The conference of 26 January 2012, “Warming up for the European Citizens' Initiative”, marked a decisive stage in the final preparations for the European citizens’ initiative. The official website to register a citizens’ initiative has been launched, and the free software that will be used for the online collection of signatures has been presented. The conference has also been the occasion to recall the functioning and procedure used for citizens’ initiative. The vice-president of the European Commission and responsible for this initiative M. Maroš Šefčovič has underlined the central role that the social media will play in the setting-up of the citizens’ initiative. He stated that « this new right will open a new chapter in the democratic life of the European Union”.
Link to newly launched ECI website:
Do you want to be one of the women to take the project forwards? Would you be prepared to sign a citizens' initiative on equality. There is now a space strictly devoted to your suggestions; for you to debate and exchange on the launch of a citizens' initiative for the promotion of women in Europe! Women have to take the lead in launching the Citizens' Initiative.
Go to the suggestion box - click here!
See the suggestions that have already been made
The Robert Schuman Foundation in partnership with the European Commission's DG Education and Culture, the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation, the Karamanlis Institute for Democracy organised a conference on Wednesday 21st September 2001 at the European Parliament entitled "Women for Europe and the Citizens' Initiative"; its aim is to make real links between the ECI and parity.
This event rallied a large number of women who were concerned about having greater equality and parity.
The Foundation published the integral account, click here.
Consult the results of our survey on Women, Europe and the Citizens' Initiative
Read the inaugural speech by Commissioner Maros Sefcovic
The Treaty of Lisbon introduced the European Citizens' Initiative, a new means of citizens' participation
in the elaboration of European Union policies. It allows at least one million European citizens, from at least one quarter
of the Union's Member States, to call directly on the Commission to submit a proposal with regard to issues that are of
interest to them and which come within the fields of EU competence.
As required by the Treaty, on a proposal from the European Commission, the European Parliament
and the Council adopted a Regulation which defines the rules and procedure governing this new instrument (Regulation (EU) No. 211/2011 of the European Parliament and
of the Council 16 February 2011 on the citizens' initiative).
The European Commission has adopted the technical specifications for online collection
systems on 17 November 2011 (commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1179/2011 of 17 November 2011 laying down technical specifications for online collection
systems pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the citizens’ initiative)
In accordance with the Regulation, it will only be possible to launch the first European Citizens' Initiatives from 1st April 2012.
