The European Commission launched an online course on the European Citizens’ Initiative to help Initiative organisers receive in-depth knowledge of the instrument and acquire the skills needed to successfully use it to have a say in EU legislation.
In October 2021, the Secretariat-General of the European Commission launched an online course on the European Citizens’ Initiative, a unique participatory democracy tool that allows European citizens to have a direct say on the formulation of EU policy. The course helps organisers receive in-depth knowledge of the instrument and acquire the skills needed to successfully use it to have a say in EU legislation.
The course provides practical guidance for the development of successful European Citizens’ Initiatives, from the idea to the requirements for successful online and offline campaigning, the collection of signatures and data protection requirements, as well as helping organisers and campaigners with advice on building pan-European support networks, fundraising and advocacy. The course, which is open until 10 December 2021 and free to enrol, takes up to 4 hours to complete, and learners can follow it at their own pace.
For Adriana Mungiu, Policy Officer in charge of the European Citizens’ Initiative at the European Commission, “while the rules for running a European Citizens’ Initiative have been simplified, being successful still requires specific knowledge and skills. The course supports interested citizens to acquire the basic knowledge needed to start and successfully manage a European Citizens’ Initiative. It provides participants a good foundation to get started and takes them through all the stages of the Initiative lifecycle, focusing on the key skills required at each step. Participants who complete the online course can continue to engage with the ECI community on the ECI Forum, and make use of additional resources available there.”
The course was developed by the European Citizen Action Service, a leading European citizen organisation specialising in support of European citizen rights and digital participatory democracy. ECAS implements on behalf of the European Commission the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum and other related activities.
The course provides practical guidance for the development of successful European Citizens’ Initiatives, from the idea to the requirements for successful online and offline campaigning, the collection of signatures and data protection requirements, as well as helping organisers and campaigners with advice on building pan-European support networks, fundraising and advocacy. The course, which is open until 10 December 2021 and free to enrol, takes up to 4 hours to complete, and learners can follow it at their own pace.
For Adriana Mungiu, Policy Officer in charge of the European Citizens’ Initiative at the European Commission, “while the rules for running a European Citizens’ Initiative have been simplified, being successful still requires specific knowledge and skills. The course supports interested citizens to acquire the basic knowledge needed to start and successfully manage a European Citizens’ Initiative. It provides participants a good foundation to get started and takes them through all the stages of the Initiative lifecycle, focusing on the key skills required at each step. Participants who complete the online course can continue to engage with the ECI community on the ECI Forum, and make use of additional resources available there.”
The course was developed by the European Citizen Action Service, a leading European citizen organisation specialising in support of European citizen rights and digital participatory democracy. ECAS implements on behalf of the European Commission the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum and other related activities.
