European Citizens’ Initiative

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The Commission registered two citizens’ initiatives on 24 July. They will be available to support soon.

'Stop Cruelty Stop Slaughter' calls for incentives for producing plant proteins, including plant-based milk and egg substitutes, as well as cultivated meat. The organisers also call for reducing the number of farm animals and progressively closing all animal farms.

'Stop Fake Food: Origin on label' calls for measures that ensure European consumers’ access to transparent information about the food they buy, as well as clear and explicit labelling of the origin for all products and for adherence to environmental, health and labour standards in the internal market.

On 31 July, the initiative 'Stop Destroying Videogames' started collecting signatures. Organisers call on the Commission to require publishers of video games to leave the games in a functional state once support for the game ends.

Many members of the gaming community have mobilised behind the initiative, with the signature threshold already reached in several Member States.

With the start of the 2024-29 European parliamentary term on 16 July 2024, the revised Annex I to the ECI Regulation became applicable. It sets out new minimum numbers of signatories needed per Member State called ‘thresholds’. A successful ECI must reach at least seven thresholds as part of the 1 million statements of support. These thresholds are linked to the number of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), which increased from 705 to 720 in the new term.

These new minimum numbers apply to ECIs registered by the Commission on or after 16 July 2024. The new minimum numbers do not apply to ECIs registered before 16 July 2024 for which the previous thresholds continue to apply.

The European Commission is hosting a European Citizens’ Initiative stand at the European Week of Regions and Cities from 8 to 10 October in Brussels.

The ECI is an interesting way to ‘level up’ action for citizens who are already active at local or regional level. Stop by to find out how regional authorities can empower citizens in their area to be active in the EU.

Check out the full programme.

The 5th edition of the Guide to the European citizens’ initiative is now available! Recent examples of follow-up actions on successful citizens’ initiatives are included, among other updates.

You can download the guide in all official EU languages from the EU’s Publications Office.

Check out additional communication materials on the ECI website.

Do you know a teacher looking for inspiring materials to use in the classroom this school year? Share the ‘EU Democracy in Action – Have Your Say with the European Citizens’ Initiative’ toolkit with them!

Comprised of four lessons, these resources equip secondary school students with the knowledge and skills needed to be more engaged EU citizens. Materials are available in all official EU languages on the ECI website.

Everyone else is also welcome to kickstart the new academic season with the ECI Forum’s online course ’Essential Skills for European Citizens’ Initiative Organisers’! Learn from experts on how to get your initiative registered and successfully collect one million signatures for your ECI.

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The survey takes less than 5 minutes and is available in all EU languages.

How could taxing the wealthiest Europeans support social policies and the ecological transition?

Read the ECI Forum’s latest blog post to learn more about the vision behind the #TaxTheRich initiative, as told by the organisers themselves.

Speaking of insights into running an ECI, check out recommendations from experts during a recent webinar regarding digital tools, building strong partnerships, and adapting strategies to local contexts.

Did you know that Malta has the highest per capita engagement among all Member States?

Discover more insights in the ECI Forum's data-driven analysis of trends, demographics, and the factors contributing to the success of ECIs across Europe. If you’re looking to understand how to maximise engagement and tailor your campaign strategy, this resource is essential reading.

Are you planning to launch a European citizens' initiative?

The ECI Forum offers free, personalised guidance on legal issues, campaigning, fundraising, and more - all in your preferred EU language. Receive tailored advice from our independent experts within just eight working days.

If you are involved in organising a citizens’ initiative and collect signatures on paper, you will find yourself in possession of the personal data of people who support your initiative. These data are subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and this means that you are responsible for them. You should make sure that you know what your responsibilities are.

Check out our FAQ section to make sure you are fully compliant.