ECI Day 2022

Ten years ago, the first Regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) came into effect, launching a new era in the history of citizens’ participation. The 2022 edition of ECI Day marked 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.

As the Conference on the Future of Europe may provide fresh impetus both to the ECI and, more generally, to participatory democracy, the event will be an opportunity to reflect together on how to make the ECI fit for the next ten years and beyond.

ECI Day

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) is a welcome instrument for participatory democracy at European level. Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, it entered into force in 2012 and allows Europeans to make legislative proposals and participate in decision-making by connecting directly with EU institutions. It is a chance for them to discuss and influence key policies and it sheds further light on the public's view of the EU's agenda and priorities. The ECI Day is an important forum and platform where registered and future ECI organisers and stakeholders can exchange information and experiences and present their ECI and activities to the public.

ECI Day permanent partners

ECI Day 2022 research partner