The ECI is the Future of Participatory Democracy
Among the EU’s participatory mechanisms, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) stands out as the most effective for addressing overlooked issues or those that remain unresolved in the European Parliament. However, the process is highly demanding, making it difficult for many initiatives to succeed.
With our national experience, which has been just as challenging as the European process, and through the dialogue fostered by the Boreal project, we aim to build a tool that amplifies the voices of organizations demanding change and striving for a different future
We have 2 major challenges:
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) has strict requirements: it cannot propose changes to EU treaties or initiatives that would require changes to the EU budget. However, it can propose legislation related to taxation as long as it falls within the EU’s competencies. These restrictions limit the scope of initiatives that can be submitted
To be successful, an ECI must collect at least 1 million verified signatures from at least 7 different EU member states. Each country has its own minimum signature threshold, and verification processes vary. While the EU allows online collection, some member states still require national identification numbers or other verification methods, making participation more complex in certain cases
Building a Better Participation Process Through Participation Process
Why we do this?
At Boreal, we believe that real change happens when citizens, organizations, and experts work together. Our process is designed to bridge the gap between ideas and action, making participation more accessible, strategic, and impactful.
That’s why we are creating a structured approach to enhance the way ECIs are launched, promoted, and supported across Europe.
Through a series of offline and online events, we aim to bring together citizens, organizations, and experts to strengthen every step of the ECI process.
Why now?
People are more connected and informed than ever before.
The trust between citizens and politicians is broken, creating a democratic void that needs to be filled.
The world is changing faster than ever, and we need a more flexible and adaptive system that evolves with it.
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