Can your idea be a citizens' initiative?

To have an idea of whether your proposal can be the subject of a citizens' initiative, you must check that it concerns a policy area where the EU has competence and that in this policy area, the Commission has the power to submit a proposal for a legal act.

Among the information necessary to have your initiative registered, you will have to indicate the Treaty provision(s) (article or broader reference) you consider relevant for the action you are proposing.

The Commission is empowered to propose a legal act when:

the Treaty article refers to a legislative procedure (‘ordinary legislative procedure’ or ‘special legislative procedure’, except in specific cases where the article provides otherwise (i.e. it specifically mentions that an institution other than the Commission makes the proposal)

the article explicitly mentions that the Commission is responsible for making a proposal.
Example: ‘The Council, on a proposal from the Commission [...]’.

Need more information?

Take a closer look at the Commission’s powers
Check the ideas that have already been the subjects of registered initiatives
Consult the Commission’s negative replies to proposed initiatives that did not comply with the conditions for registration
Visit the European citizens’ initiative Forum where you can find further guidance and ask for advice.

Policy areas and related Treaty articles

Check if your idea relates to one or more of the policy areas below and read the corresponding Treaty articles to see if the Commission has the power to submit a proposal for a legal act in that policy area

Policy areas	Treaty articles (TFEU*, unless provided otherwise)
Agriculture and fisheries	Articles 38 – 44
Budget	Articles 310 – 324
Civil protection	Article 196
Competition	Articles 101 – 109
Consumer protection	Article 169
Culture	Article 167
Customs	Articles 30 – 33
Development and cooperation	Articles 208 – 213
Economic and monetary policies	Articles 119 – 144
Education, training, youth and sport	Articles 165 – 166
Employment and social affairs	Articles 145 – 161
Energy	Article 194
Enlargement	TEU * – Article 49 Article 212
Environment and climate action	Articles 191 – 193
External trade	Articles 206 – 207
Fight against fraud	Articles 325
Food safety	Articles 43, 168 – 169
Free movement: Persons Services Capital	Articles 45 – 55 Articles 56 – 62 Articles 63 - 66
Humanitarian aid	Article 214
Industry and enterprise	Article 173
Information society	Articles 179 – 190
Internal market and free movement of goods	Articles 26 – 29, 114, 115
Justice, freedom and security Policies on border checks, asylum and immigration Judicial cooperation Police cooperation	Articles 67 – 89 Articles 77 – 80 Articles 81 – 86 Articles 87 – 89
Non-discrimination and citizenship	Articles 18 – 25
Public health	Article 168
Regional policy – Economic, social and territorial cohesion	Articles 174 – 178, Articles 162 – 164
Research and innovation	Articles 179 – 190
Taxation	Articles 110 – 113
Tourism	Article 195
Transport	Articles 90 – 100

* TFEU = Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - TEU = Treaty on European Union

NB: This list covers the broad policy areas set out in the EU Treaties and may not be exhaustive. Please consult the full text of the Treaties for more information.

The above text is intended as a guide to help potential organisers of citizens' initiatives. It is not legally binding on the European Commission. It does not claim to be exhaustive and does not represent an official interpretation of the text of the Treaties.