The citizens' initiative process involves several steps: 1) An organizer requests registration of a proposed initiative with the Commission. If approved, the Commission registers and publicizes the initiative. 2) The organizer collects signatures of support either electronically or on paper. 3) Once 300,000 signatures are collected, the organizer asks the Commission to verify admissibility. If admissible, the Commission proceeds to the next step. 4) At least 1 million signatures from 1/3 of EU member states must be collected. Then member states verify and certify the valid signatures. 5) The organizer submits the verified citizens' initiative to the Commission for substantive examination and a response.

1. The citizens’ initiative step by step
The organiser requests the registration of a proposed
initiative on a specific website of the Commission. Manifestly against the values: the Commission
rejects the registration.
The Commission registers the proposed initiative Improper: the proposed initiative is not
and makes it public. registered.
The organiser collects the statements of support
(in paper form and/or electronically). The organiser requests the verification of its online
Max. 1 month
Max. 12 months
collection system by the national authority.
The national authority issues a certificate to the organiser
certifying the online collection system.
Max. 2 months
After 300.000 statements of support → the organiser asks
the Commission to check the admissibility.
The Commission decides that the initiative is
The Commission decides that the initiative is admissible.
inadmissible.
At least 1 million statements of support collected from
Max. 3 months
1/3 of MS → The organiser asks the competent authorities
of the MS to check the statements of support.
The MS issue the certificates certifying the number of
valid statements of support.
The organiser submits the citizens' initiative to the
Max. 4 months
Commission.
The Commission examines the substance of the
initiative and adopts a communication.