European Citizen Initiative Day 2022

Join the European Economic and Social Committee on 2 June to celebrate 10 years of the European Citizens’ Initiative, in Brussels or online!

Ten years ago, the first Regulation on the European Citizen Initiative (ECI) came into effect, launching a new era in the history of citizens’ participation. The 2022 edition of ECI Day will mark a special anniversary of this unique cross-border instrument.

Looking back on the past ten years of the European Citizens’ Initiative, we will hear about its successes, its challenges, and what its future will look like. Against a background of multiple threats to democracy, we will discuss how the ECI has contributed to the evolution of democracy and has been a source of inspiration at local and global level.

As part of the European Year of Youth, particular attention will be focused on young people’s participation in the ECI, with a view to making suggestions on what can be done to encourage them to embrace this opportunity and make their voice heard in the EU policy-making process.

Other sessions will look at the crucial need to build a network of supportive civil society organisations for a successful ECI campaign, and we will look too at the online collection tools.

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with high-level institutional representatives, civil society organisations, and ECI organisers and supporters to reflect on how we can make the ECI fit for the next ten years, and beyond.

Registration will open at the beginning of May.

For more information on the programme, please check the regularly updated event webpage.