ECI Discussion Forum

Inspired by ECI Day: What would your initiative be?

noreply@forum.europa.eu (ECI Forum Team) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: ECI Forum Team

On 3 March, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Day brought together organisers, civil society actors, activists and NGOs at the European Economic and Social Committee.
At a time when citizen participation matters more than ever, the ECI remains the only participatory democracy tool that allows EU citizens to invite the European Commission to propose new legislation. The ECI Day created space for current and future organisers to exchange experiences, meet potential supporters and discover the tools that can transform a civic concern into a European campaign.

Did the exchanges at ECI Day spark an idea for change? If you could launch a European Citizens’ Initiative, what issue would you put on the EU agenda?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Community Discussion:

ECI Forum User | 09 March 2026

If I had to present an EIC, I would focus on something very specific, such as a policy reform to change a regulation, so that it can appeal to people from different countries and be actually feasible to implement.
I don't have any specific idea in mind however,

Reclaim the Future — AI for People, Not Profit

noreply@forum.europa.eu (Alessio Ballarin) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: Alessio Ballarin

Hello everyone!

I'm Alessio Ballarin — initiator of "Reclaim the Future — AI for People, Not Profit", a civic movement willing to bring concrete proposals on ethical AI to the European Commission and the United Nations.

Our ECI calls for:
- Democratic, sector-by-sector AI governance
- Personal data sovereignty protected by law
- Public, open-source, non-profit AI
- A fund for workers displaced by automation
- Proportional reduction of working hours as AI advances
- International cooperation — not a technological arms race
- Decisions built for the next 50 years, not the next quarter

Where we stand: I already have two co-organizers — one Italian and one German citizen. To formally register the initiative with the Commission, we need at least 7 EU citizens residing in 7 different EU countries. I need 5 more people from 5 different European countries.

I'm looking for anyone willing to:

Join as an official co-organizer.

Offer advice, contacts, or experience with previous ECIs

Any help is really appreciated

Something important is at stake here — something that affects all of us.

Thanks you

Alessio

Community Discussion:

João Simas | 18 March 2026

Thank you for sharing this initiative, it raises important and timely questions about the societal and democratic implications of AI.

As you know, I am currently developing a related idea on the ECI Forum, focusing on a more legally targeted approach, namely potential amendments to the AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), particularly concerning safeguards in legal and judicial contexts.

I believe there could be interesting complementarities between broader policy-oriented proposals and more focused, legally grounded initiatives.

In that regard, how do you currently see the legal framing of your proposal in terms of scope and EU competences?

I would be glad to exchange views on how different approaches could potentially align within the ECI framework.

Best regards,
João

Alessio Ballarin | 20 March 2026

Hi and thank you for your message and for the work you're developing.
I want to let you know that I'm not a lawyer (I studied astronomy and now work in IT), so I had a bit of a hard time coming up with an answer for you :) .
This is precisely the kind of complementary approach the European debate needs.

To answer your question directly on legal framing: our proposal is grounded in new horizontal legislation that does not aim to replace or directly amend Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, but rather to extend and complete it in areas the AI Act does not sufficiently cover.
Specifically: worker protection from automation, proportional reduction of working hours as AI advances, public funding of non-profit open-source AI, and democratic sectoral governance of AI systems.

The legal basis we intend to use is Article 114 TFEU (internal market - already the primary legal basis of the AI Act itself), combined with Article 153 TFEU (social policy and employment) a dual basis reflecting both the technological and the human/labour dimension of our proposal.

Let me know what you think about.

Regards,

Alessio

João Simas | 21 March 2026

Hi Alessio,

Thank you again for your detailed and thoughtful reply. I find your approach particularly interesting in how it brings together technological regulation with broader social and labour considerations.

Just for context and transparency, I should mention that I'm not a lawyer yet. I currently studying law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (FDUL), and gradually specialising in EU law. Interestingly, this path builds on a prior background in IT (programming, data analysis and some work with AI) which is what led me to engage with this topic from a more regulatory perspective.

In terms of approach, I see our initiatives as operating at different, but potentially complementary, levels. Yours takes a broader, policy-oriented perspective, which plays an important role in shaping the wider societal debate. In my case, I have been working on a more narrowly scoped and legally structured proposal, with particular attention to clearly defined objectives, precise legal anchoring (including within the AI Act framework), and alignment with the Commission’s competences under the ECI Regulation.

One aspect I have found particularly important, in light of the official ECI guidance, is ensuring that the initiative is framed to maximise the chances of full registration and minimise the risk of partial registration due to EU competence constraints.

From that perspective, I believe there is clear value in bridging these approaches: broader policy visions can help shape direction and legitimacy, while more targeted legal mechanisms can help translate those ideas into forms that are operational within the EU institutional framework.

I would be happy to continue exchanging views along these lines and would very much welcome your thoughts.

Best regards,
João

Elias Lars Telander | 23 March 2026

I must say. Im intruiged by this proposal. but i do have some questions. As it stands im also working on creating a framework for my own and do se its similarities.

1. when it comes to "Democratic, sector-by-sector AI governance" and "Personal data sovereignty protected by law". dose that include regulating the use of AI catagorasation and identification systems?

2. What dose "Democratic, sector-by-sector AI governance" encompas in this enitiative?

3. In "Personal data sovereignty protected by law". To what extent dose personal data count as? Is it only biometric data or is it more than that?

My enitiative is first and for most agianst the use of AI catagorasation systems and AI identification systems. and in general forced to give out data that can make you identifiable outside the internet and remove anonymity.

If you find it to resonate with your enitiative in some parts, just let me know.

Time to reform Schengen "temporary" internal controls

noreply@forum.europa.eu (Michael Peter Knell) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: Michael Peter Knell

A number of member states have been operating "temporary" internal Schengen border controls for over a decade without a break, often with dubious justification based on very general and non-specific "emergency" circumstances. This has not only led to long queues of traffic at Schengen internal borders, lost revenues for cross-border businesses due to border waits and delays to rail and ferry journeys, it has undermined public confidence in a Europe of open borders and led to speculation about whether the return of permanent intra-European borders is somehow "inevitable".

Border controls are clearly being used more as a political tool than in response to genuine emergency circumstances in some countries. It is way past time that this seemingly endless "emergency" was addressed through a re-examination of the temporary border control system, with time limits placed on closures and substantial daily fines for non-compliance.

Many Europeans see the ability to travel and work freely across national borders as a fundamental part of the right to mobility. It is time to find a resolution to this problem that guarantees citizens that their right to travel within the Union will be as undisturbed as possible without preventing member states from being able to respond to genuine short term circumstances.

Community Discussion:

Claire Morot-Sir | 27 March 2026

Hello Michael, thank you for this idea! Indeed, an increasing number of Member States are introducing or prolonging internal border controls within the Schengen Area, and these measures no longer appear to be genuinely temporary.

Below you can find a link to a study published by ECAS last year, which examines the reasons why certain Member States have reinstated Schengen border controls, as well as the impact of these measures on the daily lives of EU citizens and on the overall spirit of the Schengen Agreement: Reintroduction of Internal Border Controls in the Schengen Area - ECAS

1,000+ Organizers and 17 Million Signatures: Mapping ECI Success Across the EU

noreply@forum.europa.eu (ECI Forum Team) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: ECI Forum Team

Have you ever wondered who has the passion and drive to lead a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)?

Recent data from the 2026 ECI Infographic shows a vibrant and diverse community behind these movements. On the geographic front, Italy leads the way with 233 organizers, followed closely by France (133) and Germany (124). But it’s not just about the big players: the story of engagement changes when we look at signatures relative to the MS population. For instance, Hungary and Malta have seen incredible mobilization, with 16.3% and 10.2% of their populations signing successful initiatives respectively.

When it comes to age, the energy of youth is undeniable! The 21–30 age group is the most active, accounting for 252 organizers across all initiatives. However, the 31–40 group often leads the charge for initiatives that eventually become successful. With 1,051 total organizers ranging from under 20 to over 80 years old, the ECI is truly a tool for all generations.

Have a look at the ECI 2026 Infographic and tell us: which fact surprises you the most about this data and statistics? Share your thoughts in the comments!

ECI Workshop – Share Your Initiative Proposal

noreply@forum.europa.eu (ECI Forum Team) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: ECI Forum Team

Dear participants,

During the ECI workshop simulation activity, you have worked on developing ideas for potential European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs). Now it’s time to share them with the Forum community!

Post your ECI idea in the comments using the following structure:

1. Title of your ECI
A clear and compelling name for your initiative

2. The Issue
What problem are you addressing? Why does it matter?

3. Proposed EU Action
What should the EU do? (Be concrete and specific)

4. Campaign Strategy
Target member states, target audience(s), key message(s), tools & tactics (digital and/or offline)

5. Why should people support your ECI?

This step completes your ECI simulation—well done! Your contributions reflect the diversity of ideas and priorities across Europe.

Community Discussion:

ECI Forum User | 16 April 2026

1. Title of your ECI
Protect Youth Mental Health

2. The Issue
Many young people are increasingly struggling with their mental health, especially due to the influence of social media and unrealistic standards. Constant comparison, pressure to fit in, and idealized lifestyles can negatively affect self-esteem and well-being. Mental health is a crucial part of young persons development, yet it is still not taken seriously enough and often overlooked at.

3. Proposed EU Action
The EU should take action by making mental health support more accessible for young people. This could include expanding free counseling services, raising awareness, and creating safe spaces where young people can seek help without stigma.

4. Campaign Strategy
The campaign should focus on clearly defined target groups such as young people, parents, schools, and organizations that support mental health. Its key message should encourage individuals to take control of their screen time and prioritize their mental well-being over unrealistic standards. To reach a board audience, the campaign can use a mix of social media, workshops, and presentations in schools and universities, creating both awareness and practical guidance.

5. Why should people support your ECI?

People should support this ECI because mental health is essential for a healthy and balanced society. Supporting young people in protecting their mental well-being not only improves their quality of life but also strengthens communities as a whole. By taking action now, we can create a safer, more supportive environment for future generations.

Divine Mama Yari | 16 April 2026

Title: Ai transparency : save the culture,

The issue: AItaking the soul of culture out of the music and entertaintment by genereting non authentic song content,

Action: make the policy of ai marked has at générateur,

Campaign strategy: UE citizens, 16 years to 30 years, key message: the battl beetween the big tech and young generation, tool: tik tok, you tube, twitch, Facebook,Instagram, treads, whatsapp, e-learning

People should support our ECI because improve the creativity of young People for original song and artiste.

Jean-Philippe Robinet | 16 April 2026

Group 4 :

Title of the ECI : Common Européen Online ID

The issue : Many EU countries do not have functionnal digital IDs.

Sometimes it's difficult to use foreign (EU) online IDs in other members states website (ex : opening online bank accounts).

Proposed EU action :

- Implement a common standart to digitally identify yourself as a EU citizen

- Support the funding of a common digital solution, especially to help struggling nations with lower financial or technological means to implement this initiative.

Campaign Strategy : Targeting primarily young people, who are more knowledgable about digital services, using social médias, posters, etc ... In all member states.

Why should people support the ECI ?

- It makes life easier

- It reduces barriers for EU citizens residing in other EU countries.

ECI Forum User | 16 April 2026

1. Title of your ECI
A clear and compelling name for your initiative

Funding Education for Better Integration

2. The Issue
What problem are you addressing? Why does it matter?

Accession country students not being able to study in the EU because of low funding options and institutional barriers (few university spots available, visa complications...)

3. Proposed EU Action
What should the EU do? (Be concrete and specific)

- Funding for accession country students to study in the EU

- Funded language classes

- More and easy-accessible opportunities for accession country students to study in the EU

4. Campaign Strategy
Target member states: Slovenia, Germany, France, Italy, Croatia, Spain, Czechia

Target audience(s): Students with EU nationality, teachers, student unions, international associations, NGOs

Key message(s): Funding Education for Better Integration

Tools & tactics (digital and/or offline): Mostly online campaign, influencers

5. Why should people support your ECI?

- Helps the EU and accession countries to establish joint quality education standards and increase diversity

- Helps with integration of accession countries

- Economic benefits: Accession country students are better prepared to stay and work in the EU

ECI Forum User | 16 April 2026

Title: Free Lunches 4 Schools

The Issue:

Every child deserves a healthy meal.

Proposed EU Action:

EU funding for projects that provide free healthy food in schools.

Campaign Strategy:

- Social Media.

- Speak with existing organizations.

- Member States: Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, France.

Why People Should Support:

It promotes equality and fights against poverty/hunger.

ECI Forum User | 16 April 2026

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC!

AI is on the rise across Europe, taking over industries and doing so without regulations. This leads to many people and companies taking advantage of the system.

One industry where this is most prominent is the music industry. AI musical artists are getting market shares, which harms real musical artists. This should be regulated.

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC! aims to have the EU introduce demonetization laws to stop AI companies from earning even more money. This can be done by raising awareness amongst people by watermarking content and introducing regulations on monetization by artists using AI.

The initiative aims to promote by mobilizing countries with a major culture of music, like Germany, Spain, Romania, etc. Promotion will happen through contacting popular musicians and getting them on board, so that people signing know that they protect their favorite artists and art in general.

ECI Forum User | 17 April 2026

Group 1

1. Title of your ECI
EU ghost Line

2. The Issue
Support for students' mental health across the EU. The current support mechanism is considered limited. Therefore, we propose establishing an extension framework to enhance accessibility and effectiveness across the EU.

3. Proposed EU Action
Fund an EU support line for students staffed by professionals, available 24h, with a chat option. Multilingual support. Ability to select the preferred gender of the support provider.

4. Campaign Strategy
Target member states: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia.

Target audience(s): students, organisations working with mental health and human rights, mental health professional workers, and teachers.

Key message(s), tools & tactics (digital and/or offline): You are not alone. You are the now and future. Social media, influencers, and cooperation with the school through various channels (e.g., school posters for information) and current employees are the most important supporters of this project.

5. Why should people support your ECI?

There are currently mechanisms for support, but not 24h, and sometimes with barriers. The existing mental health mechanisms are limited. People sometimes do not feel comfortable using the current mechanism, especially those in the school; one aspect to note is the secrecy.

ECI Forum User | 29 April 2026

European Youth Week - Group 1

1. Title

Migration is a right

2. The issue

Illegla migration in the EU

3. Proposed EU action

Legalise migraiton

4. Campaign strategy

Audience: lower class who have to face the consequences of illegal migration, youth, activists.

Campaign through social media, street action, partnership with universities and local communities.

5. Why should people support this ECI

This ECI would make life easier for immigrants by reducing the humiliation, pain, and fear that often come with being forced to move to a new country. It could also help citizens by preventing economic strain, conflict, and anger, while ensuring EU countries follow common rules for a smoother and more united transition.

ECI Forum User | 29 April 2026

European Youth Week – Group 2

1. Title

Voice for Our Future

2. The Issue

Low levels of young people’s participation in EU legislation and decision-making.

3. Proposed EU Action

European Parliament political parties should ensure that at least 45% of their candidates are young people aged 18 to 30.

4. Campaign Strategy

Target audience: University students and young people across the EU.

Approach: Launch social media campaigns and online outreach initiatives. Use digital platforms to raise awareness and encourage participation. Engage young elected MEPs to share their experiences, explain the challenges of being elected, and highlight why youth representation matters.

5. Why Should People Support This ECI?

Supporting this initiative would strengthen young people’s participation in EU policymaking and ensure that their voices are better represented in decisions shaping Europe’s future.

ECI Forum User | 29 April 2026

European Youth Week – Group 3

1. Title

Get Where You Need to Be – No Expense Will Stop You

2. The Issue

Many young people face financial barriers when accessing education, work, and social opportunities due to the cost of public transportation.

3. Proposed EU Action

Introduce free public transportation for young people aged 18 to 26 across the European Union, with the possibility of extending eligibility to younger students where legally possible.

4. Campaign Strategy

Target audience: Young people aged 18 to 26, students, and families with school-aged children.

Approach: Launch social media campaigns on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and others. Display advertisements in high-visibility locations such as schools, universities, municipalities, bus stops, and on public transport vehicles. Use a clear and direct slogan to communicate the message.

Organise EU-wide events on Public Transport Day (22 September) in locations easily accessible by public transport.

Share success stories from cities where free public transport already exists, highlighting positive economic and environmental outcomes.

Priority countries: Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Romania, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

5. Why Should People Support This ECI?

Supporting this initiative would make mobility more affordable for young people, improve access to education and employment, reduce pollution, and strengthen local economies by making daily travel easier and more accessible.

ECI Forum User | 29 April 2026

European Youth Week – Group 4

1. Title

Labelling for Livestock

2. The Issue

The use of the label “regional” for meat products varies across EU countries and often contains loopholes. In some cases, animals are transported long distances shortly before slaughter so the meat can still be marketed as regional, which can mislead consumers and raise concerns about animal welfare and food standards.

3. Proposed EU Action

Introduce a harmonised EU-wide labelling system for livestock products that clearly defines when meat can be labelled as “regional.” The label should reflect the full production process, including where the animal was born, raised, fed, transported, and slaughtered.

4. Campaign Strategy

Target audience: Consumers across the EU, including meat-eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and citizens concerned with transparency, health, and animal welfare.

Approach:

Raise awareness through social media and consumer campaigns. Educate the public on how current regional labels can be misleading. Promote the benefits of transparent and ethical food labelling. Engage food safety advocates, farmers, and animal welfare organisations.

Priority countries: Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Finland, and Belgium.

5. Why Should People Support This ECI?

Supporting this initiative would improve consumer transparency, strengthen animal welfare standards, encourage sustainable farming practices, and help people make informed and healthier food choices.

ECI Forum User | 29 April 2026

European Youth Week – Group 5

1. Title

Less is more: Fight fast and ultra-fast fashion

2. The Issue

Fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion are driving overconsumption, environmental damage, and poor labour conditions. Many young consumers are encouraged to buy cheap, low-quality clothing frequently, which creates waste and unsustainable habits.

3. Proposed EU Action

The EU should introduce stronger regulation on fast fashion, which could include:

A tax on ultra-fast fashion products to discourage overproduction and overconsumption.

Mandatory labels showing whether clothing is produced under fair and sustainable conditions.

Incentives for companies that manufacture clothing ethically within the EU.

Stronger enforcement of labour and environmental standards in the fashion industry.

4. Campaign Strategy

Target audience: Teenagers, young adults, and general consumers, with a focus on those most exposed to fast fashion trends.

Approach: Promote awareness campaigns on social media using the slogan “Less is More.”

Place messages in shopping districts, clothing stores, and online platforms where fashion advertising is frequent.

Encourage young people to influence their families and peers, even if they are not yet eligible to sign initiatives.

Focus on long-term behaviour change towards more sustainable consumption.

Priority countries: Spain, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, France, Czech Republic, and Germany.

5. Why Should People Support This ECI?

This initiative would help reduce environmental damage, improve working conditions in the fashion industry, and encourage more responsible consumer habits. It also supports a shift towards sustainable production and long-term economic and ecological balance in Europe.

Șerban Drăguș | 07 May 2026

1.) Title: Less cars, more stars

2.) The problem: Too many cars

-Pollution

-Accidents

-Infrastructure degradation

-Agglomeration/traffic

-waste of material

3.) EU actions:

-Regulating the number of cars per person: higher tax on the second car

-Greater support for the purchase of Green cars through grants

Countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary

Target public: young people (18-30 years old) to convince at the first car

Be Green from the very first car.

-Tools:-Social Media-posts, tiktokuri

-automotive representation

Why?

No pollution

Healthy lifestyle

ECI Forum User | 07 May 2026

Our initiative is to implement a more flexible work schedule with 4 working days per week in order to have a better life-work ratio. The target Member States are: Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Netherlands, Germany.

ADRIAN-ALEXANDRU BREHA | 07 May 2026

1. Title of your European Citizens' Initiative

Health in all shapes

2. What is the problem you are addressing? Why does it matter?

Lack of education, information resources and services dedicated to different forms of health (mind, personal hygiene, reproductive).

3. Proposed EU action

Actively support and supervise the way in which Member States treat health in all its forms, in particular in the public education system.

4. Campaign strategy

Target Member States include Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Greece, Latvia, Hungary

The key message includes: all EU citizens must have access, tools and information resources for all types of health from the start - physical health is often taken into account over mental, hygiene and reproductive health

5. Why should people support your ECI?

Because there is a need to reduce the stigma of mental and sexual health in the public education environment and in societies. Supporting and informing disadvantaged communities.

ECI Forum User | 07 May 2026

Initiative

1. Title: Future No Rent

2. The problem: wage and economic inequality, the lack of financial opportunities without existing capital, without existing capital, the possibility of getting "on the streets" is growing by the day

3. EU action: free housing with a social program based on employment status and whether or not the person owns a dwelling

4. Target States: Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain, Italy, France, Czechia

Target audience: the working class

Tactics: campaigns on instagram, tiktok, facebook etc.

5. Why should people support?

financial independence

ECI Forum User | 07 May 2026

Title: Stop the burnout! Health is not negotiable.

The problem addressed: Lack of recognition of burnout as a factor of professional insufficiency. EU

action: Implement a system through which employers can provide paid leave and psychological support.

Public: employees and employers

The key message: Mental health at work is not a privilege, it's a right!

Bora Klimentova | 13 May 2026

1.Regulate Your Digital Heroes

2. Problems related to the use of various digital platforms, social networks, internet content and others, which affect children and young people very badly

3. Support this initiative and issue a Regulation to be applied in the countries

4. Bulgaria, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal - in these countries exactly such a project and it will support our initiative through the participation of young people. Target group of children and young people from 0 to 16, their parents, teachers, doctors and the general audience. Involvement of all interested parties through various methods, search for public figures to promote the initiative, including the young people and children themselves.

5. This problem is developing as an avalanche and it is time to take concrete steps towards solving it, because otherwise we risk having a fully digital generation that will have difficulty speaking and thinking.

PAOLO ANSALONE | 26 May 2026

1. Title of your ECI

Primum non nocere – For a protected, transparent and independent European journalism.

2. The problem

Today, information and its professionals are in a situation of profound precariousness and vulnerability.
Several citizens from all over the continent express growing concern on the ECI forum about the lack of systemic protections.
In many developing European countries, there is a lack of transparency and clear criteria in calls for proposals and access to the journalistic profession;
elsewhere, rankings and entry channels remain immobile.
It is a paradox: The fourth pillar of democracy suffers from severe structural opacity.
This vulnerability exposes the Union to systemic threats, as weak information facilitates hybrid warfare and disinformation, allowing interest groups to instrumentalise unverified influencers and channels. Free information cannot be a factional weapon that harms the people: It is the shield of democracy, and the very security of our nations depends on its integrity.
For this reason, the first real European defensive army must be international, cohesive and protected journalism.
Information cannot be harmful to the democratic and social health of the continent.

3. Action proposed by the EU

The European Union has already demonstrated extraordinary regulatory capacity with food traceability and traceability models, ensuring quality, safety and stability on the internal market. We
call for a similar principle of transparency and supply chain-profession protection to be applied to the world of information.
As a fundamental and urgent measure of protection, we call for European journalists, in the exercise of their duties, to be indicted, prosecuted or subjected to forensic and psychiatric expertise only under the supervision and jurisdiction of an independent international court.
This will take professionals away from local political retaliation, delivering a less corrupt world to future generations.

(Technical note: This action is based on Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on Media Pluralism, and Articles 67 and 114 TFEU for journalistic market harmonisation and judicial cooperation).

4. Campaign strategy

Involvement of European trade unions and press federations for widespread dissemination.
Targeted digital campaigns on social media to raise awareness about the link between fake news and national security.
Public events and debates in universities and journalism schools in all member countries.
Petitions and information tables in the main European squares to collect digital and paper signatures.

5. Why should people support your ECI?

To defend one's freedom to receive truthful information, not manipulated by occult powers.
To ensure Europe's national security against hybrid warfare attacks and sabotage.
To protect courageous journalists from judicial and psychiatric persecution used as a weapon of censorship.
To ensure job transparency for young professionals, eliminating blocked recommendations and rankings.
To build a future free from corruption and hypocrisy, leaving a healthy democracy to the next generations.

Instagram and the ongoing erosion of E2EE: Is the EU failing to protect private communications?

noreply@forum.europa.eu (Alessandro Biunno) — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: Alessandro Biunno

Hi everyone,

I am writing to bring attention to a critical issue that threatens the digital privacy of millions of EU citizens: the systematic erosion of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in messaging platforms.

Recent moves ,most notably the decision by Instagram to discontinue E2EE for its direct messages, highlights a dangerous trend.

While the EU has recently made strides in pushing back against mass-scanning proposals like "Chat Control," it seems that private companies are now taking over by dismantling the technical safeguards that protect our communications.

Are we witnessing a shift where E2EE is becoming an "optional" feature rather than a standard for secure communication?

I believe this is a defining moment for digital rights in Europe. If the EU is truly committed to the protection of fundamental rights and cybersecurity, why are major platforms allowed to unilaterally downgrade the security of their services for EU users?

I am interested in hearing the community's thoughts:

How can we advocate for E2EE to be legally recognized as the default standard for messaging services in the EU?

Is there a path to challenge these "unilateral downgrades" of security by Big Tech within the current European legislative framework?

I look forward to an insightful discussion.

The European Open Research Act: Harmonising Scholarly Communication

noreply@forum.europa.eu (ULAŞ CÖNKEROǦLU) — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: ULAŞ CÖNKEROǦLU

(We are working on an initiative on harmonizing secondary publishing rights, and analysis and prevention monopolization/oligopolization in the academic publishing sector. We would appreciate any feedback you might have. Thank you.)

OBJECTIVES

This initiative calls on the European Commission to propose a legislative framework to establish a harmonised, zero-embargo Secondary Publishing Right (SPR) across the Union. Pursuant to Articles 114, 118, and 179 TFEU, the Commission is urged to propose legislation that:

• Establishes a Union-wide SPR: Ensuring authors of scientific works resulting from research funded by public Union or national funds retain the inalienable right to make their manuscripts immediately available in public repositories at the time of publication.

• Targets Institutional Responsibility: Ensuring the legal obligation for Open Access compliance rests upon research-performing organisations and commercial publishers, thereby protecting individual researchers from administrative or legal burdens.

• Monitors Market Dynamics: Mandating a formal evaluation and structured monitoring of scholarly publishing market structures to address systemic failures and ensure the free circulation of knowledge.

• Redirects Strategic Funding: Facilitating the technical interoperability of public repositories and prioritising Union research funding for sustainable, publicly owned Diamond Open Access infrastructures.

ANNEX

The transition to Open Science is a prerequisite for scientific progress, innovation, and democratic accountability within the European Union. Currently, the dissemination of publicly funded research is hindered by fragmented national laws, restrictive publishing agreements, and a significant concentration of market power. This initiative seeks to empower authors and safeguard the public interest through a coordinated Union approach.

I. Strengthening Author Rights and Harmonisation Pursuant to Article 179 TFEU, which mandates the Union to achieve a European Research Area (ERA) where researchers and scientific knowledge circulate freely, a mandatory, non-waivable Secondary Publishing Right (SPR) shall be established. This right ensures that authors of scientific works resulting from research funded by public funds retain the right to make the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) available in a public repository immediately upon first publication. A zero-month embargo period shall be established as the Union standard to eliminate current cross-border barriers to knowledge.

In accordance with Article 114 TFEU, the current lack of a harmonised SPR across Member States creates legal fragmentation that distorts the internal market for scientific services. A Union-level Directive is necessary to ensure a level playing field for research institutions and publishers alike. Furthermore, pursuant to Article 118 TFEU, uniform protection of intellectual property rights shall be provided to ensure the author remains the primary holder of the right to disseminate their work, rendering any contrary contractual terms null and void.

II. Institutional Responsibility and Protection of Researchers The legal obligation to ensure Open Access shall be placed upon research-performing organisations and commercial publishers. The legislation shall ensure that the exercise of the SPR is an automatic legal consequence of public funding. This approach is designed to protect individual authors from legal or administrative pressure from dominant market actors. By shifting the burden of compliance to the institutional level, the Union ensures that researchers are not required to navigate complex legal negotiations to exercise their fundamental right to share knowledge.

III. Monitoring of Market Structures and Stakeholder Dialogue To maintain a competitive and transparent internal market, a structured monitoring framework regarding the evolution of the scholarly publishing sector shall be initiated. Pursuant to Article 102 TFEU, the Commission is encouraged to:

Conduct systematic monitoring of the impact of market concentration on the accessibility and affordability of publicly funded research.

Evaluate if current commercial publishing models, including transformative agreements, align with the long-term objectives of the European Research Area.

Promote a transparent stakeholder dialogue to address systemic market failures, such as the lack of price transparency and "double-dipping" practices.

Monitor the control of research metrics and data to ensure that commercial gatekeeping does not hinder the free circulation of knowledge or distort research evaluation.

IV. Strengthening Publicly Owned Diamond Infrastructure To provide a viable, non-commercial alternative to proprietary publishing, Union research funding shall be redirected toward the development of Diamond Open Access infrastructures. These infrastructures shall be publicly owned and shall not charge fees to authors or readers. This funding shall support the professionalisation of institutional publishing and the creation of a Union-wide network of non-commercial journals. Such a shift is essential to ensure the ERA remains independent of the commercial interests of dominant market actors.

V. Technical Interoperability and Community-Led Peer Review Technical interoperability standards shall be mandated for all public repositories receiving Union support to ensure that metadata and manuscripts are seamlessly discoverable across platforms such as OpenAIRE and Zenodo. Furthermore, the framework shall facilitate the formal recognition of community-led peer review, allowing the scientific community to regain control over quality-control processes. These measures shall be integrated into the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) to foster a unified digital research environment.

EU Sovereign-Control Certification for Critical Digital Infrastructure

noreply@forum.europa.eu (Nikitas Bastas) — Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: Nikitas Bastas

Objectives of the initiative

We call on the European Commission to propose or support legislation within the EU cybersecurity certification framework, including Regulation (EU) 2019/881 or any successor act, to create an optional, risk-based and tiered EU sovereign-control certification component for critical digital infrastructure services.

The component should be distinct from, and complementary to, cloud-only cybersecurity certification, entity cyber-posture certification, high-risk supplier restrictions and general supply-chain risk tools. It should provide a voluntary and auditable service-level signal on sovereign-control resilience.

It should assess effective ownership and material control; EU jurisdiction and operational control over critical functions; third-country legal or corporate-control risks; material critical dependencies; safeguards against unlawful third-country access or interference; independent audits, assurance levels and reassessment after material changes.

Certified status should be usable as an objective procurement or transparency criterion where justified by cybersecurity, resilience, data protection, service continuity or users’ lawful choice.

Provisions of the Treaties you consider relevant for the proposed action

Articles 114 and 16 TFEU; where relevant, Articles 53(1), 62 and 173 TFEU, for internal-market harmonisation, data protection, cybersecurity certification, trade in services, resilience and EU industrial competitiveness.

Annex on the subject, objectives and background to the initiative

Subject

This initiative concerns an optional, risk-based and tiered EU sovereign-control certification component for critical digital infrastructure services, within the EU cybersecurity certification framework under Regulation (EU) 2019/881 or any successor act.

It does not ask for a ban on foreign providers, mandatory EU-only use, censorship, Treaty change or digital isolation. It asks for a lawful, voluntary and auditable EU mechanism so that citizens, businesses, public authorities and EU institutions can identify services offering stronger resilience against non-EU control, foreign legal pressure, opaque critical dependencies and unlawful third-country access.

This initiative builds on, but is distinct from, the EUCS cloud-certification debate. EUCS concerns cloud cybersecurity certification. This initiative asks for a broader legislative basis for a service-level sovereign-control profile covering critical digital infrastructure, including cloud, hosting, DNS, CDN, certificate authority, identity and authentication, managed cybersecurity and other critical ICT services.

Need and legal gap

EU law already addresses important parts of the problem. The GDPR protects personal data. NIS2 strengthens cybersecurity duties for essential and important entities. The Data Act addresses unlawful third-country governmental access to non-personal data held in the Union by data processing service providers. The Cybersecurity Act creates an EU framework for cybersecurity certification.

However, existing and proposed tools do not necessarily provide a clear, voluntary, public and service-level EU certification signal for sovereign-control resilience. Technical cybersecurity certification, entity cyber-posture certification, supply-chain risk tools, high-risk supplier restrictions and cloud-only schemes do not by themselves give ordinary users and procurers a comparable way to assess who controls a critical service, which law can reach its critical functions, and which dependencies may affect continuity, confidentiality, integrity or lawful access.

A service may be technically secure and legally compliant while still depending on non-EU control planes, parent-company influence, third-country legal obligations, remote administration, logging, telemetry, DNS, CDN, certificate authority services, identity systems, cloud services, software supply chains or subcontractors that users cannot realistically inspect.

Objectives

The Commission should propose or support legislation to:

1. Create an optional, risk-based and tiered EU sovereign-control certification component for critical digital infrastructure services.

2. Require assessment of effective ownership and material control, including beneficial ownership, parent-company control, voting rights, board influence, contractual control and other material influence over security-relevant decisions or critical operations.

3. Require assessment of EU jurisdiction and operational control over critical functions, including data processing, key management, logging, authentication, incident response, infrastructure administration, update mechanisms and remote administration.

4. Require assessment of third-country legal obligations or corporate-control arrangements capable of compelling access, secrecy, disclosure, operational interference or transfer of control over personal data, metadata, non-personal operational data, security logs, administrative systems or other critical functions.

5. Require disclosure of material critical dependencies, where relevant to the certified service, including hosting, cloud, software, firmware, DNS, CDN, certificate authority, identity, telemetry, subcontractor and remote-administration dependencies that may affect confidentiality, integrity, availability, administrative control, lawful access or continuity.

6. Require technical, organisational and legal safeguards against unlawful third-country access or interference, including documented handling of access requests, legal challenge where possible, privileged-access controls, audit logs, separation of duties, transparency reporting and EU-controlled key management where relevant.

7. Require independent periodic audits, public audit summaries, measurable assurance levels, reassessment after material changes, and protection for trade secrets, sensitive security details and classified information.

8. Allow certified status to be used as an objective procurement and market-transparency criterion where justified by cybersecurity, resilience, data protection, continuity of essential services, public-sector needs or users’ lawful choice.

Relevance and compliance

The initiative is not a blacklist and not a rigid data-localisation rule. It is a transparency and assurance mechanism. It should complement EUCS, NIS2, the Data Act, cybersecurity supply-chain measures and future cloud policy without replacing them.

It supports the internal market, data protection, cybersecurity, resilience and EU technological sovereignty while remaining voluntary, proportionate, risk-based and compatible with open markets. It respects Member State competences, including national security, and the freedom of citizens and entities to maintain digital ties with third countries.

Community Discussion:

ECI Forum User | 21 May 2026

Hello Nikitas,

I am definitely not experienced in this topic or even ECIs as a whole but I have some thoughts if you think they'll help out.

1. While it is a great topic, it is rather terminology heavy. It would be difficult to make it not terminology heavy because that's really the topic here. So, I don't know how to help. The EC would be OK with this but getting 1 million signatures might be too difficult if people don't understand the topic.

2. I think there was a similar proposal with the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services (EUCS). I am not sure if it is successful or even an active proposal but a mention of it would be good, so that the EC doesn't reply that at least some of your objectives are already covered by the EUCS. So, basically you won't be shut off. But I am not a tech guy, so maybe the proposals are quite different and I didn't realize it in a glance.

Still, think that this is a good initiative that can work but maybe some small tweaks and some more outside help might be needed.

Best wishes and good luck

Nikitas Bastas | 22 May 2026

Yes, you are correct! It pretty much overlaps not only with EUCS proposal, but also with existing laws and regulations, ongoing debates, EU future plans towards digital self-dependency etc.

Especially under the certain geopolitical circumstances, it was finally realized that EU self-dependency, not only on the digital part, but in a broader sense, is no more a "nice to have" but an absolute necessity.

A reason that may make this proposal distinguishable and valuable as a modest contribution/idea is that it asks for "a voluntary, service-scoped, risk-based, independently audited certification profile for sovereign-control resilience across critical digital infrastructure services." but not limited on Cloud services (EUCS).

A second reason might be that this proposal is requested by European citizens - not EU instruments, policymakers, micro-politically biased individuals. From this perspective, it can send a clear message to the EU Commission, of the worry, the skepticism, that many EU citizens already have towards the high digital dependency and data exposure on non-EU Digital Goods.

An unofficial free, full-text RSS feed for the Discussion Forum

noreply@forum.europa.eu (ULAŞ CÖNKEROǦLU) — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author: ULAŞ CÖNKEROǦLU

Hi everyone,

This isn't going to be one of the regular posts here but I hope it will be allowed and will help some of us out. I enjoy reading the ideas proposed by the community here, but I noticed the forum doesn't currently offer a full-text RSS feed to help us stay updated via news readers or email.The forum's activity levels can change from time to time, so it is easy to miss new posts.

To solve this, I built a small, open-source tool that automatically checks the forum, extracts the full text of new ideas, and generates a standard RSS feed. It updates automatically twice a day, so depending on how you set it up in your device, you can get notified whenever there is some activity, and not miss things like webinars.

I will continue to use it myself, so I won't miss any posts.

Here is the master link to the feed: https://eci-tools.github.io/eci-rss-reader/feed.xml

I wanted to share this with the community so you can use it however fits your workflow best. Here are a few ways to use it:

Add it to your RSS Reader (Thunderbird, Outlook, Feedly, etc.): Simply copy the link above and paste it into the "Add Feed" or "Subscribe" section of your software.

Get updates via Email: If you prefer email updates, you can paste the link into a free RSS-to-email service like Blogtrottr.com.

Download the raw file: If you need the raw XML file, just right-click the link above and choose "Save Link As..." to download it to your computer.

For the developers/tech-curious: The code powering this is completely free, open-source, and hosted on a community GitHub organization. If you want to see exactly how the script works, verify the security, or contribute improvements, you can view the repository here: https://github.com/eci-tools/eci-rss-reader

I hope this helps you keep track of all the great initiatives being shared here!

P.S. Please note that this is an unofficial service. I personally created it, and want to make it clear neither officials responsible in ECI nor any European Institute have something to do with this.

If you have questions, please comment down below.