“The European Citizens’ Initiative is a great opportunity to bring more democracy to the EU. At present, 16 initiatives are open for signature, making it a very active time for democratic participation in the EU, “says Daniela VancicEuropean Program Manager for Democracy International, responsible for the European Citizens’ Initiative.
The large number of current open initiatives shows that, a decade after the instrument was introduced, there is a large number of citizens who want to influence EU decision-making. Environmental issues and animal rights are particularly popular topics on which citizens take initiatives, but there are also a number of initiatives in response to current crises, such as the No Profit Pandemic ECI (Right to Cure).
The first review process of the ECI Regulation started in 2017 and the updated rules will enter into force in 2020. The new Regulation added flexibility to launch ECI, such as the possibility for organizers to choose the start date of the campaign themselves. Member States also have the option of lowering the age for signing the initiative to 16, as has already been the case in several Member States, such as Austria, Estonia and Malta, which have a lower voting age in the European elections.
Democracy International and its partner organizations, such as Mehr Demokratie, are calling for a lowering of the ECI signing age in all Member States in order to promote the participation of young people in the EU and give them a voice in EU affairs.
“We are calling for the subsidy age to be reduced to 16. Young people in particular will have to live with the consequences of EU policies for a long time to come, and they have a right to influence them,” he says. Ralf-Uwe BeckMehr Democrat spokesman.
The ECI lays the foundations for how democracy should be developed in Europe. The ECI is the only citizen’s instrument that deserves a direct response from the European Commission, so the ECI is the starting point for a more direct democracy in the EU.
“Ten years after the launch of the instrument, and in the midst of in-depth discussions on the future of Europe, now is the time to assess the potential of the European Citizens’ Initiative and its further development. The instrument should become a real right of citizens’ initiative and should be the starting point for the introduction of EU-wide referendums, ”says Vancic.
Democracy International is calling on the European Convention to amend the European treaties and introduce bottom-up direct democracy in the European Union, which is currently not planned. As the year-long conference on the future of Europe draws to a close, the ECI anniversary offers a unique opportunity to review and reform democracy in the EU.
Background
The European Citizens’ Initiative could put the issue on the agenda of the EU Commission. In order to launch an ECI, seven people from seven different Member States will have to submit a first proposal that is in line with EU values and competences. Within a year, one million signatures must be collected from at least seven different Member States, either online or on paper, and a minimum quota per country. If successful, the consultation will be followed by a consultation and debate in plenary in the European Parliament, and the initiators will be invited to a meeting with the EU Commission to present their views. Within six months of the submission of the verified signatures, the Commission shall reply in writing to the initiative and decide whether or not to accept the proposal, stating the reasons for its decision. From 2023, the collection of signatures will be centralized through a free collection system provided by the EU Commission. The European Citizens’ Initiative Forum has been set up to provide an online support center for organizations, including learning materials, webinars and customized, fundraising, campaigning and legal advice.
European Citizens’ Initiative website
European Citizens’ Initiative Forum website
More from Mehr Demokratie from ECI
More from Democracy International at ECI
Facts about the European Citizens’ Initiative
– The first registered ECI was the “Fraternité 2020” launched by students in 2012 with the aim of expanding European exchange programs such as Erasmus.
– The first successful ECI “Right2Water” in 2013 was introduced in the European Commission by the EU Water Framework Directive, but only six years later.
– The ECI, which collected one million signatures the fastest, in almost half the allotted time, was “Ban Glyphosate”.
– A successful ECI has an average budget of around € 215,000.
– The successful ECI “Save the Bees” led, among other things, to a meeting with Pope Francis to talk about biodiversity.
– Even failed ECI can affect EU law. The twice-registered ECI “Single Communication Tariff Act” paved the way for the elimination of data roaming charges within the EU as of 2017.
Source: Democracy International
Source: The Nordic Page