European Citizens' Initiative promotes active participation and empowerment

The European Citizens' Initiative promotes the participation of citizens across Europe on matters of their everyday lives, with the aim of empowering all European citizens and creating awareness.

A recent relevant press release noted that an ECI Promotion Handbook has recently been published and local authorities could now easily find all the information available-- in all official EU languages-- to make ECI’s more accessible to all EU citizens.

Public bodies implementing actions will also be invited to share their experiences at events in Brussels in 2025.

As noted in the announcement, the EPIs are a unique tool that allows EU citizens to propose legislative changes on issues that concern them, asking the European Commission to propose new laws.

This is an institution launched with the Treaty of Lisbon and has been active since 2012.

The organisers of the EPIs should be a group of seven EU citizens, from at least seven different member states, all eligible to vote in the European elections.

They must choose an issue that falls within the legislative powers of the European Commission and have one year to collect one million verified signatures. If they succeed, the European Commission and the European Parliament discuss their goals in detail and decide on possible actions.

Since 2012, more than 1,000 citizen-organizers have launched 118 EPIs, with the active participation of 5 citizens from Cyprus.

Cypriot citizens contributed to this number by collecting more than 19,000 signatures.

A multilingual European webinar on how local authorities can encourage citizen participation and active participation will be held on 17 October.

The 'EU democracy in action - Have your say with the European Citizens' Initiative,' meanwhile, is an interactive resource aimed at upper secondary school students and designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills to enable them to become active citizens.

(Source: CNA)

Read More

Limassol Mayor unveils creation of new 350-metre beach
Dr Panayiotis Hadjipavlis: Cyprus to declare intention to join SAFE by the end of July
“Hope For Children” Summer School 2025
The Cyprus Institute project to explore how absorbing aerosols are affecting climate change in the East Med
President: Greek Cypriot side accepted proposal to open two crossing points, but move was not reciprocated (pics)
Von der Leyen reaffirms EU’s commitment to Cyprus reunification
Council of British Cypriots members urge Starmer to take active role in Cyprus settlement
Informal meeting on Cyprus continues today in New York
Greek FM in New York for informal meeting on Cyprus
US lawmakers reintroduce bipartisan bill to end arms embargo on Cyprus