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European Citizens´ Initiative Forum

How to collect signatures

Find all the information you need on how to collect statements of support for your initiative. Remember, support for the European citizen's initiatives can be collected both on paper (using pre-filled, downloadable forms) and online via the central online collection system. 

Overview

The signature collection phase of an initiative is arguably the hardest step. As an organiser, you have 12 months to collect 1 million signatures including reaching the threshold in at least 7 different Member States. Thus, as an organiser, you need to understand how to collect signatures for your initiative and the different ways to do so. 

Interested in signing an ECI? Check out the current initiatives open for signature collection here!

Guidance

Read more information about how to collect statements of support in the guidance note below: 

Central Online Collection System

The central online collection system, provided by the European Commission to ECI initiative organisers free of charge, is the only tool to collect statements of support online. 

Read more about the central online collection system in the guidance note below: 

Learn from the expert!

In this video, Jerome Stefanini, the IT officer responsible for the Central Online Collection System at the Commission, highlights its properties and advantages and replies to questions and comments from ECI organisers.

The European Citizens’ Initiative’s Central Online Collection System Explained

Tips and tricks on collecting signatures

Learn from the ones who made it! 

In this video, Olga Kikou, organiser of the successful End the Cage Age initiative, shares tips and tricks on collecting signatures. 

 

Suggestions on collecting signatures for your initiative
Video transcript. Testimony, Olga Kikou, End the Cage Age European citizens’ initiative organiser

Remember!

Signatories need to be EU citizens (nationals of EU Member States) and old enough to vote in European Parliament elections (age 18 or lower in some Member States) - unless the Member State has decided to lower the minimum age for initiative signatories to 16 and has informed the Commission accordingly. See the list of age requirements

Read these blog posts below, to learn more tips and tricks on collecting signatures. 

Learn from successful ECIs

Learn from organisers who successfully collected 1 million verified signatures. Read the Success Stories

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