Join Us in Brussels (and online) on 3 June 2025

More than a decade after its launch, the European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECI) remains one of the EU’s most promising, yet underused and underdeveloped, tools of participatory democracy. Out of the 115 ECIs that have been registered since 2012, only 14 have succeeded in securing the required 1 million signatures, and none have yet led to meaningful legislative action.

One of the most notable examples, the End the Cage Age initiative, mobilised 1.4 million citizens and won a commitment from the European Commission to act. Yet nearly four years later, no legislation has followed, prompting legal action before the Court of Justice of the EU and raising urgent questions about the democratic credibility of the ECI mechanism and the EU as a whole.

To unpack these challenges and explore ways forward, Compassion in World Farming and The Good Lobby are co-hosting a high-level hybrid event on 3 June 2025 (10:30–13:30 CEST) in Brussels, Rue Jacques de Lalaing 29.

This event will bring together activists, legal experts, policymakers, and EU officials to:

Examine the ECI’s track record and democratic potential
Highlight the broader implications of the End the Cage Age case ahead of a crucial Court of Justice ruling
Share lessons on how to convert citizen mobilisation into legislative impact
Debate the future of ECIs and the reforms needed to strengthen them

We are delighted to welcome European Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho, who will deliver a keynote address titled: “How to Preserve the ECI as a Meaningful Tool of Democratic Participation.”

The event will also feature a “ECI Reality Check” from Professor Alberto Alemanno, Founder of The Good Lobby.

A light lunch reception will follow from 12:30, offering attendees the chance to network and continue the conversation informally.

Spots are limited, register now to join us in person or online