About: ECI
Expert: The EU political agenda must be set by ordinary citizens
Arguing for an alternative vision of European cooperation, political scientist Richard Youngs told EURACTIV that an EU rethink must include new voices and involve a fully participative process of consultation, in line with what French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed in recent months. In his new book he shows how that can be achieved.
Conflicts of interest erode trust in food safety agency
Close to half of the experts at the European Food Security Agency have conflicts of interest that call into question the validity of the agency’s work, according to a new study by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO). EURACTIV France reports.
‘Stop TTIP’ petition is legitimate, top EU court rules
Rejected by Brussels for its lack of a legal basis, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) calling for an end to the EU’s free trade negotiations with the US and Canada was yesterday (10 May) vindicated by the Court of Justice of the EU. EURACTIV France reports.
Revising the ECI: How to make it ‘fit for purpose’
Following the high hopes for the European Citizens’ Initiative as a new instrument of participatory democracy, it has proven to be ineffective, largely unknown to citizens and neither user-friendly nor cost-effective, writes Assya Kavrakova.
Reformed ECI should make policymaking ‘more accessible’
Five years after its launch, the EU’s tool of participatory democracy has never really worked. But Brussels last week announced plans for an overhaul of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). EURACTIV France reports.
Citizens’ initiative aimed at banning glyphosate gets the go-ahead
Brussels has agreed to the launch of a European Citizens' Initiative on banning glyphosate in the EU. EURACTIV France reports.
Time for action on universal access to water
Water is a human right. It is high time for the European Commission to recognise this fact and end the privatisation of European water companies, which threatens to deprive thousands of this most vital resource, writes Jan Willem Goudriaan.
Commission ignoring the ECI’s positive potential for democracy
The European Citizen’s Initiative was labelled a danger by the European Commission, which has grown wary of its use by Eurosceptic campaigners and set out to weaken the only democratic tool by which citizens may directly influence the EU policy agenda, writes Carsten Berg.
The European Citizens’ Initiative needs promised ‘start button’
After over three years of use, none of nearly 50 proposed ECIs have resulted in a legislative proposal. The European Commission simply declined to act, leaving ECI supporters feeling betrayed, writes Carsten Berg.
Three million people unite to derail TTIP
A petition signed by three million people against the EU-US trade deal will be handed to the European Commission on Wednesday (7 October).
A turning point for the European Citizens’ Initiative?
As the only tool for public participation in the EU’s democratic process, the European Citizens’ Initiative must be revised and improved as soon as possible, writes Sophie von Hatzfeldt.
MEPs unconvinced by European Citizens’ Initiative on vivisection
The European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Vivisection", signed by 1.6 million Europeans, failed to impress MEPs at its parliamentary hearing. EURACTIV France reports.
Turbulent days for the European Citizens Initiative
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is going through turbulent days. Whether it will come out stronger or weakened we are yet to see, writes Sophie von Hatzfeldt.
Reforming the ECI is vital for European democracy
Three years after the entry into force of the ECI (European Citizens’ Initiative) regulation it seems “easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle” than to register an ECI, writes Assya Kavrakova.
The European Citizens’ Initiative Can Be Saved
The European Citizens' Initiative in its current form does not work. There is much the Commission can do while still remaining within the limits of the EU treaties, writes Carsten Berg.
European Citizens‘ Initiative: Commission admits need for improvement
The European Commission presented a three-year review on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on Tuesday (31 March). Urgent reform is needed to halt its slide into oblivion, writes Sophie von Hatzfeldt.
The European Citizens’ Initiative: A democratic farce?
The European Citizens' Initiative is the world's first transnational tool of participative democracy. But the system needs reform if it is to avoid becoming a farce, argues Sophie von Hatzfeldt.
Parliament gearing up for European Citizens’ Initiative review
MEPs discussed Thursday (26 February) reforming the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), whose three-year review is planned for this year.
EU citizens force water debate onto agenda
Water and who should provide it - the public or private sector - has become the first issue to be pushed onto Brussels' policy agenda via a new mechanism meant to involve ordinary people in EU decision-making.
First citizens’ initiative launched in Greece
A Greek think tank yesterday (16 December) launched the first European Citizens’ Initiative which aims to boost investment in education in times of crisis. EURACTIV Greece reports. VideoPromoted content
European Citizens’ Initiative Day 2013 press conference
The European Citizens’ Initiative is struggling to gain momentum a year after being launched, bogged down by technical and bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented a single petition from meeting all the requirements, civic activists say.
Citizens’ initiatives flounder one year after launch
The European Citizens’ Initiative is struggling to gain momentum a year after being launched, bogged down by technical and bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented a single petition from meeting all the requirements, civic activists say.Citizen initiatives aren’t living up to their potential
The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) is a year old, but neither EU politicians nor civil society organisations are happy with the instrument, writes Cora Pfafferott.