European Citizens’ Initiative

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In a stunning final push, the initiative for a ‘Ban on Conversion Practices in the EU’ gathered nearly one million signatures in its final week - closing with over 1.24 million in total on 17 May.

Next, the organisers will send the collected signatures to the national authorities, who have three months to verify them. If the required threshold of valid signatures is met, the organisers can present the initiative to the Commission. This is followed by meetings and a public hearing attended by the organisers, after which the Commission provides its official response.

Work is ongoing on the Roadmap for a Europe without animal testing. As a follow-up to the ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing’ initiative, the Commission has included alternatives to animal testing in the 2025–2027 Horizon Europe strategic plan.

A recent workshop on future research priorities for non-animal methods marks another step forward - stay tuned for the workshop report, expected later this year.

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.

On 25 June, the European Parliament will host a public hearing on the ‘Cohesion Policy for the Equality of the Regions and Sustainability of the Regional Cultures’ initiative.

The organisers will present their goals and engage in dialogue with Members of the European Parliament.

Check the EP website in June for more information and the link to web streaming.

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.

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.

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.

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.