European Citizens' Initiative

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) is a European Union mechanism aimed at increasing direct democracy by enabling the "EU citizens to participate directly in the development of EU policies", introduced with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007. The initiative enables one million citizens of the European Union, who are nationals of at least one quarter of the member states, to call directly on the European Commission to propose a legal act in an area where the Member States have conferred powers onto the EU level. This right to request the Commission to initiate a legislative proposal puts citizens on the same footing as the EP and the Council, who enjoy this right according to Art. 225 and 241 TFEU, respectively. The Commission holds the right of initiative in the EU. The start of the ECI was marked on 9 May 2012 (Europe Day) with the registration of Fraternité 2020.

The ECI has its origins in the Constitutional Convention on the Future of Europe in 2002-2003. Thanks to the tireless campaign work of pro-democracy activists and like-minded Convention members the ECI was introduced in a last-minute act into the Constitutional Treaty.

In 2005, the Constitutional Treaty was rejected by the citizens of France and the Netherlands in two national referendums. In response, the heads of state decided to adopt 95% of the content of the rejected treaty and name it the Treaty of Lisbon. It was not put to the citizens for public approval except in Ireland.

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