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26/04/2024

ECI Newsletter (April) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 1 new initiative and 2 open for signatures

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (25/04/2024)

Lire le bulletin en français. Cliquez sur le bouton 'more' ci-dessous, puis sur la nouvelle page (en haut de la page) cliquez sur l’icône du globe pour sélectionner la traduction française.

Lesen Sie den Newsletter auf Deutsch. Klicken Sie unten auf die Schaltfläche ‘more’ und wählen Sie dann auf der neuen Seite das Globus-Symbol aus, um die deutsche Übersetzung auszuwählen.

A kind reminder: this newsletter has automatic machine translation into 23 EU languages. Want to switch languages? Click ‘more’ and select the language of your choice at the top of the page. Thanks for keeping in mind this is machine generated.

New initiative registered: My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion (25/04/2024)

On 10 April, the Commission registered a new citizens’ initiative called 'My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion'. The campaign aims to offer ‘the people of Europe the chance to make women's lives freer, safer, and better; wherever they live in our union, whatever conditions they may find themselves in.’

The organisers proceeded to open the signature collection period on 24 April. Learn ‘more’ about this initiative.

Initiative updates: open for signature collection (25/04/2024)

The citizens’ initiative ‘EU Live Bus Stop Info’ opens for signature collection on 26 April. Organisers have 1 year to collect 1 million signatures.

You can support a total of 9 citizens’ initiatives at the moment. Check them out by clicking ‘more’.

Follow-up actions taken by the Commission on successful initiatives (25/04/2024)

Following the July 2023 reply of the Commission to the ‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics’ citizens’ initiative, work on the ‘roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments’ is progressing. The ECI organisers were invited to a workshop as part of the process. Read ‘more’ by clicking below.

In addition, a public consultation on sharks and marine ecosystems is running until 4 June 2024. This is part of the follow-up to the ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ citizens’ initiative.

EU Digital Identity Wallet (25/04/2024)

Good news regarding signing citizens’ initiatives with electronic IDs (eID)!

The regulation should enter into force in the coming weeks. It will be fully implemented by 2026.

Concretely, the EU Digital Identity Wallet will allow citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online to a range of public and private services, create free digital signatures or store and share digital documents. Using the wallet will always remain voluntary.

Two new ECI Ambassador organisations (25/04/2024)

In the past month, we’ve welcomed two new ECI Ambassadors to our network.

Our ECI Ambassadors are vital in helping to make available information about the ECI at national and local level and empower citizens to make use of their EU citizenship rights. Our newest ECI Ambassadors come from Europe Direct Centres and have expertise in participatory democracy.

We would like to welcome:

Cristina Santana, from Europe Direct Canarias
Europe Direct of Western Macedonia, Greece

If you would like to find out more about our ECI Ambassador programme, visit the ECI website by clicking ‘more’.

Europe Day – come meet the ECI! (04/05/2024)

9 May is Europe Day – and the celebrations are extra special this year!

With the upcoming EP elections, 20th anniversary of several Member States joining our Union and more – there are many Europe Day celebrations happening across the EU.

On Saturday, 4 May, you can visit the ‘Strengthening Our Democracy’ village and talk to European Commission officials about the ECI at the Open Day in Brussels (Rue de la Loi 200).

The ECI will also be featured at events across Europe. Check out what’s happening and when in your country.

ECI comes to Democracy Festivals in Berlin and Bonn (24/05/2024)

There are two occasions to learn more about the ECI in Germany coming up! At the Democracy Festivals in Berlin (24-26 May) and Bonn (25 May), you can find us as part of the stands hosted by the Commission Representation in Germany.

Our ECI Ambassador and volunteers look forward to welcoming you with a quiz and opportunities to share ideas and questions! Entrance is free.

ECI Bootcamp in Bucharest (16/05/2024)

Join the ECI Forum at the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy in Bucharest for a Bootcamp on ‘how to organise an ECI’! Analyse the best practices of successful ECI organisers and engage in interactive activities to gain real-life understanding of the ECI lifecycle.

This Global Forum is brought to you by Democracy International.

Share your feedback: the ECI Facebook group (25/04/2024)

The ECI Facebook Group is one year old and counts 1,5K members! We want your feedback on improving it by participating in a brief survey. It only takes a few minutes, and your input will be confidential.

New Blog: ECI calling to fight cross-border polluters (25/04/2024)

Discover insights from Rebeka Hevesi, legal advisor to Member of the European Parliament Anna Donáth, on the proposed ECI 'Creation of a European Environment Authority’ and its potential to enforce binding decisions across EU borders in the ECI Forum’s latest blog post.

New Blog: sharing collaboration tips to make your ECI succeed (25/04/2024)

Discover the keys to success when it comes to ECIs. From strategic collaboration to media mastery, many ideas were shared by seasoned experts and campaigners at the 2024 ECI Day workshop titled "How to Look for Partners".

Looking for a guest speaker? (25/04/2024)

On 12 April, the ECI Forum team was present at the LevelUP! Youth event hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels. Through an engaging simulation, enthusiastic young participants delved into the foundations of the ECI and had the opportunity to pitch their own ECI proposals and vote for their favourite.

If you want the ECI Forum team to speak in your event or at your university, please contact us at eciforum@ecas.org.

Updated ECI presentation (25/04/2024)

Talking to people about the ECI sometime soon? We’ve got you covered! An updated powerpoint presentation is available on the communication materials page. Click ‘more’ to check it out.

26/03/2024

ECI Newsletter (March) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter Newsletter – updates and ImagineEU award ceremony

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (26/03/2024)

Sign open initiatives (26/03/2024)

Eleven citizens’ initiatives are currently collecting signatures. Two of them will stop collecting in April.

Vegan Meal asks for a vegan option to be always available wherever food and drink are sold in the EU. You can support this ECI until 4 April.

Ensuring a dignified reception of migrants in Europe asks that all migrants arriving in Europe are treated in a dignified manner. It will be open for support until 14 April.

Visit the ECI website to find out more about these and other ongoing initiatives.

How to run a successful initiative? (26/03/2024)

Get tips on running a successful European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) campaign in our latest blog post! Gain insights and advice directly from ECI experts and campaigners, shared during an online ECI Forum’s ‘world café’ event, covering everything from communications to fundraising and community-building in a multilingual, transnational context.

ECI Bootcamp in Romania (16/05/2024)

Join the ECI Forum at the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy in Bucharest for an ECI Bootcamp on ‘how to start an ECI’! Learn the essential steps of launching an ECI and engage in interactive activities to gain real-life understanding of the ECI lifecycle. The bootcamp lasts from 17:30-19:00.

This Global Forum is brought to you by Democracy International.

Register today!

2nd ECI Network Gathering (26/03/2024)

On 6 March, members of the ECI Communicators Network gathered in Brussels. Participants shared best practices at national level, and discussed how to engage youth audiences, improve media coverage, use the hook of the 2024 elections, and more.

Inspiration and motivation for spreading information about the ECI was high. Stay tuned for new engagement ideas and actions.

In the meantime, check out existing communicator tools available in all official EU languages.

User Satisfaction Survey (26/03/2024)

Join us in improving the ECI Forum by participating in a brief survey. It takes only a few minutes, and your input will be confidential.

The survey is available in all EU languages.

A Master's thesis on the ECI (26/03/2024)

In her Master's thesis, "The European Citizens' Initiative: A Pathway towards transnational democracy in Europe?", Italian student Paola Ladisa critically examines the European Citizens' Initiative, highlighting its strides in fostering citizen engagement and its challenges in fully realising its transformative potential for transnational democracy in Europe. Discover the key arguments and insights from her research in this article for the ECI Forum.

ECI review findings presented in the European Parliament (26/03/2024)

On 20 March, the Commission presented its report on the application of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European Citizens’ Initiative to the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs.

The report covers the four-year period from 2020, when the reformed ECI rules came into force. The report announces several actions to further improve the functioning of the ECI, taking into account feedback collected from ECI organisers, national authorities, citizens and other stakeholders.

A copy of the report is available for download in all EU languages.

A video of the meeting is available by clicking 'more’. The discussion on the ECI starts at 11:35.

Three new ECI Ambassador organisations (26/03/2024)

In the past few months, we’ve welcomed three new ECI Ambassadors to our network.

Our ECI Ambassadors are vital in helping to make available information about the ECI at national and local level and empower citizens to make use of their EU citizenship rights. Our newest ECI Ambassadors come from a variety of organisations and have expertise in participatory democracy.

We would like to welcome:

The Bulgarian School of Politics ‘Dimitry Panitza’
Grega Donša, Head of Europe Direct Information Centre, Pomurje, Slovenia
The European Youth Parliament, Finland

If you would like to find out more about our ECI Ambassador programme, visit the ECI website by clicking ‘more’.

University Presentations (26/03/2024)

On 13 March, the ECI Forum team welcomed a group of students from the University College Dublin to present the European Citizens’ Initiative as a tool for participatory democracy and how the ECI Forum supports organisers in launching their initiatives.

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.

ECI Day 2024 (26/03/2024)

Tuesday 5 March was ECI Day 2024 – a yearly event on the ECI organised by the European Economic and Social Committee and its partners.

This year, it was held as part of the EESC’s first Civil Society Week, entitled ‘Rise Up for Democracy!’. Two workshops were organised by the ECI Forum, designed to help potential ECI organisers learn from the experience of previous initiatives and find support for their own.

Read reflections from ECI Ambassador Bruno Kaufmann on the 'critical assessments’ of the ECI and the potential the ECI holds for the future of democracy. Click ‘more’.

ImagineEU competition award ceremony (26/03/2024)

Between 21 and 23 March the three winning teams of the ImagineEU video competition from Italy, France, and Romania visited Brussels for their award ceremony. They also had the chance to learn more about the EU institutions and the city that hosts them.

You can watch their videos here.

Congratulations to the winning teams and their teachers, and many thanks to all teams who took part in the competition.

Help us reach 1.5K members! (26/03/2024)

Join the European Citizens’ Initiative Official Group on Facebook. This group gives you access to frequent updates, and you can post about your ECI experience.

26/02/2024

ECI Newsletter (February) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 1 new initiative and ‘ImagineEU’ winners announced

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (26/02/2024)

New ECI registered (26/02/2024)

On 6 February, the European Commission partially registered a new citizens’ initiative. Two of the three objectives were considered legally admissible.

The initiative, ‘European Cannabis Initiative’, asks to foster access to medical cannabis throughout the EU and to allocate the necessary resources for researching cannabis for its therapeutic uses.

Organisers have 6 months to open the initiative for signature collection, aiming to reach 1 million signatures of support.

Open for signatures: ‘Preservation and development of Ukrainian culture' (26/02/2024)

Organisers of the citizens’ initiative ‘Preservation and development of Ukrainian culture, education, language, and traditions in EU states’ started their signature collection period on 13 February.

They call for the Commission to help “bridge cultural gaps and empower Ukrainian cultural and linguistic heritage in the EU community, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting integration for Ukrainian refugees”. The initiative has 1 year to collect 1 million signatures.

You can read more about its objectives on our website.

See all 11 ECIs collecting support.

Organisers of 'Fur Free Europe' successful ECI meet the European Commission, following its reply (26/02/2024)

On 9 February Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, accompanied by Commission staff from relevant departments, received representatives of the successful European citizens’ initiative 'Fur Free Europe'.

In the meeting Commissioner Kyriakides presented the Commission's response to this initiative, adopted on 7 December 2023, and replied to the questions of the organisers.

Court judgment concerning ‘Cohesion policy’ ECI (26/02/2024)

On 22 February, the Court of Justice delivered its judgment in case C-54/22 P, Romania v Commission. The Commission’s 2019 decision to partially register the European citizens’ initiative ‘Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures’ is upheld following the dismissal of Romania’s appeal.

Follow-up to the successful ECI ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ (26/02/2024)

On 22 February, the European Commission published a call for evidence seeking views and expertise concerning trade of loose shark fins.

The aim is to ensure the best informed, participatory and transparent way of deciding on the follow-up to the 2023 European citizens’ initiative ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’.

Further follow-up to successful ECI ‘Right2Water’ (26/02/2024)

In January 2024, the Commission adopted new minimum hygiene standards for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water. These hygiene standards are an important milestone in the implementation of the recast Drinking Water Directive and represent further follow-up to the successful 2013 a 'Right2Water' citizens’ initiative.

Winners of the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition (26/02/2024)

Congratulations to the three winning teams of the ImagineEU video competition!

Winning teams come from France, Italy and Romania. They are invited to Brussels in March for an award ceremony. A big thank you to all students and teachers who took part – we enjoyed your innovative ideas, creative presentation, and enthusiasm!

Watch the winning videos by clicking ‘more’.

Reminder: last call to register for ECI Day 2024 (05/03/2024)

The 2024 edition of European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) Day will take place on Tuesday, 5 March in a completely new framework.

At #ECIDay2024, you can engage with EU institutions, civil society organisations, ECI organisers and other stakeholders for ECI-related panel discussions and practical "how-to" workshops.

More information and registration in the links below. Registration closes Tuesday, 27 February.

New Success Story: Stop Finning - Stop the Trade (26/02/2024)

Build a robust network of partners and volunteers before launching your European citizens' initiative for greater success, as recommended by the successful ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ campaign.

Discover their strategy that garnered 1.1 million signatures.

New Blog: OIPA’s European citizens’ initiatives: ‘End the Horse Slaughter Age’ and ‘Vegan Meal’ (26/02/2024)

Claudia Taccani, spokesperson of the International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA), shares insights on how ECIs can empower citizens to advocate for animal rights through initiatives like ‘Vegan Meal’ and ‘End the Horse Slaughter Age’. Read more about OIPA's positive experience and their commitment to transforming citizens' voices into legislative measures for the protection of animals.

You can also watch a ‘Meet and Greet’ video with Claudia.

ECI Forum workshops at ECI Day 2024 (26/02/2024)

ECI Day gathers potential, current, and future ECI organisers and stakeholders to exchange information and learn from one another. The ECI Forum team is hosting several sessions at ECI Day – get a sneak peek in this blog post.

User satisfaction survey (26/02/2024)

Join us in improving the ECI Forum by participating in a brief survey. It takes only a few minutes, and your input will be confidential.

The survey is available in all EU languages. Take part.

ECI Facebook group - join now (26/02/2024)

Are you following the latest ECI community updates online? Join, post and engage with the ECI Facebook group today.

New flyer for first-time voters (26/02/2024)

The Commission aims to inform young people between 16 and 23 years old about the upcoming European elections and other ways for young people to engage with the EU – including the ECI. Check out the flyer in electronic or print form – available in 24 official EU languages.

New ‘Have your say portal’ (26/02/2024)

There’s a new one-stop-shop for citizens’ engagement at EU level. Explore the ways you can contribute to EU policies. In addition to the ECI, EU citizens can contribute to public consultations and the new citizens’ engagement platform.

25/01/2024

ECI Newsletter (January) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 2 new initiatives and last chance to vote in ‘ImagineEU’ video competition

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (24/01/2024)

Two new ECIs registered (24/01/2024)

On 24 January, the European Commission registered two new citizens’ initiatives.

One titled ‘Ban on conversion practices in the European Union’ calls on the Commission to propose a ban on interventions aimed at changing, repressing or suppressing the sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression of LGBTIQ+ citizens.

The second initiative, ‘European Citizens’ Initiative in Defence of Agriculture and Rural Economy in Europe’, requests the protection of European agriculture and rural economy through a regulatory framework. It also asks for the establishment of an EU Agency for Agriculture and Rural Economy.

Organisers have 6 months to open the initiative for signature collection, aiming to reach 1 million signatures of support.

New ECI open for signatures (24/01/2024)

On 10 January, organisers of the ‘Creation of a European Environment Authority’ citizens’ initiative started their 1-year signature collection period.

They call for the Commission to propose to set up a European Environment Authority as an independent authority with legal powers.

You can read more about its objectives on our website.

See all 10 ECIs collecting support.

Last call! Vote in the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition (24/01/2024)

You have until midnight on 28 January to vote for your favorite student ideas in the ‘ImagineEU’ competition. You can vote 1 time on as many videos as you like. Following the public vote, the top 10 videos will be reviewed by a jury from the ECI community to determine the 3 winning teams.

Vote now and spread the word!

Signing ECIs with electronic ID possible in 17 countries (24/01/2024)

Polish citizens can now use eID (Profil Zaufany/mObywatel) to sign citizens’ initiatives. This makes it the 17th EU country to use an eID system to support initiatives.

29 January: First ECI World Café (29/01/2024)

Ever wondered how ECIs secure corporate funding, successfully build a coalition of NGOs, or communicate complex issues? Join us for an online World Café, where you can receive one-on-one advice and best practices from ECI organisers!

29 January, 16:00-17:15 CET

20 February: Upcoming webinar on communicating your ECI! (20/02/2024)

Want to learn more about communicating about the ECI as a participatory democracy tool and gaining social media traction about your own ECI? Tune in to the ECI Forum’s upcoming 1-hour webinar to learn how to develop your ECI communication strategy.

ECI presence at Vilnius Book Fair (22/02/2024)

Come meet the ECI at the Vilnius Book Fair (Vilniaus Knygų Mugė)! Visitors can speak with the Lithuanian ECI national contact point and local ECI Ambassador and take part in activities. You can test your knowledge and share ideas for the ECI.

Find the ECI at the stand on the European elections.

ECI Day 2024 is getting closer! (05/03/2024)

The 2024 edition of Citizens' Initiative (ECI) Day will take place on Tuesday, 5 March in a completely new framework.

With the European elections in June setting the course for Europe's future, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is launching its first Civil Society Week (4-7 March) calling on people to Rise Up for Democracy!

More information about the event, and the ECI Day in particular, can be found on the #CivSocWeek webpage and on social media. Registration opens in the beginning of February.

ECI Facebook group - join now (24/01/2024)

Are you following the latest ECI community updates online? Join, post and engage with the ECI Facebook group today.

New Success Story: Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing (24/01/2024)

Planning to kick off a European citizens’ initiative or currently gathering signatures? Explore the success factors of the ‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics’ ECI, which received over 1.2M signatures and met the minimum thresholds in a record-breaking 21 Member States. The Commission proposed several actions in their official reply in July 2023, marking a significant milestone for the initiative.

This is one of 8 success story resources available. Check it out.

New blog and video: ‘Connecting all European capitals and people through a high-speed train network’ ECI (24/01/2024)

Dive into the latest blog post and ‘meet & greet’video featuring Afryea Uiterloo and Rogier Vergouwen, the duo behind the initiative aiming to connect European capitals through high-speed rail. They discuss their experience organising an ECI.

You can also watch testimony from ‘Fur Free Europe’ (Elise Fleury) in the video.

Blog: ECI Forum and its support to organisers (24/01/2024)

Over the last four years, three-quarters of newly registered ECIs have received support from the ECI Forum. Explore the Forum’s latest blog post to uncover its evolution over the past four years and find out about the available guidance materials, tailored support, and more.

ECI Forum Welcome Package (24/01/2024)

The ECI Forum proudly presents the new Welcome Package for European citizens’ initiative organisers! Dive into this go-to guide for navigating the ECI process, available in all 24 EU languages.

Did you know...? EU around me map (24/01/2024)

The EU has a central contact service and several networks across the EU that provide information, services and support. The ECI National Contact Points have been added to the ‘European Union around me’ map. Check out the services near you.

Applications for #ECYP2024 are now open! (24/01/2024)

The applications for the 2024 edition of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize are open! Do you have any friends, EU residents and aged 16-30, working on youth-run projects that help change Europe? Tell them to apply and receive up to €7500!

The deadline is 12 February at midnight CET!

Apply now!

21/12/2023

ECI Newsletter (December) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – EC reply to 10th successful ECI, ECI review report and public voting phase of the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition

2023 – It's a wrap! (21/12/2023)

Wrapping up a fantastic year full of milestones! We had 4 official Commission replies to ECIs (a record!), published a review report on ECI 2020-2023, launched an educational toolkit, as well as the very first ‘ImagineEU’ video competition for schools, reached 1100 members on the ECI Facebook group and almost 140k subscribers to this newsletter!

Enough of bragging...we wish you a great holiday period, a wonderful end of the year and an even more amazing start of next year, hoping it will be as rewarding as this one.

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (25/10/2023)

EC reply to 10th successful European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Fur Free Europe’ (21/12/2023)

On 7 December, the Commission replied to Fur Free Europe, the 10th valid citizens’ initiative. Backed by over 1.5 million citizens, its organisers calledfor prohibiting the keeping and killing of animals for fur production and prohibiting the sale of fur.

As a first step the Commission has asked EFSA’s a scientific opinion (by March 2025) on the welfare of animals farmed for fur. Based on the outcome, it will communicate on next steps (proposal for a ban of fur production or alternative solutions).

The full reply is available on our website.

ECI 2020–2023 review report: facts and figures in a nutshell (21/12/2023)

On 6 December, we published the review of the revised European Citizens' Initiative regulation. This report highlights the benefits brought to ECI organisers and supporters through a more accessible and user-friendly framework.

Check some key facts and figures for the period since 2020 and read the full report on our website.

ECI featured in latest Eurobarometer, citizenship report and guide for new citizens (21/12/2023)

They are talking about us! The European Citizens’ Initiative was recently mentioned in several publications and reports around participatory democracy and citizenship.

The latest Eurobarometer showed that 64% of European citizens are aware of the right to participate in a European citizens’ initiative. In addition to this, the ECI was featured in the citizenship report 2023 and guide for new EU citizens.

Find us at page 10 of the guide! Discover more by clicking ‘more’.

‘ImagineEU’ video competition – vote for the best ideas of the students (21/12/2023)

The public voting of the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition is now open – until 28 January. Nearly 400 school teams presented, in short videos, their concrete ideas that could benefit citizens across the EU – similarly to the ECI.

Check the videos produced by the students (you can sort by topic or country) and vote for your favorite ones.

New version of the Central Online Collection System available (21/12/2023)

A new version of the Central Online Collection System is available! Users might have already noticed improvements in the look and feel, for example, the new map of Europe with information on support numbers. As use of electronic identification (eID) is more popular than ever, users can now easily see which national eID scheme they can use.

CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme - call for proposals (21/12/2023)

Calling all civil society organisation – The CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme launched the 2024 ‘Union values’ call with 74.5 million EUR available to support local, regional and/or national civil society organisations! With a substantial increase of the budget (from 51 to 74.5 million EUR), the aim of this call is to protect, promote and raise awareness of fundamental rights and EU values.

Discover more about this call by subscribing to the ‘DG Justice Newsletter on funding opportunities & funded projects’.

First ECI world café (29/01/2024)

Are you a current or future organiser? Join us for an online ECI World Café to receive peer-to-peer advice from former successful organisers on all your campaign questions, including fundraising, community building, communications, and more!

More information below.

ECI Day 2024 (as part of the Civil society week) (05/03/2024)

Save the date for ECI DAY 2024! On 5 March 2024, the event will be part of the first Civil Society Week organised by the EESC.

In light of the upcoming elections in June 2024, this flagship event will gather people of all ages and backgrounds, including youth, journalists and EU institutions, to discuss the different threats and challenges to safeguarding democratic values. One of the main topics will be the ECI, as it’s one the main tools that allow EU citizens to make their voice heard on key issues.

ECI Facebook group - join now (21/12/2023)

Ending the year in style! The ECI Facebook group reached 1100 members in 2023 and more and more discussions are posted by users.

Road to 2000! Join by clicking on ‘more’ below and help us grow the ECI community.

ECI Ambassadors – follow them on social media! (21/12/2023)

Communication about the European Citizens’ Initiative would not be the same without the support of our Ambassadors. Whether it is at external events, on social media, through blogs or more, our voice is heard also thanks to them.

Visit our website and check what they are doing online!

Blog on ‘Fur Free Europe’ ECI (21/12/2023)

Dive into the latest blog post featuring Elise Fleury, the Campaign Lead at Eurogroup for Animals, as she discusses the ‘Fur Free Europe’ initiative and the key factors for success in an interview for the ECI Forum.

Blog on the ECI review (21/12/2023)

Discover the latest insights on the ECI in the Forum’s new blog post! The Commission's comprehensive review acknowledges the ECI Forum for its support to initiative organisers, with positive assessments and feedback from the consultations.

Dive into the details of the report, explore ECI successes, and learn about the European Parliament's ideas for improvement.

ECI Info Packet for Civil Society Organisations (21/12/2023)

The ‘European Citizens’ Initiative Info Packet for Civil Society Organisations’, developed in collaboration with CSOs across the EU, is a comprehensive guide that provides insights on launching and supporting ECIs, fostering a united approach to citizen engagement. Dive into the essential information tailored for CSOs, by CSOs, on the ECI Forum’s homepage.

Help us promote the voting phase of the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition! (21/12/2023)

Already voted for your favorite videos and want to make some noise about the competition? A promotional video is now available on our website!

Download it or share from the ECI Facebook group.

27/11/2023

ECI Newsletter (November) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – Four new ECI registrations and last two weeks to apply to the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition

New blog posts (27/11/2023)

Did you miss the previous ECI Forum Webinars: ‘How to Budget Your ECI?’ and ‘Engaging with Young People in Your ECI – What You Need to Know’? Fear not! Read the key takeaways and highlights in our new blog posts summarising these webinars.

Tips for your school’s ‘ImagineEU’ competition application (27/11/2023)

Are you still working on your application for the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition for schools? The Educational Toolkit can help you prepare for it!

You can download it from the link below – it is available in all EU official languages.

Will you be the 1000th member of the ECI Facebook group? (27/11/2023)

Want to connect and interact with organisers, stakeholders and interested citizens? Join the European Citizens’ Initiative Facebook Group! As a member of this network, you will be able to stay informed and share information, news and events concerning the ECI in general and specific initiatives.

Join by clicking on ‘more’ below.

30 years of citizenship rights – join the online event (28/11/2023)

Tune in for the ‘30 years of EU citizenship rights’ online event, organised by the European Commission on November 28 at 19:00 CET. Join the event to explore the benefits that come with being an EU citizen and the significance of EU citizenship rights; there will be a fun quiz to test your EU knowledge and a prize for the winners!

4 new ECI registrations (27/11/2023)

On 8 November, not less than 4 new initiatives were registered calling the European Commission for action in different domains.

EU Live Bus Stop Info

Trust and Freedom

'I'm Going European': An ECI to Connect your National and European Citizenship

Creation of a European Environment Authority

Their organisers can start collecting support between now and 8 May. To find out more on any of these initiatives, check our website.

‘ImagineEU’ video competition – last two weeks to apply (27/11/2023)

You’ve got time until 13 December to get your applications in for the ImagineEU video competition!

Based on the concept of the ECI, students from all EU countries in their final two years of high school can team up with their classmates and make a video about their ideas that could one day become EU laws. The three winning teams will win a study trip to Brussels to see how the EU institutions work.

Find out more about the competition, in any of the official EU languages!

Meet the ECI at the Silesian Science Festival – Katowice, Poland 9-11 December (09/12/2023)

The European Citizens’ Initiative will be at the Silesian Science Festival in Katowice, Poland, with a presentation on the ECI and a stand where visitors can learn more about open initiatives, as well as about the 'EU Democracy in Action - Have Your Say with the European Citizens' Initiative' toolkit for schools. Don’t miss your chance to pass by and learn more about the ECI!

New ECI opened for signature collection in November (27/11/2023)

On 17 November, the initiative ‘Effective implementation of the concept of judicial precedent in EU countries’ started collecting signatures. It aims to introduce a mechanism at national level which guarantees mutual recognition of final judicial decisions adopted by courts of other Member States.

If you would like to support this initiative, find out more on our website.

University presentations (27/11/2023)

Would you like the ECI Forum to present (in English) at your university and exchange with you and other students? Contact the ECI Forum via eciforum@ecas.org

Follow up to ‘Save Cruelty-free Cosmetics' initiative (11/12/2023)

On 8 November, Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius met with the organisers of ‘Save Cruelty-free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing', to discuss the Commission’s reply to the initiative. As announced in its reply, the European Commission has started work on a roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments.

A hybrid workshop involving interested stakeholders, including the organisers of the initiative, will take place on 11-12 December to provide ideas and discuss possible approaches for the uptake of non-animal methods in chemical legislation.

'Promoting Democratic Engagement of young people at the local and regional level’ - webinar (15/12/2023)

At the EARLALL webinar ‘Promoting Democratic Engagement of young people at the local and regional level’ on 15 December, you can find out more about the European Citizens’ Initiative and how regions, local authorities and all citizens can benefit. Bonus point: reinforcing the importance of democratic engagement in the lead up to the European elections.

26/10/2023

ECI Newsletter (October) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 'ImagineEU' video competition open for applications

‘ImagineEU’ video competition open for entries (25/10/2023)

Entries for the ImagineEU video competition, based on the concept of the ECI, opened on 16 October!

Students from all EU countries in their final two years of secondary education can team up with their classmates and make a video about their idea to make the EU a better place to live. The three winning teams will win a study trip to Brussels to see how the EU institutions work.

The EU Democracy in Action – Have Your Say with the ECI toolkit can help pupils prepare for the competition.

Find out more about the competition. Info is available in all EU languages!

New ECI opened for signature collection in October (25/10/2023)

On 9 October, the initiative ‘Taxing great wealth to finance the ecological and social transition’ started collecting signatures. This initiative aims to establish a European tax on great wealth to be used to combat climate change and inequalities.

If you would like to support this initiative, find out more on our website.

10th successful ECI presented in a public hearing in the European Parliament (25/10/2023)

The European Parliament held a public hearing on the 10th successful European Citizens’ Initiative, Fur Free Europe, on 12 October. Organisers presented their argument that ‘the keeping and killing of animals solely for the purpose of fur production is ethically unacceptable’ and members of the European Parliament presented their views on this initiative. A debate on this ECI in a plenary session of the European Parliament took place on 19 October. The Commission will issue its official reply by 14 December 2023.

View the public hearing’s recording.

‘Good Clothes Fair Pay’ ECI presented in the EP Committee on Petitions (25/10/2023)

This initiative closed in July 2023 after collecting over 215 000 signatures. On 24 October, PETI Committee of the European Parliament invited the organisers to present its objectives and exchanged views. The Committee will treat this ECI as a petition and request the European Commission for a written reply.

Ongoing signature collection – closing soon (25/10/2023)

10 European Citizens’ Initiatives are currently collecting signatures but two of them are in their final phase.

Want to help them – and other ECIs – improve their results? Find out more on our website and decide which ones you want to support.

ECI Welcome Packet for civil society organisations to be presented in an ECI Forum Webinar (14/11/2023)

Civil society organisations are pivotal for the ECI. To further promote the ECI to civil society around Europe, an online welcome session for CSOs is planned for Tuesday 14 November to present the first-ever ECI Welcome Packet aimed for them.

‘What is the ECI and Why Should I Care?’ Webinar (23/11/2023)

On Thursday, 23 November, the ECI Forum will host a webinar ‘What is the ECI and Why Should I Care?’. This webinar will focus on the process of the ECI, testimonials from current and past organisers and the support tools available to organisers.

Use your voice on the ECI Facebook group (25/10/2023)

We look forward to reading your posts on our FB group! Start a conversation with other European citizens’ initiatives organisers, ambassadors or just friends.

Join the group by clicking ‘more’ below to get access to latest news and events involving the European Citizens’ Initiative.

New blog series comparing national and European citizens' initiatives (25/10/2023)

The ECI Forum Team conducted research on national citizens’ initiatives in several EU countries comparable to the European citizens’ initiative. Learn more about these national citizens’ initiatives and the ways in which the ECI differs in this blog series.

New blog on a Model EU event (25/10/2023)

Interested in learning what type of topics young people are interested in? Read our new blog post where students at Model EU Sofia simulated the European citizens’ initiative. Read the blog post below.

University Presentations (25/10/2023)

Would you like the ECI Forum to present (in English) at your university and exchange with students? Contact the ECI Forum via eciforum@ecas.org

How to promote the ImagineEU competition (25/10/2023)

Want to help us spread the news about the ECI and the ‘ImagineEU’ video competition for schools? On our website you will find many useful resources in all EU official languages like videos, factsheets, infographics, and now also ready-made social media assets for the competition.

Download them from the link below to post about it on your channels – and don’t forget the #EUTakeTheInitiative hashtag!

26/09/2023

ECI Newsletter (September) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 1 new ECI registered and upcoming ImagineEU video competition

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (22/09/2023)

New ECI registered (22/09/2023)

On 16 August, the Commission registered a new initiative, ‘Preservation and development of Ukrainian culture, education, language, and traditions in EU states’. It aims to empower Ukrainian cultural and linguistic heritage in the EU community, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting integration for Ukrainian refugees.

If you would like to support this initiative, check on our website to see when signature collection opens.

Initiative open for signature collection (22/09/2023)

On 21 September, the ‘End The Horse Slaughter Age’ citizen’s initiative opened for signature collection.

This initiative calls on the Commission to ban the slaughter of horses, as well as their breeding and export for the production of fur, leather, meat or for the manufacture of medicines or other substances.

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

Organisers of ‘Fur Free Europe’ present their ECI in the European Parliament and the EESC (22/09/2023)

Organisers of ‘Fur Free Europe’ ECI, submitted for Commission’s reply on 16 June, presented their initiative’s objectives in the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 20 September. The next step is the public hearing in the European Parliament on 12 October.

The Commission will adopt its official reply by 14 December 2023.

'ImagineEU' video competition for secondary schools (22/09/2023)

Applications to the ImagineEU video competition, based on the ECI concept, will be open as of 16 October!

Students in their final two years of high school from all EU countries can team up with up to seven classmates and record their idea on how they see the EU becoming a better place to live. Having worked on the ‘EU Democracy in Action – Have Your Say with the ECI’ toolkit in classroom can be a useful preparation.

Find out more about the competition in English. Translations in all EU languages are coming on 13 October!

ECI websites’ new links and ongoing collection (25/09/2023)

The European Citizens’ Initiative website and the ECI Forum have new links – after their migration to the cloud. The old links will still work for some time, but you can already update your bookmarks or links included in your materials. The ECI website hasn’t changed though! Don’t forget to check the initiatives that are currently collecting signatures. Scroll through the homepage to see which one you wish to support.

Upcoming webinar: ECI and young people (28/09/2023)

Interested in learning more about engaging youth in your European citizens' initiative?

This ECI Forum webinar will focus on how to get young people to sign citizens’ initiatives, how young people can be active volunteers in ECIs, and how young people can launch an ECI. Two experts and a young ECI organiser will share practical information, guidance and experience on the role of young people in European Citizens’ Initiatives on Thursday, 28 September at 17:00 CET.

For more information and registration, click on ‘more’

Upcoming webinar on ECI budgeting (11/10/2023)

Don’t miss the webinar ‘How to budget your European Citizens’ Initiative with input from successful ECI campaigners’. Its aim is to understand how to collect and effectively allocate funds in an ECI campaign. Bonus content: input from 3 successful ECI campaigners!

When: 11 October 2023, 14:30 CET

Click ‘more’ to get more info and register.

ECI toolkit and competition for schools featured in the European Week of Regions and Cities (12/10/2023)

Join the session on “ImagineEU: Toolkit and school competition on EU democracy & European Citizens’ Initiative”. The toolkit introduces high school pupils to the topic of democratic participation in the EU, focusing on the European Citizens’ Initiative. The introduction of the toolkit is accompanied by the 'ImagineEU' competition for high schools, inviting pupils to come up with their ideas for a better Europe.

Where: Brussels (SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre)

When: 12 October, 12.30

ECI in festivals – next: HOPE, Brussels in October (22/09/2023)

Over the summer, the ECI was present at various democracy festivals: the Arvamus ‘Opinion’ Festival in Paide, Estonia, in Sweden, at the Frihamndsdagarna ‘Democracy Festival’, the PLAI Festival, Romania and most recently at the ‘The Participation Festival’ in Bologna, Italy. In October, visitors of the ECI stand in the Hope and Change Festival in Brussels, Belgium, can find out more on how to use the ECI to make the world more sustainable.

8th and 9th successful citizens’ initiatives - Factsheets available in all EU languages (22/09/2023)

In July, the European Commission formally replied to two successful initiatives: 'Stop Finning – Stop the trade' and 'Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics'.

Check out the latest factsheets, available in all EU languages, to learn more about the aims of the two initiatives and the Commission’s reply.

Join the ECI Facebook group (22/09/2023)

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

New blogs – remembering the ECI DAY 2023 (22/09/2023)

Did you miss out on the workshops at ECI Day or want to refresh your memory? Check out the two new blog posts on the ECI Forum recapping the two “How-to” workshops: How to harness the power of influencers for your campaign and how to turn your idea into an ECI.

New video: How to draft an ECI (22/09/2023)

Watch the new ECI Forum’s video with experts on how to draft and submit an ECI.

University presentations (22/09/2023)

The ECI Forum continues to directly engage with university students. ECI experts take the opportunity to discuss the potential of participatory democracy in Europe generally, and the ECI as an important tool more specifically. Over 400 students attended sessions organised throughout the year. Would you like us to make a presentation at your university and exchange with you and other students? Contact the ECI Forum via eciforum@ecas.org.

Did you know? (22/09/2023)

Did you miss the #SOTEU speech from Commission President von der Leyen? We just posted a highlight on our FB group focusing on the vision of European youth for a better future.

In some Member States, the lowered age for support to ECIs will allow a new generation of Europeans to make an impact.

Check the requirements on our website.

26/07/2023

ECI Newsletter (July/August) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 2 successful ECIs receive Commission reply and 1 new ECI registered

10th Successful citizens’ initiative to meet with Commission representatives (20/07/2023)

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.

Choose your language / Choisissez votre langue / Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache (27/06/2023)

Lesen Sie den Newsletter auf Deutsch. Klicken Sie unten auf die Schaltfläche "more" und wählen Sie dann auf der neuen Seite das Globus-Symbol aus, um die deutsche Übersetzung auszuwählen.

8th Successful citizens’ initiative receives Commission reply (20/07/2023)

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.

9th Successful citizens’ initiative receives Commission reply (20/07/2023)

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.

New ECI registered (20/07/2023)

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.

As one initiative opens for signature collection another one closes (20/07/2023)

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 Facebook group and share your thoughts on this newsletter (20/07/2023)

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.

Additionally, please help us continue to improve this newsletter by taking a 6-question survey.

La Sexta interviews ECI ambassadors in Madrid (20/07/2023)

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.

Save the dates - the ECI comes to Estonia, Sweden and Italy and Romania (20/07/2023)

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!

Upcoming Webinar ‘How to Engage Young People’ (28/09/2023)

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.

Save the date – session on the ECI toolkit & school competition – as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities (12/10/2023)

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

New Blog Post (20/07/2023)

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.

University Presentations (20/07/2023)

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.

Read our new blog post on Seek Advice service (20/07/2023)

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.

Did you know? (20/07/2023)

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.

29/06/2023

ECI Newsletter (June) | Bulletin de l’ICE | EBI-Newsletter – 10th successful ECI submitted for Commission's reply

Join our Facebook group and share your thoughts on this newsletter (27/06/2023)

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.

Additionally, please help us continue to improve this newsletter by taking a 6-question survey.

10th Successful ECI ‘Fur Free Europe’ submitted (27/06/2023)

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 will meet with the European Commission in July and will get an official reply by mid-December.

Eager to discover 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.

European Parliament issues recommendations for the ECI (27/06/2023)

As required by the ECI Regulation, the Commission periodically reviews the functioning of the ECI. The next review report should be presented by the end of 2023. As a contribution to this exercise, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative.

The resolution highlights how the revised ECI Regulation has lowered the procedural hurdles for organisers and supporters of ECIs under several aspects. It also recommends several actions to further improve the ECI as a unique cross-border tool for participatory democracy.

Learning toolkit available in all official EU languages (28/06/2023)

The toolkit for secondary schools ‘EU Democracy in Action – Have your say with the European Citizens’ Initiative’ is now available in all official EU languages. Click ‘more’ below for access.

To become active citizens, young people need to understand how democracy works and what their rights and responsibilities are. Through instruction and collaborative work, pupils learn about how the EU has evolved over time.

In the 2023/2024 school year, a competition for schools will be organised, related to this toolkit. Three teams from three different schools will get the prize: a study trip to Brussels. Be sure to check the ECI website and this newsletter in the autumn for more details.

IT updates: Anonymisation of private sponsors and Unsubscribe email functionality activated (28/06/2023)

The ECI IT team works on constant improvements of the online collection system and the organiser account. A new feature, for example, enables organisers to request, from the organiser account, the anonymisation of their private sponsors in the list of received funding.

While still improving the overall usability and security of the system and keeping personal emails protected from hackers, the recent IT updates also include the release of the ‘unsubscribe’ email functionality. From now on, citizens will be able to directly unsubscribe from the messages they receive from organisers via the system.

New CitizenCentral podcasts published (28/06/2023)

Two new podcast episodes were published in June!

In episode ‘What impact do European citizens’ initiatives have? Examples from successful initiatives’ organisers and Commission experts are interviewed to give a closer look to the follow-up on three of the initiatives that reached more than 1 million signatures and received a reply from the Commission.

The episode ‘The ABCs of ‘EU Democracy in Action’ showcases the on-going efforts to make the ECI common European knowledge – starting with high school students and a learning kit for them.

Tune in and discover the podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

Subscribe and share CitizenCentral podcast today!

ECI Day 2023 wrap up: 8 June 2023 (28/06/2023)

On Thursday, 8 June, the ECI Day 2023: Upskilling citizens for a successful ECI with impact! took place.

It was an occasion to exchange views and experiences on the ECI, where initiative organisers shared their stories and lessons learned, and experts and policy-makers contributed to the conversation by their ideas related to the ECI.

Check out the conclusions, photos and recordings and let us know what you thought of the day by taking the survey (available until 8 July!).

Save the dates - the ECI comes to Estonia and Sweden (28/06/2023)

This summer ECI Ambassadors will attend different democracy festivals. We encourage you to stop by and say hello!

On Saturday, 12 August, a discussion about the ECI will take place at the Arvamus ‘Opinion’ Festival in Paide, Estonia.

In Sweden, several discussions and a stand dedicated to the ECI will be held at the Frihamndsdagarna ‘Democracy festival’ in Gothenburg, on Thursday, 31 August and Friday, 1 September.

Stay tuned for more events featuring the ECI in Romania, Italy and Poland in the upcoming months and refer to our calendar for more information.

ECI in numbers (28/06/2023)

Check out the newly updated infographic for interesting facts and figures on citizens’ initiatives between 2012 and 2023. This infographic includes data on the nine successful ECIs, the organisers of all ECIs (country of origin and residence, age) and funding of ECIs. Click ‘more’ to access the figures!

‘Save Bees and Farmers!’ success story (28/06/2023)

‘Save Bees and Farmers! Towards a Bee-Friendly Agriculture for a Healthy Environment’ is the 7th successful European citizens’ initiative, and it received a response from the Commission in April. Interested in learning about what factors contributed to their success and the outcome of this initiative?

Read this new success story by clicking ‘more’.

‘ECI A to Z’ publication - blog post (28/06/2023)

Interested in learning more about the ECI as a participatory democracy tool? Read our blog post about the new publication ‘European Citizens’ Initative: A Tool for Engagement and Active Citizenship’. This publication, one of the main outputs from the Erasmus+ Project ECI From A to Z, compiles theoretical and practical contributions from academics, researchers, ECI organisers and ECI experts.

YEYS - "Your Europe, Your Say!" (28/06/2023)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises an annual youth event called "Your Europe, Your Say!" (YEYS), bringing together 16- to 18-year-old students from all over Europe.

In this year’s edition in March, called "Youth Democracy Dialogues", students shared recommendations on active citizenship and youth participatory engagement. They also participated in a group workshop where they simulated the European Citizens’ Initiative process to learn how to launch an initiative and to campaign for it. The teachers who accompanied them received an early preview of the ECI toolkit for schools.

Download the report from the event (available in English and French) and watch the event highlights video by clicking ‘more’.

Call for proposals: Citizens’ engagement and participation (29/06/2023)

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme has an open call for proposals about: “Promoting citizens' and representative associations’ participation in and contribution to the democratic and civic life of the Union by making known and publicly exchanging their views in all areas on Union action”.

The deadline to submit is 5 September 2023. The 2023 call is accessible by clicking ‘more’ below.

Did you know? European Citizens' Initiative: Step-by-Step (28/06/2023)

Are you following a specific citizens’ initiative but wonder what happens next?

Check our Step-by-Step factsheet to find all the information you need on the lifecycle of ECIs, from getting started to receiving a formal response from the European Commission.

Download it here.

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