Introduction
CitizenCentral puts a spotlight on European citizens’ initiatives. In each episode, initiative organisers and supporters tell us why their initiative is important and how they experience raising awareness at EU level.
Our host, journalist Méabh McMahon, also interviews different& policy experts and academics to further explore the issues put forward by these initiatives.

Along the way, we learn more about the European Citizens’ Initiative process and gain tips from the point of view of organisers.
CitizenCentral helps you discover what the European Citizens’ Initiative is and how this tool makes it possible to have a greater say in policies that affect your life.
CitizenCentral podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and SoundCloud.
The opinions expressed in the podcasts reflect solely the point of view of the speakers and can in no way be taken to reflect the position of the European Commission or of the European Union.
Episode show notes
Meet the people behind European citizens' initiatives below.
European Citizens’ Initiative @10: new initiatives and fond memories
Featuring ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics’, ‘Stop Global Warming – a price for carbon to fight climate change’ and ‘Fraternité 2020 - Mobility. Progress. Europe.’ ECIs
In 2022 we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the ECI, and in this chapter we meet organisers from the past, present and (potentially) future - Simona Pronckutė, Dr Julia Baines and Virginia Fiume.
Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics is a current initiative aiming to fully ban cosmetics ingredient tests on animals and modernise animal-free science. And they want to become the fastest ECI to reach 1 million signatures! After two years of campaigning and the signature collection period closing in the summer of 2021, Virginia Fiume shares insightful reflections from the Stop Global Warming initiative. She and her colleagues have channelled their experience with the ECI into the EUMANS.eu project and promise to be back!
Finally, we hear from an organiser of the first-ever registered ECI ‘Fraternité 2020 - Mobility. Progress. Europe.’ What was Simona’s experience like 10 years ago – and how has taking part in an ECI influenced her life?
Note: Response of the European Chemicals Agency to animal testing and the PETA campaign: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/animal_en.htm
Dr Julia Baines, Science Policy Manager, PETA UK and supporter of Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics initiative
- www.savecrueltyfree.eu
- www.peta.org.uk/features/save-cruelty-free-cosmetics
- Twitter: @PETAUK, @CrueltyFreeEU, @HSIEurope, @Act4animalsEU
Virginia Fiume, coordinator of EUMANS.eu and organiser of Stop Global Warming – a price for carbon to fight climate change initiative
Simona Pronckutė, founding member of Fraternité2020 - Mobility. Progress. Europe.
- Read Simona’s EurActiv article: https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/european-citizens-initiative-one-year-of-challenges
In addition to three initiative organisers, Méabh also speaks with an expert in the cosmetics industry.
A special thanks to our guest:
John Chave, Director General of Cosmetics Europe
6: Vaccines and copyright - meet the Europeans fighting for changes in EU policies
Featuring ‘Freedom to Share’, and ‘Right to Cure’ ECIs
This chapter of CitizenCentral shines a light on copyright and intellectual property (IP) rights. Gregory Engels, representing the Freedom to Share initiative, aims to influence European copyright law and legalise file sharing via digital networks. Julie Steendam, on the other hand, represents the ‘Right to Cure’ (also called ‘No profit on pandemic’) initiative which calls on the European Commission to make sure all vaccines and treatments for the coronavirus are available to everyone world-wide and at no cost. Both break down complicated topics related to the impact of copyright and intellectual property laws, our freedom and the cost we pay.
Gregory Engels, member of the organisational committee of Freedom to Share initiative
Julie Steendam, European coordinator of the Right to Cure initiative
- www.noprofitonpandemic.eu
- https://www.facebook.com/Right2CureECI
- https://twitter.com/Right2Cure // @Right2Cure
- https://www.instagram.com/right2cure_euinitiative
- #Right2Cure #NoprofitOnPandemic
Méabh also speaks with two experts in Intellectual Property rights: a lawyer and researcher/lecturer in Spain and an expert of the World Trade Organization in Switzerland.
A special thanks to our guests:
Javier de la Cueva, lawyer and Professor of intellectual property at the Spanish Institute of Business (Instituto Empresa) | Roger Kampf, Counsellor at WTO specialised in health and intellectual property
5: Conscious consumers – meet Europeans fighting climate change in creative ways
Featuring ‘Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorship’ and 'European EcoScore’ ECIs
In the fifth chapter of CitizenCentral we hear from Silvia Pastorelli and Antoine Thill – two organisers striving to help hold companies responsible and help consumers make sustainable choices – each in different ways. The Ban Fossil Fuel Ads initiative aims for an EU legislative act prohibiting advertisements for fossil fuels, including for road and water-borne transportation that is powered by fossil fuels. It takes inspiration from the ban on tobacco advertisement already in place across the EU and looks to make systemic change for the climate crisis. Meanwhile, organisers of the European EcoScore initiative want a compulsory label providing European consumers with transparent information about the environmental impact of products manufactured or sold in the EU.
Both initiatives were registered and started signature collection in mid-2021 - listen to how it is going for them so far.
Silvia Pastorelli, representative of the Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorship initiative, and Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace European Unit
- https://banfossilfuelads.org
- https://twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU
- https://www.instagram.com/greenpeace
- https://www.facebook.com/greenpeace.international
Antoine Thill, representative of the European EcoScore initiative and coordinator of the Belgian ECI promotion team
- https://europeanecoscore.com
- https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanEcoScore
- https://www.instagram.com/eu.ecoscore
Read more:
Méabh also speaks with a marketing expert and activist on a mission to make business put people and planet first, a French citizen campaigning to end fossil fuel sponsorship of arts and culture, an expert on systemic change in the agro-food sector, and a sustainability and anti-plastic entrepreneur.
A special thanks to our guests:
Thomas Kolster, marketing activist and author of Goodvertising | Clara Paillard, Advisor to Culture Unstained | Cliona Howie, CEO of Foundation Earth in collaboration with EIT Food | Adam Webb, Founder of Lifelong Cosmetics
4: Meet the Europeans trying to reclaim our faces and alleviate poverty across the continent
Featuring ‘Reclaim Your Face’ and 'Start Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’ ECIs
In the fourth chapter of CitizenCentral we hear from Ella Jakubowska and Catarina Neves - discussing different ways to protect fundamental rights and reduce inequality across the EU. Reclaim Your Face - the Civil society initiative for a ban on biometric mass surveillance practices is trying to strictly regulate the use of biometric technologies in order to avoid undue interference with fundamental rights. The nuances in how people, companies and governments are using technology – and for what purposes and how this impacts our lives – get covered in this episode. The organisers of Start Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU want the European Commission to make a proposal for universal basic income throughout the EU, to improve the welfare for European citizens in all Member States.
Ella Jakubowska, Digital Policy Advisor for the 'Reclaim Your Face' European citizens’ initiative
- https://reclaimyourface.eu/
- https://twitter.com/ReclaimYourFace
- https://www.facebook.com/ReclaimYourFace/
- https://www.instagram.com/reclaimyourface/?hl=en
- https://twitter.com/edri
- https://twitter.com/ellajakubowska1
Read more:
- https://europa.eu/citizens-initiative-forum/blog/democratic-action-has-power-protect-eu-democracy-biometric-mass-surveillance_en
- https://reclaimyourface.eu/report-biometric-mass-surveillance-germany-netherlands-poland/
- https://www.politico.eu/list/tech-28-class-of-2021-the-ranking/sarah-chander-and-ella-jakubowska/
- https://edri.org/our-work/new-eci-ban-biometric-mass-surveillance/
- https://reclaimyourface.eu/evidence-in-eu-countries/
- https://reclaimyourface.eu/romani-rights-and-biometric-mass-surveillance/
Catarina Neves, advocate for Basic Income in Portugal, part of the team involved in the European Citizens’ Initiative for Unconditional Basic Income (ECI-UBI) campaign in Portugal and working with the ECI-UBI team in Europe. Collaborator at UBI4ALL, an initiative developed to support the ECI-UBI.
Méabh also speaks with a technology ethics and rights specialist in Spain who is taking on some of the biggest technological companies and auditing their algorithms, an investigative journalist in Italy who has tested biometric border control entering Europe, and a Future of Work specialist from Romania, who works at the European Policy Center in Brussels.
A special thanks to our guests:
Gemma Galdon Clavell, PhD, Director of Eticas Foundation | Ludovica Jona, investigative journalist | Mihai Palimariciuc, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre
3: Hear the voices behind the European green wave
Featuring ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’, ‘Green Garden Roof Tops’ and ‘Grow scientific progress: crops matter’ ECIs
In the third chapter of CitizenCentral we hear from Nils Kluger, Almog Sade and Martina Helmlinger - covering environmental topics on land and in the sea. The Stop Finning - Stop the Trade citizens’ initiative aims to end the trade with shark fins within the EU. The Green Garden Roof Tops initiative – launched by two siblings and a group of friends – wants to use existing empty space on corporations’ rooftops to convert into green areas. We also hear from a Grow scientific progress: crops matter initiative organiser. The initiative closed in the summer of 2021, yet her reflections offer many tips for people wanting to work on an ECI.
Dr. Nils Kluger, spokesperson of the Stop Finning - Stop the Trade European citizens’ initiative
- www.stop-finning-eu.org
- https://www.facebook.com/StopFinningEU
- https://www.instagram.com/stopfinningeu
- https://twitter.com/stopfinningeu
Almog Yoana Sade, representative of the Green Garden Roof Tops European citizens’ initiative
- https://www.greengardenrooftops.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/GGRTECI
- Instagram: @ggrt_euinitiative
- Twitter: @garden_tops
- Learn more about the initiative in this article: https://europa.eu/citizens-initiative-forum/blog/brighter-future-greener-europe_en
Martina Helmlinger, Co-Founder and representative of the Grow Scientific Progress: Crops matter! European citizens’ initiative
- https://cropsmatter.wixsite.com/mysite
- https://www.facebook.com/growscientificprogress
- Twitter: @GrowScientific
- Instagram: grow_scientific_progress
Méabh also speaks with marine biologists and shark watchers in the Netherlands and South Africa, then she connects with a green roof specialist in Czechia.
A special thanks to our guests:
Irene Kingma, Marine Biologist and Advisor in Policy and Public Affairs for the Dutch Caribean Nature Alliance | Alessandro de Maddalena, Marine Biologist and Adjunct Professor of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of Milano-Bicocca | Pavel Dostal, Chairman of the Czech Green Roof Association, Vice-President the European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Association (EFB) and CEO of GreenVille
2: Power to the people - hear the voices who want to break down the borders in Europe
Featuring ‘Civil Servant Exchange Program’ and ‘Voters Without Borders’ ECIs
In the second chapter of CitizenCentral we hear from Adam Mazoyer and Rosalie van den Brink as they discuss two European citizens’ initiatives focused on strengthening civic engagement in our communities. The Civil Servant Exchange Program (CSEP) aims to help civil servants learn from one another and better address transnational issues - from natural disasters to cybersecurity and beyond. The Voters Without Borders initiative makes a case for increasing the democratic rights of EU citizens who want to vote in national elections where they live.
Adam Mazoyer, Substitute representative for the Civil Servant Exchange Program (CSEP) European citizens’ initiative
- https://eci-csep.eu/
- https://twitter.com/CsepEci?s=09
- https://m.facebook.com/civilservantexchangeprogram/
- https://www.instagram.com/civilservantexchangeprogram/
- Learn more in this article: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/an-erasmus-program-for-civil-servants/115686/
Rosalie van den Brink, volunteer with the Voters Without Borders European citizens’ initiative
Our host Méabh also speaks with a firefighter from Denmark, the executive director of the Bulgarian Institute of Public Administration, a German professor of EU law living in Ireland and the executive director of the European Citizen Action Service in charge of running the ECI Forum.
A special thanks to our guests:
Jakob Vedsted Andersen, Federation of European Fire Officers Association | Pavel Ivanov, Bulgarian Institute of Public Administration | Tobias Lock, Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law at Maynooth University | Assya Kavrakova, Executive Director, European Citizen Action Service (ECAS)
1: Welcome to CitizenCentral
Featuring ‘Fridays for Future’ and ‘Save Bees and Farmers’ ECIs
Tune in to the first chapter of CitizenCentral to listen to Paula Reyes and Helmut Burtscher as they discuss two European citizens’ initiatives with signature collection periods ending in late-September 2021. ‘Actions on Climate Emergency’ (closing 23 September 2021) and ‘Save bees and Farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment’ (closing 30 September 2021) are two of the many citizens’ initiatives related to climate change and biodiversity over the years.
Paula Mariel Reyes Carrasco, Activist at Fridays For Future – supporting the Actions on Climate Emergency European citizens’ initiative.
Helmut Burtscher, Global2000 - Friends of the Earth-Austria, Save bees and Farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment European citizens’ initiative organiser.
Journalist Méabh Mc Mahon speaks with one of the organisers of the first European citizens’ initiative focused on ending international roaming charges – which many of us enjoy the benefits of today. Also in this episode: the man who started ‘Grandparents for Future’ in solidarity with the youth protesting for climate action, an organic farmer from Greece and expert inputs on sustainable policy and the importance of pollinating insects for each and every one of us.
A special thanks to our guests:
Professor Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor in EU Law at HEC Paris | Annika Hedberg, European Policy Centre | Freidrich Zywitza, Grandparents for Future | Dara Stanley, University College Dublin | Sheila Darmos, Sociologist, Co-Founder, and Author at SoutherLights.org