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The European Commission kicked off its 2021 series of 10 online events on the European Citizens Initiative with a successful event focused on Germany on 28 April. On 20 May we are inviting Danish citizens to discover this unique instrument of participatory democracy and on 25 May it will be Sweden’s turn. You will meet engaged citizens, EU institutions' representatives and stakeholders passionate about participatory democracy. Current and former organisers will also participate to give their insights.

Join the webinar 'The ECI step by step’ on 18 May to get practical guidance on the different procedural steps of a European citizens’ initiative - from the
preparation and registration to the signatures collection and the verification and submission phases. Learn more on the webinar webpage.

The Commission has registered today two new European citizens' initiatives.

The organisers of the ‘Civil Servant Exchange Program’ initiative invite the Commission to launch a scheme offering civil servants from EU countries professional experience in a similar service in another Member State for a period of 2 to 12 months.

The organisers of the ‘Green Garden Roof Tops' initiative call on the Commission to propose a framework to facilitate the creation of green gardens on companies’ rooftops.

The European Parliament will hold a public hearing on the sixth successful European Citizens’ Initiative ‘End the Cage Age’ on 15 April from 9.00 to 12.00. Due to current COVID-19 constraints, the meeting will be held partly remotely with limited physical presence in the room, but will be fully webstreamed for the public.

Follow the webinar on 30 March 2021 to get practical guidance on how to successfully collect statements of support for a European citizens’ initiative.

Today, the Regulation on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain becomes applicable. The Commission's proposal for this Regulation was adopted in 2019, following the European citizens' initiative ‘Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides'. A celebratory event, with participation of ECI organisers, will be held on-line on 30 March. 

Due to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission decided on 19 February to grant a further 3-month extension for citizens' initiatives that were in the process of collecting statements of support on 1 February 2021. Organisers of the initiatives concerned have been notified by the Commission. Read the text of the Commission implementing decision.

The European Commission published its response to the European citizens' initiative ‘Minority Safepack – one million signatures for diversity in Europe', the fifth successful initiative supported by over 1 million citizens across the EU. Read the Commission communication.

Today sees the entry into force of the revised Drinking Water Directive, a direct response to the first ever successful European Citizens’ Initiative, Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!. The new legislation will ensure the safety and quality of drinking water, as well as easier access to it for vulnerable groups.

The Commission has registered today a new European citizens' initiative: ‘Civil society initiative for a ban on biometric mass surveillance practices'. The organisers urge the Commission to propose a legal act to permanently end indiscriminate and arbitrarily-targeted uses of biometric data in ways which can lead to mass surveillance or any undue interference with fundamental rights.