Go to Top

Sign the Citizens’ Initiative to reclaim a #WelcomingEurope

The Migration Policy Group is coordinating the first European Citizens’ Initiative on migration to unite the migration sector around a common campaign goal and engage the public to transform EU migration policy. Join us and sign the petition to reclaim our right to help and empower a welcoming Europe!

#WelcomingEurope demands

Offer solidarity to those in need

Did you know you can get punished or fined for helping someone in needDistributing food, giving a lift, buying a train ticket or rescuing a family from drowning can be enough to get fined or arrested in many European countries. This is allowed because EU law does not clarify the difference between trafficking, smuggling and humanitarian assistance. Since the European Commission refused to act and revise the law, European citizens will.

Offer safety to people fleeing persecution

Many of us are willing to welcome and provide safety to those in need whenever we are given the chance. As European citizens, we are ashamed that those fleeing persecution must risk their lives to be safe on our shores. EU citizens want to save lives and provide legal and safe ways for those fleeing persecution – and they should be able to do so! Through community sponsorship programmes, citizens can act as sponsors so that those in need can arrive to Europe safely and become quickly and easily integrated in communities. While community sponsorship already proved to be successful in many European countries, the EU does not support or have a budget line for it (yet).

Offer justice to victims of exploitation and human rights abuses

We want systems that protect all people. But most non-EU citizens who are targets of trafficking, crimes or human rights abuses do not get justice because the complaints mechanisms under EU law are not effective. We call the European Commission to listen to its citizens who want a working justice system for all and ensure effective implementation in EU member states through efficient monitoring, complaints and redress mechanisms.

What is an ECI?

 The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is the most visible and legally binding tool for direct democracy in Europe. If 1 million signatures are obtained within a year from EU citizens in at least seven states, then the formal political pressure increases as the European Parliament must offer a public hearing to the sponsors and the European Commission is obliged to consider the proposal.

Who can sign the ECI petition?

To support a European Citizens’ Initiative, you must be an EU citizen (national of an EU member state) and old enough to vote in European Parliament elections (18 in exception to Austria where the voting age is 16). For further information on your eligibility to sign, please refer to the European Commission website.

Why do you need all this information?

The rules for collecting signatures are drawn up by each EU member state. Some member states require different rules for collecting signatures, such as entering your passport number. All the information you enter will be saved on secure servers and will be solely used for the purpose of the ECI and validating your signature.

What will you do with my information?

Your information is firstly encrypted (so no one can access it) and is stored temporarily on a secure server in Germany. Once enough signatures have been collected in your country, they are handed over to the officials in your country who will officially verify the signatures. Once the ECI has ended, #WelcomingEurope campaign will destroy all the extra information supplied for the purposes of this ECI. The campaign’s ability to perform these tasks securely has been certified according to the requirements of the European Union. All EU data protection rules and law apply.