The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) offers a unique opportunity for EU citizens to influence policymaking by proposing new legislation directly to the European Commission; however, successfully navigating the ECI process requires thorough preparation, strategic campaigning, and collaboration across borders. A recent webinar hosted by the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum brought together experts and campaigners to share practical advice and strategies for those considering this powerful democratic tool.
The discussion featured insights from Elisa Lironi, Programme Director for European Democracy at the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS); Vasiliki Mustakis from the ECI Forum; and Piotr Sadowski, the representative of the "Water Smart and Resilient Europe" ECI.
Why choose the European Citizens' Initiative from all EU participatory democracy tools?
The European Union provides multiple ways for citizens to engage in democracy beyond elections. As Elisa Lironi pointed out, while voting in European elections is key to influencing policy, there are other tools that can be used between elections. One of them is submitting petitions to the European Parliament, allowing citizens to raise concerns about EU laws that affect them directly. These petitions are reviewed by the Parliament’s Committee on Petitions and can lead to parliamentary actions or inquiries.
Unlike petitions, which address existing EU activities, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) empowers citizens to propose new EU laws. Petitions can be submitted by a single individual without a minimum number of signatures, whereas an ECI requires a formal group of organisers and the collection of at least 1 million signatures from across the EU.
Another option is participating in the Citizens' Panels, like those from the Conference on the Future of Europe, where randomly selected citizens discuss and recommend policies on various topics. Elisa Lironi noted that these panels provide a sustainable way for people to engage in EU policymaking and promote a more inclusive democracy. After the Conference for the Future of Europe, the Citizens' Engagement Platform was established to allow citizens to participate in conversations and debates on the topics discussed in the Citizens’ Panels and directly influence the formulation of public policy.
Another option is to contribute to EU Public Consultations, through which businesses, organisations and citizens can share views on developing policies and help the European Commission formulate better policy with the gained feedback.
In addition to these formal methods, Elisa Lironi noted some of the other participatory tools available. The EU funds multiple projects that research and test participatory democracy mechanisms. For instance, ECAS has implemented crowdsourcing pilots to engage citizens in policy discussions. Some Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have also used e-participation platforms to co-create legislative texts with their constituents, enhancing involvement in the legislative process.
A one-stop-shop portal, called Have Your Say offers access to Public consultations, the Citizen Engagement Platform and the European Citizens’ Initiative.
What Makes the ECI Unique
The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) stands out from other participatory tools because it is citizen-initiated, supranational, and allows agenda-setting at the EU level. As emphasised by Ms. Lironi, the ECI enables citizens to proactively propose new legislation, in contrast to reactive tools that address only existing policies (or those in the making).
The goal of an ECI is to collect one million verified signatures from EU citizens while reaching the threshold in at least seven Member States within a year. This requirement emphasises its supranational character and promotes international cooperation on shared problems.
Ms. Lironi emphasised that the ECI is voluntary and enables citizens to work together across borders and present their initiative directly to the European Commission. Whilst the Commission must respond formally to a successful ECI, one that gathered 1 million verified signatures and surpassing the threshold in more than seven Member States, it isn’t legally required to act on it. However, the initiative can significantly influence policy discussions, making the ECI a powerful tool for setting the legislative agenda and raising awareness on important issues.
Steps to a Successful ECI
Ms. Mustakis from the ECI Forum outlined the steps to launch a European Citizens' Initiative:
- Form an organiser group: Assemble at least seven EU citizens from seven different EU countries to develop the initiative.
- Develop the proposal: Create a proposal that aligns with EU legislative competence. The ECI Forum and its legal advice can help you with this task.
- Get your ECI registered with the European Commission: Submit the initiative through the organisers' account. If it does not meet the requirements (for example, by being outside the Commission’s competencies), organisers get two months to revise and resubmit.
- Begin signature collection: Once registered, organisers have six months to start a 12-month campaign to collect at least one million signatures from seven EU countries.
- Submit for verification: After collecting over 1 million signatures, submit them for national verification within three months. Once submitted, verification can take up to three months.
- Commission review: If it is verified, you can send the initiative to the European Commission, which then has six months to examine it and decide on the next steps. The European Parliament will organise a public hearing during this period
Ms. Mustakis emphasised that the success of an ECI relies on meticulous planning, understanding the legal framework, strategic campaigning, and compliance with all procedural requirements. Leveraging ECI Forum resources throughout the process can be very helpful when planning and launching an ECI.
Challenges and Strategies for Success
Ms. Mustakis addressed the challenges ECI organisers face, highlighting collecting the necessary number of signatures as a major challenge. To overcome it, she recommended developing targeted campaigns for at least 7-9 EU countries to meet minimum thresholds. Tailoring messages to local contexts and issues can help to enhance campaign effectiveness.
She advised collaborating with organisations and stakeholders across the EU to amplify outreach. Building networks with NGOs, community groups, and other partners is crucial for spreading the word and gaining support and credibility.
Regularly assessing and adjusting campaign tactics based on performance and feedback is also an essential part of a strong campaign strategy. Successful initiatives have often adapted their strategies during the campaign to maintain momentum and overcome difficulties, which in turn increased the chances of reaching the required signatures.
Leveraging the ECI Forum
The ECI Forum, available in all 24 EU languages, offers essential support and advice to ECI organisers before, during, and after their campaigns. It provides resources such as "How to Raise Funds" and "How to Look for Partners," offering straightforward advice for organising an ECI. Features like "Discuss" and "Connect" allow organisers to engage with fellow members, exchange ideas, and build networks. The ECI Forum's "Ask an Expert" feature offers (potential) organisers customised, independent guidance on legal, campaigning and fundraising matters.
Case Study: ECI for a Water Smart and Resilient Europe
Piotr Sadowski shared his experience organising the "ECI for a Water-Smart and Resilient Europe," driven by the urgent need to protect Europe's water ecosystems. Inspired by the "FLOW" project, the initiative advocates for a holistic action plan for water in Europe. It calls on the European Commission to prioritise water within the EU framework and elevate resilience to the same priority level as decarbonisation. This concept supports the EESC’s EU Blue Deal's vision for sustainable water management and integrating water resilience into all EU policies.
Mr. Sadowski highlighted that the ECI creates the opportunity to turn citizens' voices into policy actions. He referred to challenges with mobilising citizens from diverse groups due to regional differences in issues surrounding water - coastal areas focus on pollution, whilst inland regions may deal with water scarcity. To overcome this, his team uses tailored messaging and targeted outreach so that people from various socio-economic backgrounds and regions could connect with their initiative.
It is important to make the initiative’s narrative accessible to the public. While the official ECI text is technical, the campaign needs to present it in relatable terms to gather support. Finally, Mr. Sadowski compared participating in the ECI to voting in elections, a democratic exercise that allows citizens to influence policy directly.
Conclusion
The webinar presented the European Citizens' Initiative as a key tool for EU citizens to influence policy and legislation directly. The ECI’s unique traits - being citizen-initiated, supranational and agenda-setting – allow for pursuing democratic goals.
Successful ECIs require thorough preparation, including forming a diverse organisers’ group, aligning proposals with EU fields of action, and conducting a robust campaign over a long period of time. The support of the ECI Forum can be very helpful, as it offers legal and campaigning advice, and a platform for organisers to connect and share experiences. By staying informed and proactive, you can navigate the ECI process with confidence and maximize your impact on European policymaking.
Watch the full webinar recording below:
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