European Citizens' Initiative – National Contact Point
The Chancellery of Prime Minister of Poland is a National Contact Point for the European Citizens' Initiative
The European Citizens' Initiative is a tool that allows European Union citizens to propose specific changes in those EU policy areas where the European Commission can propose new legislation, e.g. the environment, agriculture, energy, transport or trade. It is an important instrument of participatory democracy guaranteed to everyone by the Treaty on European Union.
The European Citizens' Initiative is an opportunity to participate directly in the European democratic process. It allows everyone in Europe to have an say in EU policies that affect them. The European Citizens’ Initiative is unique. It is the first tool that allows citizens from different EU countries to join forces and propose specific legal changes. As an EU citizen, you can join a group of initiative organizers or support one of the existing projects.
To launch an initiative, you need 7 EU citizens who have reached the voting age, living in at least 7 different Member States. If the project collects 1 million signatures, the European Commission decides whether to take action. The European Citizens' Initiative covers all areas where the European Commission has the right of legislative initiative. They include, among others: environment, consumer protection, agriculture, fisheries, energy, transport or trade.
Current information on the rules of functioning of the European Citizens' Initiative can be obtained:
- at the official website of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/how-it-works/
- in the Chancellery of Prime Minister of Poland – Department of Digital Policy: zagranica@mc.gov.pl