Briefing 
 

European Citizens’ Initiatives to see deadlines extended 

Parliament will vote on Thursday to extend the time limits foreseen for the collection, verification and examination phases of ECIs affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

MEPs will vote on Thursday on the Commission’s proposal to extend the limits for collecting, verifying and examining European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic.


The global health crisis and the corresponding social distancing measures have seriously affected ECIs, especially in relation to collecting signatures, campaigning efforts, as well as national authorities’ ability to verify signatures and follow-up by the European institutions for successful ECIs. This proposal, to be approved using the Parliament’s urgent procedure, will retroactively extend deadlines to collect, verify and examine the initiatives submitted.


Parliament intends to finalise the process swiftly so that the extension can be formally adopted in July.


Procedure: Ordinary legislative procedure

2020/0099(COD)

Vote: Wednesday, 17 June (urgent procedure) & Thursday, 18 June (EC proposal)