European Citizens’ Initiative

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On 5 July, the Commission formally replied to the Stop Finning – Stop the trade, the 8th valid citizens’ initiative.

The organisers called on the Commission to extend an existing regulation to prevent sharks having their fins removed and traded around the world. ‘Finning’ consists of cutting fins from living sharks before they are thrown back, still alive, into the water.

The Commission welcomed the initiative and committed to acting in three areas. It will examine the possibility of initiating legislation to prevent the trade in loose fins. To that end, it will carry out an impact assessment and it will improve the collection of statistics. It will also step up EU traceability measures and work with international partners to end this illicit and barbaric practice.

Organisers of ‘Fur Free Europe’ call for banning fur farms in the EU and farmed fur products from the European market. They collected 1,502,319 valid signatures, with thresholds reached in 18 countries. They met with Vice-President Věra Jourová and Commissioner Stella Kyriakides on 20 July and will get an official reply by mid-December.

Want to learn more about the initiative itself and get insights on how to run a successful ECI campaign? Listen to organiser Elise Fleury in this CitizenCentral podcast episode.

Following the debate on the Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing initiative in the plenary of the European Parliament on 10 July, the Commission formally replied on 25 July.

The organisers call for phasing out of animal testing, for cosmetics, chemicals and other purposes. In its reply, the Commission outlined three main actions to further reduce animal testing. Firstly, it will protect and strengthen the already existing animal testing ban for cosmetics. Secondly, the Commission will work on a roadmap towards chemical safety assessments that are free from animal testing. This roadmap will be the guiding framework for future actions in reducing animal testing in that field. Thirdly, it will continue its funding on the development of alternative approaches, complemented with a series of actions to accelerate the reduction of animal testing in research, education and training.

On 11 July, the Commission registered a new initiative, ‘Taxing great wealth to finance the ecological and social transition’. This initiative calls on the Commission to draw up legislation that would create a new tax on extremely high levels of wealth. The organisers want the revenue raised in this way to be used to feed just ecological and social transition policies, such as the Green Deal and the cohesion policy.

To support this initiative, keep checking our website.

On 10 July, the ‘Article 4: Stop torture and inhuman treatment at Europe’s borders’ citizen’s initiative opened for signature collection.

This initiative calls on the Commission to ensure that the rights such as freedom from violence, torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment are ensured for migrants and asylum seekers at EU borders..

If you would like to support this initiative, click on the link below.

On 19 July, signature collection closed for the ‘Good Clothes, Fair Pay’ initiative. It collected over 240,000 signatures.

Join our new FB group! You will have quick access to information, news, and events concerning the European Citizens’ Initiative, as well as the option to share your own content. Join the group by clicking ‘more’ below.

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The Spanish TV channel ‘La Sexta’ prepared a short informative material on the ECI, with the participation of the ECI ambassador Enrique and ECI organisers: Raquel from the ‘Stop Tobacco’ initiative, Noa from ‘Save Bees and Farmers!’ and Pedro from the ‘High-Speed Train Network’ initiative.

This summer, ECI Ambassadors will attend various democracy festivals. We encourage you to stop by and say hello! On Saturday 12 August, the ECI will be discussed at the Arvamus ‘Opinion’ Festival in Paide, Estonia. In Gothenburg, Sweden, there will be several discussions and a stand dedicated to the ECI at the Frihamndsdagarna ‘Democracy Festival’ on Thursday 31 August and Friday 1 September. From 22 to 24 September, the ECI will have a stand at ‘Festival della Participazione’ in Bologna, Italy, where you’ll be able to learn more about open initiatives and the ECI toolkit for schools. We are also looking into participating in the PLAI Festival in Timisoara, Romania, in September, stay tuned for more!

Mark your calendars for the next ECI Forum webinar ‘How to Engage Young People’ on 28 September. This webinar will focus on the role of young people in the ECI, specifically how to get them to sign ECIs, and how young people can launch an ECI or be active volunteers. More information will be available in September on the ECI Forum.

The session on “ImagineEU: Toolkit and school competition on EU democracy & European Citizens’ Initiative” will present the toolkit for high school pupils on democratic participation in the EU, focusing on the European Citizens’ Initiative. (See our previous webinar on the toolkit here). The introduction of the toolkit is accompanied by the 'ImagineEU' competition for high schools, inviting pupils to come up with their ideas for new initiatives.

Where: Brussels (SQUARE Meeting Centre)

When: 12 October, 12.30

Format: EU Regions Talks

Did you know that some Member States have their own digital participatory democracy tools? Learn more about the Estonian participatory democracy tool, Rahvaalgatus.ee (People’s initiative) and see how it compares to the European citizens’ initiative.

The ECI Forum continues to directly engage with university students. Would you like us to make a presentation at your university? Contact the ECI Forum at eciforum@ecas.org.

Discover the insights of Mojca Erman, the legal expert from the ECI Forum’s Seek Advice service, and find out how this service actively supports initiative organisers. Get expert tips on formulating requests for the best outcomes.

Your support can count wherever you are.

Even if you are living outside the EU, you can still support an initiative. When you are signing, just select the country you are national of, and your vote will be counted there.

Check out our FAQs for all your ECI queries.