The Official ECI Review Needs to Lead to a Reform of the ECI

The application of the ECI is currently under review by the EU institutions, which presents a rare opportunity to facilitate the urgently needed reform of the ECI. On 26 January 2023, the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs has presented a Draft Report on implementation of the Regulations on the European citizens’ initiative (2022/2206(INI)), on which the EP plenary is expected to vote in end of May 2023. Given the many shortcomings in the application of the ECI and low use of this instrument, the official review of the ECI must lead to a reform of the instrument so that it truly empowers EU citizens and makes participatory democracy in the EU work. Please find here our assessment of the EP Draft and our specific proposals how to reform the ECI.