Unusual Demands Promoted by Europeans to the EU: Bizarre Citizen-Driven Petitions

Unusual Demands Promoted by Europeans to the EU: Bizarre Citizen-Driven Petitions

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) is a unique tool that enables ordinary citizens of the European Union (EU) to propose new EU laws on specific issues. Since its inception in 2012 under the Lisbon Treaty, the ECI has seen 121 proposals submitted, covering a wide range of topics, from serious policy concerns such as health, animal welfare, and consumer rights, to more unusual and quirky proposals.

To initiate an ECI, at least seven citizens from seven different EU member states must come together. Once approved, the organizers have 12 months to collect at least one million signatures from EU citizens of voting age, drawn from at least seven member states with specified minimum thresholds per country. Signatures can be gathered online or on paper. When the required number of signatures is verified, the initiative is formally submitted to the European Commission and European Parliament, which then decides what action to take.

Some of the most notable unusual proposals include a request for a complete ban on animal farming, a call to establish a special European holiday honoring former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and a proposal that the European anthem be sung in Esperanto.

Despite the potential of the ECI, only a small fraction reach the required one million signatures (about 14 out of 121 initiatives, roughly 12%), and even fewer receive formal responses or legislative impact. The ECI is sometimes criticized as underused or poorly known among citizens, limiting its effectiveness as a participatory democracy tool.

Currently, seven ECI initiatives are actively collecting signatures. Among them, "Stop Cruelty Stop Slaughter" advocates for the gradual closure of all animal farms in the EU, proposing a 50% reduction each year and supporting the transition to plant-based proteins and lab-grown meat. Another actively collecting initiative is "Stop Destroying Videogames", which aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games after release.

In the realm of animal welfare and environmental protection, several ECI proposals have focused on these issues. For instance, an initiative aimed to end trade of shark fins in the EU, while another proposed a ban on the widely used herbicide glyphosate in the EU. A contentious proposal sought to end funding of any activity involving the destruction of human embryos, potentially curbing research using embryonic stem cells.

The ECI represents a significant step towards more direct democracy in the EU. However, challenges in awareness, engagement, and translation into concrete EU action persist. As the ECI continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that this participatory democracy tool becomes more accessible and impactful for all EU citizens.

References: [1] European Commission. (2021). European Citizens' Initiative. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/home [2] European Parliament. (2021). European Citizens' Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-event/event/20190328DPS55446/language/EN [3] Council of the European Union. (2021). European Citizens' Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/european-citizens-initiative/ [4] European Citizens' Initiative. (2021). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Citizens%27_Initiative [5] European Commission. (2021). Guide to the European Citizens' Initiative. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/guide_en

1. The ECI supports ordinary EU citizens in proposing new EU laws on diverse subjects, including cooking, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and dining.
2. A unique feature of the ECI is that it requires at least seven citizens from seven different EU member states to initiate a proposal.
3. Once approved, the organizers have 12 months to collect signatures from EU citizens, focusing on home-and-garden, beverages, love-and-dating, relationships, and pets.
4. Signatures can be gathered through traditional means or online platforms, attracting a broad audience interested in deals-and-discounts.
5. When the required number of signatures is verified, the initiative progresses to the European Commission and European Parliament for consideration, impacting policy-and-legislation.
6. Some unusual ECI proposals have included requests for a complete ban on animal farming, a special European holiday for a famous leader, and a European anthem to be sung in Esperanto.
7. Few ECI proposals reach the required one million signatures due to limited awareness and engagement among citizens.
8. Despite this, seven active ECI initiatives are currently collecting signatures on various topics, like family-dynamics and education-and-self-development.
9. "Stop Cruelty Stop Slaughter" is one such initiative, advocating for gradual closure of animal farms, promoting plant-based proteins and lab-grown meat.
10. Another active ECI initiative is "Stop Destroying Videogames", focusing on maintaining consumer access to games post-release, appealing to the gaming community.
11. In the realm of animal welfare and environmental protection, ECI proposals have addressed issues of shark fin trade, glyphosate use, and embryonic stem cell research.
12. The ECI serves as a significant step towards more direct democracy in the EU, but faces challenges in awareness, engagement, and translation into concrete EU action.
13. To improve the ECI's effectiveness, it's crucial to increase awareness and accessibility, helping all EU citizens participate meaningfully.
14. Reference [1] provides information on the European Commission's approach to the ECI.
15. Reference [2] explains the European Parliament's view on the ECI.
16. Reference [3] discusses the strategic aspects of the ECI from the Council of the European Union.
17. Reference [4] presents an overview of the ECI on Wikipedia.
18. Reference [5] offers a comprehensive guide to the ECI from the European Commission.
19. For individuals seeking personal growth and mindfulness, the ECI can provide an opportunity for participation in shaping the things they care about.
20. The ECI may also have implications for automotive enthusiasts interested in car-maintenance, cars, and electric-vehicles.
21. Shopping aficionados can engage with ECI initiatives related to consumer rights, be it dining, fashion-and-beauty, or home-and-garden.
22. Social media users can spread awareness about ECI initiatives through their networks, mobilizing engagement in policy issues like food-and-drink and entertainment.
23. Movie and music lovers can look for ECI proposals related to cultural preservation, influencing the arts and pop-culture.
24. Online education and job-search platforms can help individuals learn about the ECI and how to participate in shaping policies related to career-development.
25. Politically engaged individuals can use the ECI to advocate for issues related to war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and crime-and-justice.
26. The ECI can also provide opportunities for casual poker players to contribute to initiatives like "Stop Destroying Videogames", merging their hobby with civic engagement.
27. As the ECI continues to evolve, advocates can promote lifelong-learning, skills-training, and goal-setting to ensure more citizens are aware of this unique tool for participatory democracy.

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