European Citizens’ Initiative

Another year has passed quickly for the European Citizens’ Initiative. There were 11 new citizens’ initiatives registered, 10 which opened for signature collection and at least 2.3 million signatures of support collected across all the open initiatives!

The Commission has further worked on the follow-up to 4 ECIs that were answered in 2023.

The von der Leyen II Commission took office on 1 December 2024 for the next 5 years. The European Citizens’ Initiative is included in the portfolio of the Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, Maroš Šefčovič.

Organisers of the ‘Air-Quotas’ initiative start their 1-year signature collection period on 16 December.

This initiative calls for a citizens’ carbon quota mechanism in each country that would encourage businesses to decarbonise through consumer demand.

Since July 2023, the Commission has taken several steps announced in its reply to this citizens’ initiative. For example, an additional 13 customs codes were created. These will allow, as of January 2025, for collection of import and export data for both carcasses and fins of the most caught and traded shark species.

Danish citizens can now use their eID (‘MitID’) to support European citizens' initiatives online. Denmark is the 19th EU country enabling the use of a national eID system for signing citizens' initiatives.

Check the status for all EU countries.

Recent updates to the ‘Step-by-Step' infographic. (helping people visualise the ECI process) are now published on the ECI communication materials page. In addition to making some parts more visually accessible, a QR code to the ECI website has been added.

As we wrap up 2024, let’s celebrate all we’ve achieved together through the ECI Forum. The ECI Forum team helped (potential) ECI organisers by answering 34 enquiries via the Seek Advice service and supported 8 ECIs through Welcome Calls. Additionally, we hosted 3 webinars, connecting with 60 participants in meaningful discussions.

Looking how to fund your European citizens’ initiative? Democracy International’s Anne Hardt shares actionable insights on building a robust fundraising strategy.

Successful citizens’ initiatives require thorough preparation, from building a diverse organisers' group to aligning your proposal with EU priorities and running a long-term campaign. The insights from a recent ECI Forum’s webinar highlight how the ECI Forum can help you navigate the process and maximise your impact at the EU level.

On 4 December, the ECI Forum team hosted a hands-on workshop with DEAR Programme participants, exploring the ECI as a powerful tool for fostering active democracy. We used the ECI framework to discuss how to engage audiences through the "Engagement Pyramid," progressing from awareness to active participation.