Growing support for the European Citizens’ Initiative
So far, 15 NGOs are already determined to support the campaign for the European Citizens’ Initiative. AEGEE-Europe, Mehr Demokratie, Mas Democracia, Referendum Plattform, European Citizen Action Service, European Forum for Freedom in Education, Europäischer Kartellverband Christlicher Studierendenverbände, Forum for Democratic Development, Agora Europe Foundation, Café Babel/Brussels, Democratie.nu, Youth Forum, Confrontations Europe, Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe and Kidsglobe are willing to contribute to this project. Many other NGOs and forums are currently considering their position on the campaign and will take decisions within the next weeks.
We have taken another very important step forward on 20th February in Brussels, where we agreed on our common campaign text. The very short, simple and persuasive text reads:
We, the undersigned, want the European Union
to give legal force to the European Citizens’ Initiative,
where one million European citizens can call on the
European Commission to propose a change
to European law.
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) would be the first instrument of direct democracy at European level. It would undoubtedly increase citizens direct influence on the agenda-setting of the EU. But due to the current crises of the EU, it will not be introduced by the European institutions themselves. Thus it is now time for a real bottom-up initiative to finally get this right applied.
With this campaign, we will increase pressure on the European Commission.
