Want to travel on a single pass anywhere in the EU? Crafting a European citizens' initiative might be the answer

A new potential European citizens' initiative (ECI) that would call for allowing citizens to use the public transport systems of the Member States with one single pass was born through the active participation of young people at a workshop organized by Stand Up for Europe on 15 October 2024, in Brussels. The hands-on simulation of planning and implementing an ECI, part of the Democracy Beyond Elections event, aimed at strengthening young people's participation in democratic life through participatory and deliberative practices. 

It allowed 30 young participants from Belgium to collaboratively develop a proposal for a unique EU-wide public transport pass in an exercise to discover more about the ECI and explore how citizens can actively engage in shaping policy. The workshop was not just about learning - it was a practical, immersive experience where attendees actively crafted communication strategies and engaged with experts, making the initiative one step closer to reality.

This workshop was part of a larger journey that began earlier in 2024, the event marking the third in a series of workshops focused on guiding young citizens through the process of developing and submitting a European citizens' initiative (ECI). Throughout the series of workshops, participants tackled the concept of a unique EU-wide public transport pass, a topic which was selected in the first session from the EU priorities the institutions set out in the annual Joint Declaration.  In the second session, they learned how to draft an ECI, give it a title, design logos, and legal provisions for submission. In the final stage, the participants worked on plans for signature collection, campaigning and gathering support for their proposal, thus completing the full ECI process.

The activity gave participants the opportunity to engage in both a panel discussion with experts and a practical workshop, simulating the final stages of an ECI campaign. Unlike conventional presentations, this session encouraged full participation, ensuring attendees didn’t just learn about the ECI process but actively applied it.

In the first part, Vasiliki Mustakis (Participatory Democracy Manager at the European Citizen Action Service, ECAS) and Tony Venables (European Citizens’ Rights, Involvement and Trust - ECIT Foundation), shared insights into what makes an ECI successful. Vasiliki introduced participants to the ECI Forum, explaining how organisers could benefit from its support, such as the ‘ask an expert’ service, where organisers can receive legal advice when preparing their initiative. Tony Venables shared his best practice advice based on the experience he had with the initiative Voters Without Borders, which, despite not gathering the required signatures, left a lasting impact by raising awareness on voting rights across the EU and contributed to agenda-setting. 

A key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of early preparation. According to the experts, the success of any ECI campaign is determined by strategic planning, including securing resources well before the start of signature collection. Participants were deeply engaged, asking many questions on, for example, institutional support and how the European Commission could better help ECI campaigns, addressing why many initiatives struggle to gain traction.

Following the discussion panel, participants split into two groups, each tasked with designing essential elements of a campaign for the hypothetical universal public transport pass initiative. One group focused on communication strategy, exploring how social media platforms, influencers, and local authorities could be mobilised to promote the initiative. Their ideas ranged from organising mock-up days to demonstrate the benefits of cross-border travel, to targeting young people through schools and universities.

The second group concentrated on stakeholder engagement and fundraising strategies. They discussed engaging MEPs, local politicians, and transport companies, emphasising how private companies, such as chip card manufacturers, could become key financial backers. 

The workshop equipped participants with practical knowledge about how to craft and promote an ECI, and gave them the tools to think creatively about stakeholder engagement and communication strategies. 

Many attendees expressed strong interest in turning the public transport pass proposal into an official initiative, demonstrating how workshops like these can spark tangible action. By moving beyond merely raising awareness, this hands-on approach to the ECI process shows the potential to foster proactive civic engagement and contribute to shaping European democracy. To put it simply, this initiative proves that informed citizens, when given the right tools, can drive forward real change within the EU.