European Citizens’ Initiative

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is a petition system that aims to give EU citizens a greater say in EU policy making. Introduced in 2012 through the Lisbon Treaty, ECIs encourage participation and collaboration in democratic processes by allowing EU citizens to initiate and support new proposals for consideration by the European Commission. Proposals put forward cover a variety of subject matters where the EU has competence to legislate. These include policy about the environment, agriculture, transport and public health.

Organisers of registered ECIs have one year to collect statements of support from EU citizens. All EU citizens who are of an age to vote in European Parliament elections (18 years or older in Ireland) may support an ECI. A minimum of one million statements of support is required for the European Commission to consider a proposal. In addition, a minimum number of signatories is required in at least seven EU Member States. The threshold of minimum signatories for Ireland is 10,080.

Once an ECI has reached the threshold of required statements of support, the collected statements must be verified and certified by each Member State. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for verifying and certifying any Irish statements of support. ECIs with the required statements of support are submitted to the European Commission for consideration. The Commission is not bound to follow an initiative but must respond within three months.

For more information on the ECI, including past and current Initiatives, visit https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/_en