European Citizens Initiative
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Introduction
Campaign text
Objectives
The Team
How to get Involved
The Events:
Campaign launch
Updates:
18th October 2006
Introduction
The goal of this campaign is to enable citizens to propose concrete policy and law changes to the European Commission, by the means of a comprehensive citizens’ right of initiative. The more EU legislation influences our daily lives, the more important it is to open up channels for EU citizens and civil society to articulate their concerns toward European decision makers. This new right of initiative would require the European Commission to respond to a proposed change in European law signed by at least one million EU citizens (any resulting proposal would then go through the normal legislative process.) European citizens and civil society organizations could then directly influence the political agenda of the EU for the first time in history. The central idea of our campaign is to collect signatures of people from all member states, demanding the introduction of the ECI by the EU. The campaign will be launched on 9th November by a series of citizen actions in numerous EU-member states. From then on, volunteers all across Europe will collect signatures, and the tool of online signature gathering will also be available. In order for future Citizens' Initiatives to work the legal basis for ECI must be designed in a citizen-friendly way, so as well as our core demand, we will publish guidelines on how this can be ensured. The end of the campaign will be determined by our success in gathering signatures, and by how our proposals are received by EU decision makers; our goal is a regulation incorporating a workable citizens' right of initiative in European law. This campaign can already count on broad support from NGOs in many EU-member states, prominent politicians and well-known foundations. But you can still shape it, your participation can make a difference! .
The proposed start of the campaign is 9th May 2006, and the campaign should not last longer than 18 months. In order for future Citizens’ Initiatives to work the regulation must be designed in a citizen-friendly way, so as well as our core demand, we will publish guidelines on how this can be ensured. The end of the campaign will be determined by our success in gathering signatures, and by how our proposals are received by EU decision makers. Our goal is a regulation incorporating a workable citizens’ right of initiative in European law.
This campaign will need a broad alliance of individuals and civil society organizations to collect one million signatures. The campaign will start only if we are successful in building this alliance. The alliance will then form a committee to take strategic decisions regarding the campaign.
Campaign text
"We, the undersigned, want the EU to give legal force to the European Citizens` Initiative, where one million European citizens can call on the European Commission to propose a change in European law."
Why the right of Initiative?
The time has come for citizens to be given a genuine and meaningful role in directing the European project. When implemented the ECI will be the first transnational tool of democracy. It will give citizens a right of initiative that is much more effective than the current European citizens' right of petition. Experience shows that the right of initiative tends to strengthen the role of parliaments, helping representatives to be more responsive to voters' wishes, and encouraging positive collaboration between citizens and their members of parliament. Being issue-focused, the right of initiative will contribute to shaping an open European public space around key debates that reflect citizens' real concerns. In other words the ECI will not only help to close the gap between citizens and institutions, but also foster the development of European civil society. This represents only one step along the long path of democratic reform, but it would clearly signal the direction of travel. The right of initiative can – already today - command very broad support in civil society, among political parties, and among the general public, but is still not legally existent.
The right of initiative can command very broad support in civil society, among political parties, and among the general public. It is very cheap, relatively acceptable to decision-makers and politically neutral, requiring no treaty change and no increase in the EU budget.
Why a million-signature campaign on this issue?
To open the door for other campaigns using ECI, the right of initiative must be introduced as a legally binding instrument. The institutions are unlikely to introduce a strong regulation without further public pressure, so it is up to the citizens to demand its introduction. Citizens’ signatures, gathered all across Europe, will prove that European initiatives can work, and put the EU institutions under considerable pressure to respond positively. The history of popular political movements shows that political rights as such can motivate and mobilize civil society, including young people. This campaign will show that citizens have the will and capacity to take the European project into their own hands.
One million signatures, gathered all across Europe, will prove that European initiatives can work, and put the EU institutions under considerable pressure to respond positively. The history of popular political movements shows that political rights as such can motivate and mobilise civil society, including young people. This campaign will show that citizens have the will and capacity to take the European project into their own hands.
Objectives of the project
The European Citizens Initiative will
- inform the public about the role & influence of citizens in European decision-making
- educate young adults for participation in democracy
- inspire young adults with the importance of a direct citizens voice in decision-making on any level
The Team
photo
| ECI-Team | |
| Yvonne van Rossenberg | AEGEE - Tilburg AEGEE-Pecs |
| Jessica Woerlee (inactive) | AEGEE - Utrecht |
| Laure Onidi | AEGEE-Köln AEGEE-Toulouse |
| ECI-Team in Brussels | |
| Izabela Jurczik | AEGEE |
| Stephane Carrara | Cafe Babel |
| Lars Bosselmans | Democracy international |
| Carsten Berg | Democracy international |
If you have any questions, please contact:
ECI-Team
eci.aegee*AT*googlemail.com
Tel: Yvonne +31615102195 (mobile)
Laure +32485475624
How to get Involved
Do you think this is the greatest campaign ever? Do you want to get involved? You want your your local to collect signatures?
Contact ECI-Team at eci.aegee*AT*googlemail.com
Campaign launch
Update
18 October 2006
European Citizens’ Initiative kicks off in November
Europe needs more democracy and citizens’ involvement. Everybody agrees on that. But too often these are only nice political declarations followed by no action. And this needs to be changed now. A citizens’ movement, gathered around the common vision of a Europe of citizens, is launching a Europe-wide campaign calling for more citizens’ influence in the EU.
On the 9th of November, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) will go public. A broad alliance of NGOs from all over Europe will start a huge collection of signatures supporting the following demand:
“We, the undersigned, want the European Union to give legal force to the
European Citizens’ Initiative, where one million European citizens can
call on the European Commission to propose a change to European law.”
By signing this initiative , citizens will express their willingness to have a say on European issues and increase pressure on the EU-institutions to give a positive response.
The launch of the European Citizens’ Initiative will be celebrated by several events on the 9th of November.
• A press conference will be held in the European Parliament from 14:00 to 14:30h.
• At 14:45h citizens will meet in front of the European Parliament where the collection of signatures will officially start.
• In the evening, we will organise an ECI café, involving mainly young people talking about their role in the campaign
Help us to make the launching day a big success! Especially for the start of the signature gathering, your help is needed! Join us on 9th November at 14:45h at the main entrance of the European Parliament (Rue Wiertz 60 in Brussels). Bring also your friends, colleagues, class-mates…
For more information about the campaign visit our website: www.citizens-initiative.eu