Report on the application of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European citizens’ initiative

Summary:

Report published by the European Commission on 6 December 2023, reviewing the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI).

Further information:

Regulation (EU) 2019/788 - also known as the ECI Regulation - entered into application in January 2020. It followed an extensive legislative reform that addressed the shortcomings in the application of the previous framework. The revised rules sought to make the ECI more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, and to strengthen its follow-up in order to achieve its full potential as a tool to foster debate.

Article 25 of the ECI Regulation requires the European Commission to periodically review the functioning of the ECI, and to report on the application of the legislative framework by January 2024 and every four years thereafter. This report evaluates the application of the ECI Regulation and the functioning of the ECI instrument since 1 January 2020. It outlines the actions the Commission intends to take to further improve the implementation of the ECI Regulation and the functioning of the ECI, taking into account the review’s findings and calls from stakeholders.

The report also addresses various issues identified in a Resolution from the European Parliament adopted in June 2023, and it complements the Commission's reply to it. The Commission carried out a number of consultations to serve as an evidence-base for this report on the effectiveness of the revised rules. In the review process, the Commission has focused on ECIs registered since 1 January 2020 and on ECIs registered under the first ECI Regulation that were still ongoing on 1 January 2020 at various stages of the ECI procedure.

Official

Official Website of the European Union's European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/_en

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