Irish Local Leaders Encouraged to Promote European Citizens’ Initiative for the Empowerment of Public Voices in the EU

The European Commission has launched an initiative to encourage people to participate in participatory democracy. The European Citizens’ Initiative aims to raise awareness among citizens that they have the power to influence change in legislation for issues that are relevant in their lives by calling on the European Commission to create new laws in these areas. It also gives citizens a voice to have a direct say in shaping EU policies and other important topics.  

The European Citizens’ Initiative has already been a vehicle for change through their influence in legislative changes over the past number of years. These legislative changes included Right2Water which led to the revision of the EU’s Drinking Water Directive, Ban Glyphosate which increased clarity in the EU food chain risk assessment process, Stop Finning an initiative to ban the practice of killing shark for their fins and the Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics which accelerated efforts to reduce and replace animal testing in the cosmetics industry.

On the 17th of October an EU wide webinar will be held to promote the possibilities that are opened through joining the European Citizens’ Initiative. The webinar which will be translated into nine languages English, Dutch, Polish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Greek and Spanish aims to increase active citizenship and engagement in the EU by reaching out to public institutions who will encourage participation from people in their communities. To sign up for the webinar click the following link [https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/webinar-registration].    

For further information on initiatives undertaken by the European Citizens’ Initiative or to learn more about the initiative itself visit the European Citizen’s Initiative Website