The European Citizens' Initiative is a unique way for you to help shape the EU by calling on the European Commission to propose new laws. Once an initiative has reached 1 million signatures, the Commission will decide on what action to take. See how it works step by step
If you consider starting an initiative, consult the ECI Forum for legal and practical advice.
In line with Article 15 of the ECI Regulation, the organisers of the twelfth successful European citizens’ initiative ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe And Accessible Abortion' were given the opportunity to explain the objectives of their initiative in detail. They were received on 1 October 2025 by Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib and European Commission officials.
On 29 September, the Commission had to refuse the registration of the ‘Ethical selection of European representatives’ initiative. The initiative did not fulfil the formal conditions established in the ECI Regulation.
This is the second refusal since the new ECI Regulation started applying in January 2020.
The European Commission published today its response to the European citizens' initiative Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures, the eleventh successful initiative supported by over 1 million citizens across the EU. The initiative collected over 1.2 million valid signatures and reached required thresholds in 8 Member States.
Read the Commission communication.
