The European Commission published today its response to the European citizens' initiative ‘Fur Free Europe’, the tenth successful initiative supported by over 1 million citizens across the EU. The initiative collected over 1.5 million valid signatures and reached required thresholds in 18 Member States.

Read the Commission communication.

The Commission adopted today its first report on implementation of the revised European Citizens' Initiative Regulation. The report presents the progress made since the 2020 revision of the regulation and announces a set of practical measures aiming to further improve the functioning of the ECI and the engagement of European citizens’ in EU democratic processes. Check the dedicated webpage and key facts & figures for the reporting period.

A new version of the Central Online Collection System, used by individual ECIs to collect support online, is available now. Users may notice improvements in the look and feel, for example, the improved map of Europe with information on support numbers per country. As support using electronic identification (eID) is getting more popular, the users can now easily see which national electronic identification scheme is available for them.

On Thursday, 23 November, at 12.30 CET, 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, the support tools available to organisers and testimonials from two organisers of successful initiatives.

On 8 November 2023, the Commission registered four European citizens' initiatives, entitled: ‘EU Live Bus Stop Info’, ‘Trust and Freedom’, “I’m Going European” and ‘Creation of a European Environment Authority’.

The ‘EU Live Bus Stop Info’ initiative calls for the integration of QR codes at bus stops across the EU Member States, to allow passengers to access real-time information.

The ‘Trust and Freedom’ initiative calls for measures regarding informed consent, human dignity, freedom, and bodily autonomy. In particular, it refers to the right to make informed decisions regarding healthcare and treatment options.

 ‘“I’m Going European”: An ECI to Connect your National and European Citizenship’ aims to introduce a right to education on European citizenship, human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to back this up through a series of requirements.

The ‘Creation of a European Environment Authority’ initiative calls for the setting up of a European Environment Authority, with power to issue binding administrative decisions, monitor activities with environmental impact and issue sanctions for environmental pollution.

With these 4 new initiatives, the number of initiatives registered in 2023 increases to 11. Their organisers have six months now to choose the moment to start the collection of support.

The ‘ImagineEU’ video competition for secondary school students is now open! We invite students (in the last two years of secondary education) from across the EU to create and share short videos about their ideas for concrete improvements in the EU, building on the concept of the ECI.   

Discover the competition rules and submit your application by 13 December 2023. Three winning teams will win a two-day study visit to the EU Institutions in Brussels.  

The European Parliament will hold a public hearing on the tenth successful European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe” on 12 October 2023 from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. The organisers will present the initiative's objectives and engage with Members of the European Parliament. European Commission's representatives will also participate.

The meeting is webstreamed and recorded.

On 20 September 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate in its plenary session on the European citizens' initiative "Fur Free Europe". The initiative was presented by its representative, Elise Fleury, and discussed with Tilly Metz, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and EESC members.

On 16 August the Commission registered a European citizens' initiative entitled 'Preservation and development of Ukrainian culture, education, language, and traditions in EU states'. It calls on the Commission to step up its actions in supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees in the EU.

This is the seventh initiative registered in 2023. Its organisers have six months now to choose the date for starting the collection of support.

The European Commission published today its response to the European citizens' initiative  ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing’, the nineth successful initiative supported by over 1 million citizens across the EU. The initiative collected over 1.2 million valid signatures in 21 Member States.

Read the Commission communication.