Be Bold: Start a European Citizens’ Initiative, Say Civic Engagement Workshop Participants

Mascha is a student of social work at the University of Applied Sciences in Landshut and Nikos is a student of medicine at LMU Munich. They met at the workshop Civic Engagement on the EU-level, part of the 2024 Summer Academy at the Banz Monastery Educational Center. 

In this jointly written article, they share their newly acquired knowledge of the European Citizens’ Initiative and their enthusiasm for active citizen participation at the EU level. Here is what they have to say:

"The whole idea behind the European Citizen’s Initiative fascinated and impressed us. We want to keep this form of engagement in our minds - especially as citizens of the EU and believers in a strong democracy."

Democracy holds no meaning unless we actively shape it – that is a belief shared by all of us at the Summer Academy, organised by various foundations in Germany. The focus was more on how to take action rather than why, especially at the EU level.

However, during the workshop ‘Civic Engagement at the EU Level’, we had a profound realisation that extended beyond our experiences until now.

Most of us were familiar with national petitions, having signed one or two in the past. Yet, learning about the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) highlighted both new possibilities and challenging realities. It was the first time we truly understood how citizens could influence policies at the EU level - but we also became aware of the significant obstacles involved.

The ECI’s promise is simple: ordinary citizens can propose legislation if they collect one million signatures from at least seven EU countries. This idea felt empowering, making the EU seem more accessible. It was a moment of realisation for us that, as citizens, we could have a direct role in shaping EU policy. 

"We no longer felt like passive observers of decisions made by legislators but like active participants in Europe’s democratic process. However, our initial optimism quickly collided with some harsh realities."

For many ECIs, the follow-up did not meet the organisers' expectations. This has raised concerns about how the European Commission engages with citizen input. While the tool is there, its effectiveness in bringing about real change remains in question.

The process itself is also fraught with challenges. Collecting one million signatures from seven countries might seem simple in theory, but in practice, it is extremely complex. Campaigning can be different in each Member State, and navigating these frameworks can be overwhelming for ordinary citizens without institutional support. But here’s where we had another important realisation: democracy thrives when citizens work together. The European Citizens’ Initiative Forum provides vital support that motivates citizens to collaborate to shape the EU.

Despite existing difficulties, the ECI remains a powerful tool. Its border-defying nature encourages collaboration, enabling citizens from different countries to unite around shared causes. This aspect of the ECI is perhaps its most important feature, fostering a sense of European solidarity and opening the door to large-scale collective action.

Through the presentation from the ECI Forum team, we gained practical insights into launching and promoting an ECI. Though challenging, the process is not impossible. With the right guidance, support and determination, citizens can still make an impact. However, success does not depend only on the hard work of initiators; it also relies on the European Commission’s willingness to respond to these citizen proposals.

For us, the ECI opened a new pathway for civic engagement, allowing us to actively participate in shaping European policy. Yet, we also realised that without significant institutional reforms, our efforts could be sidelined. To make a lasting impact, we must not only understand and use these tools effectively but also advocate for changes that make the EU more inclusive and responsive to citizens like us.

What has been your experience with the European Citizens' Initiative? Did you also have a similar feeling like us when first hearing about this topic? Let us talk about it in comments below!