How the revamped ECI Forum empowers EU citizens to launch new European citizens’ initiatives

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Forum continued to grow and evolve throughout 2024, driven by its dual mission of supporting ECI organisers at every stage of their journey and raising awareness about the ECI as a tool for participatory democracy. In 2024, the ECI Forum embarked on a major website restructuring journey to improve usability and better meet the needs of its users, guided by feedback from surveys and focus groups.

To kickstart 2025, the Forum team is thrilled to announce the launch of the revamped website, designed for a smoother and more accessible user experience. Key improvements include a more intuitive navigation system, a redesigned homepage, and new and updated guidance materials, such as How to report financial support. In response to user feedback, we have also enhanced content clarity, optimised mobile access, renamed key features for easier use, and improved the visibility of multilingual options.

Introducing the revamped Forum

What is new and what is in it for you

The enhanced ECI Forum platform has been redesigned with your needs in mind, making it easier to find information, connect with fellow organisers and experts, and access tools you need to navigate the ECI process with confidence.

The homepage now features new “how-to” boxes that help you get started and the latest guidance materials published on the Forum. Each “how-to” page includes introductory videos, detailed guidance notes, and links to relevant webinars.

The “Practical Guidance” page retains six informative sections, including the yearly infographic and a link to the online course. To improve accessibility and navigation, guidance notes, and success stories, previously presented in form of PDFs, are being converted into interactive subpages, allowing for easier reading and enabling regular updates with fresh tips and new information.

The platform’s interaction spaces have also been improved. In the “Discussion Forum” users can join conversations and share their ideas after logging in. The “ECI Community” page provides a space to discover opportunities to network with other users and follow the ECI on social media.

Finally, the trusted “Seek Advice” page is now called “Ask an expert.” This service continues to offer tailored guidance in all 24 EU languages, free of charge, ensuring you always have expert help when you need it most.

Why the redesign matters

The redesign reflects the Forum’s commitment to empowering citizens by addressing the challenges identified in user feedback. We continue to implement regular improvements to the website. If you have any feedback or suggestions for further improvements, we are open to hearing from you. Please share your thoughts. 

Supporting ECI organisers with expert guidance

In 2024, an increasing number of ECI organisers took advantage of the Forum’s free, tailor-made advice through the  “Ask an Expert” service, addressing key issues related to legal, campaigning, and fundraising issues, solidifying its role as an essential resource. The Forum answered 34 enquiries, out of which 16 dealt with legal matters.

In 2024, the Forum provided training sessions (‘Welcome Calls’) for eight ECIs, offering useful guidance on best practices for collecting signatures and managing complex, pan-European campaigns. Among these, My Voice, My Choice initiative, has gathered one million signatures and surpassed the minimum threshold in 15 Member States (pending verification from national authorities) four months before the final signature collection deadline.

Inspiring through success 

The Forum constantly analyses and highlights ECI organisers’ road to success. In 2024, we shared valuable insights from the organisers of Stop Finning – Stop the Trade, Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing, and Fur Free Europe. These success stories share insights from experienced ECI organisers, highlighting their strategies and experiences to help aspiring organisers navigate challenges, build impactful campaigns, and achieve their goals. They will also refresh your memory on the key steps needed to register and launch an ECI. 

We have also continued featuring ECI organisers and experts in our “Meet and Greet” video series, which is especially popular with our users on the Forum. These interviews provided insightful first-hand accounts from campaigners behind six recent ECIs, such as: Fur Free Europe, Connecting All European Capitals and People Through a High-Speed Train Network, End the Horse Slaughter Age, Vegan Meal, Creation of a European Environmental Authority, and Ban Conversion Practices in the EU.

Building skills through online learning

The Forum’s online course, “Essential Skills for European Citizens’ Initiative Organisers,” continued to grow in popularity and reached total number of learners of 1,786. The course offers interactive modules on the scope of European Commission competence, as well as ECI campaign strategy and fundraising, equipping organisers with the knowledge they need to run successful initiatives.

The Forum organises three interactive webinars every year on a range of topics, from practical strategies for organising an ECI to developing effective communication approaches. Responding to user requests, all webinar recordings are available online for easy reference. 

Engaging citizens across platforms

Over the course of 2024, the ECI Forum has further strengthened its reputation as the go-to collaborative platform for anyone looking to launch or support a European citizens’ initiative. Interest in the Forum grew, with 275,471 visits and 771,548 page views recorded throughout the year. The European Citizens' Initiative Official Facebook group now has 1,900 members now who exchange tips and experiences. Offline, the Forum was showcased at 12 events and conferences across Europe, ranging from a debate with ECI stakeholders in Croatia to a training hosted by the Academy of European Law in Germany. 

Looking ahead to 2025

As the ECI Forum continues to evolve, its mission remains the same: to empower citizens to influence EU policymaking through the European Citizens’ Initiative. With the revamped website and an expanding offer of resources, we are better positioned to serve our growing community and support organisers at every stage of their campaigns.

Explore the new features of the ECI Forum, access updated resources, and connect with a dedicated community of citizens. 

Make even more of your experience by registering now