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On 28 September 2022 the Commission registered a European citizens' initiative entitled ‘Focus on Specific Learning Disabilities on EU Level’.

It calls on the Commission to present a proposal for common guidelines on how to detect and address learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia), to ensure a better integration of people with such disabilities within the educational system, also when exercising their right to free movement.

This is the eighth initiative registered in 2022. Its organisers have six months now to choose the moment to start the collection of support.

CitizenCentral podcast returns for a second season of conversations with organisers of European citizens’ initiatives, experts and other speakers.

In chapter 1, we talk to the organisers of ‘ReturnThePlastics’ and ‘Green VAT’ initiatives, taking different approaches to sustainability and consumer behaviour, as well as three climate and sustainability experts across the EU.

In chapter 2, we check how the European youth feels about voting, EU policymaking, citizen activism and the European Citizens’ Initiative, and we talk to the (young) organisers of the ‘Ending the aviation fuel tax exemption in Europe’ initiative.

Tune in and discover CitizenCentral (in English only) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts & SoundCloud.

Share your views on the 'CitizenCentral' podcast in this survey.

The ECI monthly Newsletter helps readers stay informed on the latest developments on the European Citizens' Initiative. It is written in English and available in the 24 official EU languages via an automated translation service.

You can subscribe here and view the previous editions here.

The European Commission decided to register two European Citizens' Initiatives on 7 September.

The ‘Every European house equipped with 1 kW photovoltaic and 0.6 kW wind turbines using EU funding through the municipalities alone’ initiative wants to reduce the CO2 footprint of each household and change public perception on green energy.

The initiative 'Protect the EU’s Rural Heritage, Food Security and Supply' aims to promote the EU’s rural areas and food security.

The organisers have six months now to choose the moment to start the collection of support.

On 24 August 2022 the Commission registered a European citizens' initiative entitled ‘Call to achieve a tobacco-free environment and the first European tobacco-free generation by 2030’.

It calls on the Commission to propose legal acts that promote the first tobacco-free European generation by 2028, ending the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to citizens born since 2010. The initiative also calls for specific measures to achieve tobacco-free and butts-free beaches, riverbanks and national parks, as well as to extend outdoor vapor-free spaces and to eliminate tobacco advertising.

This is the fifth initiative registered in 2022. Its organisers have six months now to choose the moment to start the collection of support.

This year, the European Citizens’ Initiative will be present in several festivals across the EU with an information stand, activities such as a quiz or expression wall, participation in debates and more!

The festivals where you can meet and greet the ECI are:

• Political Festival of Europe, a four-day democracy festival held in Mariager (Denmark), on 25-28 August
• PrinsjesFestival, a democracy festival held in The Hague (Netherlands), in September – and particularly at the PrinsjesMarkt (17 September)
• Cyprus Forum – annual conference for change (Nicosia, 29-30 September)

ECI activities are also planned in Belgium (Level up! Festival in Brussels at the end of October), Greece (Thessaloniki Film Festival in November) and Czechia.

Minimum age to support European citizens’ initiatives corresponds to the age to be entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament. Belgium has lowered the minimum voting age for these elections from 18 to 16 for all EU citizens living in the country. This measure will enter into force on 1 May 2023. As of this moment, young people aged 16-18 will also be able to support European citizens’ initiatives.

New features have been recently added to the Central Online Collection System to improve its functionality for the ECI organisers: now, the sample social media messages have more formatting options, and the initiatives’ logos can be displayed in Facebook messages. The organisers can easily download the latest metrics, find user feedback in the original languages as provided by the citizens and there is better guidance for citizens entering a wrong postal code.

Moreover, feedback shared in a survey by people supporting the initiatives will allow the Commission prepare other future improvements. The majority of open initiatives use COCS, and all new initiatives registered from 1 January 2023 will be required to use it.

How to get heard when people’s attention is focused on something else?

Register for this webinar on 6 July (12:30 – 1:45 CET) and learn about campaigning in difficult circumstances and how to make your citizens' initiative feature when these external events deter attention from it.

Communication expert, John Holland, and ECI organiser from the "Stop Finning - Stop the Trade" European citizens' initiative, Nils Kluger, will share their expertise and experiences on the subject.

With 7 episodes released in season 1 and production for season 2 kicking off, we invite you to share your views on the 'CitizenCentral' podcast. This survey takes approximately 8-10 minutes and closes on 23 June.