the process – from preparing their initiative for registration to its verification and examination. The updated platform offers streamlined navigation, thematic guidance, success stories, and expert advice to make your ECI journey smoother and more accessible.