For an eci to be successful, at least one million signatures must be collected. Get active now to support our fight for a better agricultural model in europe. First, it differs from the european commissions established partnerships and dialogue with organized interests by focusing on direct forms of wider citizen participation. European citizens initiative updated edition green. However, erminia mazzoni, member of the european parliament, and chairwoman of the committee on petitions of the european parliament believes the eci alone will not solve the european unions democratic deficit. Eu citizens can launch a european citizens initiative. User guide to the european citizens initiative eci 6 the new agenda setting and transnational tool 7 step by step. Citizens initiative eci, the aim of which is to engage european citizens with the european project, help mobilise civil society and strengthen paneuropean debate on european policies. The texts reflect solely the views of their authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the european commission. Stop negotiations for ttip and ceta eciregistration 15 july 2015 criticism. Whilst the treaty codified longestablished practices of representative democracy and of dialogue with civil society organizations, it also notably introduced a new measure, the. Learning from the first two years of the european citizens initiative, p. The european citizens initiative enables one million eu citizens from at least seven eu countries to call on the european commission to propose legislation on matters where the eu has competence to legislate. Initiatives being pursued across the european union, provides a download of open.
The european citizens initiative is sometimes compared to a swiss army knife. Back in 1991, most people thought our idea of a european citizens initiative was pure science. Minority safepack one million signatures for diversity in europe is an ongoing european citizens initiative on minority rights in the eu, sponsored by fuen. We call on the european commission to propose to member states a ban on glyphosate, to reform the pesticide approval procedure, and to set euwide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use. A contrary interpretation would result in the commission being stripped of all discretion in exercising its powers of legislative initiative following a european citizens initiative. The european citizens initiative chances, constraints and. The european citizen s initiative eci labelled by the commission as a direct gateway through which citizens can make their voices heard in brussels may emerge in the european awareness as a new appealing platform for policyshaping and communication. Making the european union more democratic and transparent is one of the priorities of the juncker commission. Over 70 million eu citizens have a disability and 15 million children have special educational.
Papers prepared for the worskshop the european citizens. European citizens initiative pocket guide by green. Pdf research on the european citizens initiative eci has neglected the crucial role of social movements. Revising the european citizens initiative eu legislation in. European citizens initiative updated edition green european. Put in place by the lisbon treaty, the citizens initiative allows 1 million citizens from at least a quarter of the eu member states to ask the european commission to propose legislation in. A european citizens initiative is a special way that ordinary european citizens like us can demand the european commission investigates whether there should be a change in the law in europe. As one of the most innovative elements introduced by the treaty of. Research on the european citizens initiative has neglected the crucial role of social movements.
Initiative detail european citizens initiative portal. But you can safely click on the checkbox as the id created for the signature sis unique and we will detect a signatures dublette. As the eci is available to more than 400 million eu citizens across 28 member states and across the world, if you happen to live outside the eu as an eu citizen, it is hard to predict its longterm impact on government and democracy in europe. Second, in explaining the multiple consequences of european citizens initiative mobilization, i show that a campaign may have important, often unintended, effects beyond the failure to achieve policy change, including disappointment with the democratic process leading to european citizens initiative reform and a renewed focus on. Phd researcher, school of law, university of surrey. Download all files from the file exchange service for initiative 2 test data from ms. So the eci is a quite formalistic tool by the european commission and its regulation obliges us to ask every signee whether she has signed already. A manual by the green european foundation on the european citizens initiative the first transnational direct democracy tool in the world. First, in explaining successful mobilization, i argue that the european citizens initiative as a political opportunity structure incentivizes the organization of. At the same time a successful eci forces a hearing at the european parliament. European union eu public policy is notoriously technical and consensus orientated, and dialogue between political institutions and interest groups may enhance tendencies for inward looking and elite politics. In november 2009, the european commission published a green paper on the subject. Apr 05, 2020 brexit and european citizenship pdf, 780 kb background european union citizenship was formally introduced in article 2 of the treaty on european union teu or maastricht treaty in 1992 and was further developed by subsequent eu treaty amendments amsterdam and lisbon. In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of european union citizenship under the maastricht treaty in 1993, the year 20 has been designated by the european commission as the european year of citizens.
The case of the european citizens initiative elizabeth monaghan, department of politics and international studies, university of hull, abstract the european citizens initiative eci is the latest in a line of institutional innovations that. We examine the entire set of more than 60 signature collection. Citizens using the central online collection system for the european citizens initiative should be able to support an initiative online by using notified electronic identification means or by signing with an electronic signature within the meaning of regulation eu no 9102014 of the european parliament and of the council 10. The commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Citizens initiatives are instruments available to citizens in a majority of the member states, be it at national, regional or local level, although they differ considerably in scope and procedure. As of april 2012, it gives citizens of the european union the opportunity to get involved directly in eu politics. The concept of eu citizenship, from which the european citizens initiative eci was derived, was first introduced in the maastricht treaty 1. Guide to the european citizens initiative alda european. Once an initiative reaches 1 million verified endorsements, the commission and parliament will consider the proposal. Whilst the treaty codified longestablished practices of representative democracy and of dialogue with civil society organizations, it also notably. The european citizens initiative hereafter eci, the first supranational instrument of direct democracy, creates an additional direct link between the european union citizens and the institutions of the union. The european citizens initiative is a significant move. This is the official website for european citizens initiative eci titled eu citizenship for europeans. Sign the european citizens initiative fridays for future eci. The initiative enables one million citizens of the european union, who are nationals of at least one quarter of the member states, to call directly.
Dec 31, 2012 the procedural demands of the new european citizens initiative eci require the citizens committees which host them to be backed by professional organisation. Transforming the european citizens initiative into a more. It sets out its findings in reports to the european parliament and the council. Brexit and european citizenship house of commons library. Directive 201423eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on the award of concession contracts, 2014 oj l941. New rules on the european citizens initiative enter into application regulation eu. The rules and procedures governing the citizens initiative are set out in an eu regulation adopted by the european parliament and. Seven eu citizens resident in seven different eu countries can form a committee, register their initiative and start to collect signatures and support from across europe. The european citizens initiative eci is a step towards the more direct involvement of citizens in european decisionmaking. The european citizens initiative was introduced in the lisbon treaty and is provided for in article 11 of the treaty of the european union.
Speaking at the european citizens initiative a first assessment workshop at the college of europe in bruges, belgium on 25 january, mep diana wallis, corapporteur for the eci, said it was the intention of the european parliament that, over time, most member states will drop the id card requirement. Action 10 download all files from the file exchange service for initiative 2 test data from ms action 11 treat all the files downloaded from the file exchange service. European citizens initiative as of 1 april 2012, eu citizens have a new tool allowing them to participate in shaping eu policy. This platform is a space for you to get practical information and advice about the european citizens initiative, and to discuss any topics related to it.
Dec 12, 2018 european citizens initiatives were introduced with the lisbon treaty and launched as an agendasetting tool in the hands of citizens in april 2012, upon the entry into force of the european citizens initiative regulation which implements the treaty provisions. The general court confirms the decision of the commission. This article contributes to the study of mobilization strategies and campaign consequences through two novel arguments. Regulatory framework european citizens initiative portal. Second, it is the worlds first transnational citizens initiative, with aspirations to help build an euwide public sphere. Second report 2018 first report 2015 see also history of the european citizens initiative. Citizens may contribute to develop an eu political strategy by proposing a legislation. Already at this initial stage it will be important to consider the procedural framework, and the. A european citizens initiative eci is a kind of a participatory democracy.
Oct 16, 2018 in defiance of accounts which see the european union eu as structurally incompatible with democracy, the lisbon treaty set out the general right and specific means for citizens to participate in eu decisionmaking. However, she said it is unclear how exactly this will happen. The eci could thus create a new space inside the eu policymaking machine for ordinary eu citizens. Once an initiative gathers 1 million signatures, the commission decides on what followup action to take. The european citizens initiative eci is a unique tool of transnational democracy that gives citizens the right to directly participate in setting the legislative agenda of the eu. Feb 02, 20 download this article pdf the european citizens initiative eci is framework that allows eu citizens to call on the european commission to propose legislation regarding a particular issue, following the gathering of at least 1,000,000 signatures of support from citizens of at least 7 member states. The european citizens initiative is a unique and innovative way for citizens to shape europe by calling on the european commission to make a legislative proposal. Dec, 2018 the european citizens initiative is an instrument of participatory democracy which enables one million eu citizens from at least one quarter of the member states to invite the commission to propose a legal act in areas where it has the power to do so. Guide to the european citizens initiative publications. Further facts on the planned european citizens initiative.
The european citizens initiative is not a tool reserved for ngos. European citizens initiative the main core of the thesis is the problematics of the european citizens initiative, a tool relatively new that was put in place by the lisbon treaty and allows one million citizens from at least seven eu member states to ask the european commission to propose legislation in areas that fall within its competence. The proposals registered by the european commission were summarised as follows. The european citizens initiative eci represents one of the main ways the european institutions chose during the making of the european convention, and then reproduced in the lisbon treaty, to beat populism by bringing decisionmaking closer to the citizens and promoting a new. Dec 07, 2017 the eci enables european citizens to invite the commission to table a proposal for a legal act.
It is hoped that the outcome of this initiative will be that the rights and responsibilities of all current european citizens will be. It is different to a regular petition because this tool legally obliges the european commission to consider and investigate our demands as citizens. In your organiser account, you can download customised and precompleted. The european citizens initiative chances, constraints. When similar petitions are carried out in 2012, they will result in policy actions by the eu institutions. A new democratic tool, the european citizens initiative eci, starting with april 2012, will allow one million european union eu citizens to ask the european commission to propose eu legislation. The european citizens initiative eci has had a difficult time since its launch in 2012 there were high expectations of citizenled policymaking and of reducing the distance between ordinary people and eu institutions, but these hopes have largely been dashed. A european citizens initiative is a way for you and other europeans to take an active part in eu policymaking if you want to get the eu to take action on a particular issue, you can create a citizens initiative, to call on the european commission to propose new eu legislation on that issue for an initiative to be considered by the commission, you need to get 1 million people. A new european citizens initiative eci mechanism seems to offer an opportunity to address these structural defects. The detailed rules for such initiatives are laid down in a 2011 regulation, whose main stated aim is encouraging citizens participation in the political life of the european union eu. Language selection european citizens initiative portal. European citizens initiative towards a beefriendly agriculture for a healthy environment. By collecting one million signatures from at least seven eu member states, citizens can invite the european commission to draft legislation on a proposed issue.
European citizens initiative democracy international e. Pdf the european citizens initiative participatory. The european citizens initiative eci is the worlds first transnational instrument of participatory democracy. User guide to the european citizens initiative eci 9 the early stages a t the beginning, there must be an idea about a european problem, which might require a european solution. It is a right that is enshrined in the eu treaties. We are independent, politically neutral, nonprofit and noneu financed organisation working for the successful introduction. It is against this background that the european citizens initiative is particularly important since it gives them the opportunity to express their concerns in a very concrete way and to influence the european political and legislative agenda. This guide explains what the citizens initiative is about, how to sign up to. The significance of the european citizens initiative for. The initiative is intended to provide a direct link. A citizens initiative has to be an invitation to the european commission to propose a law in a field where it has the power to do so, for example in the fields of environment, agriculture, transport or public health. The european citizens initiative is a democratic instrument designed to allow large numbers of citizens a voice in the commission. The eci enables european citizens to invite the commission to table a proposal for a legal act.
The rules and procedures governing the citizens initiative are set out in an eu regulation adopted by the european. One potential source would be civil society organisations csos organised at eu level. The procedural demands of the new european citizens initiative eci require the citizens committees which host them to be backed by professional organisation. The european citizens initiative and eu civil society. Citizens try to gain influence on the agenda of eu institutions european commission, european parliament by strengthening issues of peoples concern within the eu. A european citizens initiative is a way for you and other europeans to take an active part in eu policymaking if you want to get the eu to take action on a particular issue, you can create a citizens initiative, to call on the european commission to propose new eu legislation on that issue. In order to launch a citizens initiative, citizens must form a citizens committee composed of at least 7 eu citizens being resident in at least 7 different member states. We will convince the european commission and the european. European citizens initiative cannot require the commission to submit a proposal for a legal act. Dec 31, 2019 first, it differs from the european commissions established partnerships and dialogue with organized interests by focusing on direct forms of wider citizen participation. The contents of this page are the sole responsibility of the organisers of the initiatives. European disability forum and their groundbreaking eci.
Pdf the european citizens initiative chances, constraints and. The european citizens initiative eci represents one of the main ways the european institutions chose during the making of the european convention, and then reproduced in the lisbon treaty, to beat populism by bringing decisionmaking closer to the. This site is operated by the european citizen action service ecas on behalf of. Jan 18, 2012 a new democratic tool, the european citizens initiative eci, starting with april 2012, will allow one million european union eu citizens to ask the european commission to propose eu legislation. Sign now together, we will set out to collect at least one million signatures for the european citizens initiative save bees and farmers.
Revising the european citizens initiative eu legislation. In defiance of accounts which see the european union eu as structurally incompatible with democracy, the lisbon treaty set out the general right and specific means for citizens to participate in eu decisionmaking. The european citizens initiative eci is a european union mechanism aimed at increasing direct democracy by enabling eu citizens to participate directly in the development of eu policies, introduced with the treaty of lisbon in 2007. The european citizens initiative participatory democracy. Manual for a successful european citizens initiative 8 the early stages 9 the critical preparation phase 9 seven people, seven states, one hundred characters 10 checkpoint one. The european citizens initiative eci labelled by the commission as a direct gateway through which citizens can make their voices heard in. The european citizens initiative eci labelled by the commission as a direct gateway through which citizens can make their voices heard in brussels may emerge in the european awareness as a new appealing platform for policyshaping and communication. The eci fully entered into force on 1 june 2012 when all the elements. Agenda europe supports one of us, a european citizens initiative requesting the eu to adopt new legislation to prevent the use of eu funds for any activities that involve or presuppose the destruction of the human embryo a european citizens initiative eci is an instrument of participatory democracy that was newly introduced in the eu through the lisbon treaty 2009.