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European Union
Have your say on EU policies
Have your say on EU policies
Want to get involved in European policymaking? There are several options open to you:
European Citizens’ Initiative
Should the EU legislate on an issue that matters to you? Consider starting a European citizens' initiative asking the European Commission to propose a legal act. Your initiative will need to demonstrate widespread support. That means it must be signed by a million EU citizens, from at least a quarter of EU countries (7 of the 27).
The Regulation on citizens' initiatives is currently under review — learn more.
Petitioning the European Parliament
EU citizens and people living in the EU may petition Parliament on issues to do with EU policy that affect them directly, as may companies and other organisations with head offices in the EU.
- More on petitioning the European Parliament
- How Parliament works
- Contact your Member of the European Parliament
Public consultations & other ways to give feedback
The European Commission’s better regulation agenda has opened up more opportunities to contribute to EU policymaking. Have your say through:
- public consultations — subscribe to notifications.
- various feedback mechanisms throughout the policy cycle (from the preparation phase to proposals for new laws) — subscribe to notifications.
Can an EU law be made more effective and efficient? Send in your idea via Lighten the load.
SINAPSE e-communities are a way for experts to provide input to EU policymaking.
Citizens’ Dialogues
Citizens' Dialogues are held in cities across the EU. They offer opportunities to discuss issues you are concerned about with representatives of the European Parliament, the Commission and other EU bodies.
Your opinions on the future of Europe
A special online consultation is also up and running. By participating you can get involved in helping to shape the future of the EU.
Formal complaints
You can:
- lodge a complaint with the European Commission — if you think a particular EU country is not implementing EU law correctly.
- lodge a complaint with the European Ombudsman — if you think an EU institution has acted illegally or made an administrative error.
- report fraud involving EU funding/EU staff to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
- contact Europe Direct if you are unsure who to send your complaint to.
Transparency Register
Do you represent an organisation or are you are a self-employed individual involved in activities that influence the EU institutions’ policymaking and decision-making processes?
If so, subscribe to the EU Transparency Register.
Get involved in European policy making
How it works: Launch a European Citizens’ Initiative
Parliamentary democracy open to all: launching a Citizens’ Initiative for new EU legislation is highly complex, but potentially rewarding (28/05/2012).
How it works: Petitions to the European Parliament
Do you have a complaint or a request that relates to one of the EU's areas of activity? Before sending it to the Petitions Committee have a look how it works (29/03/2012).
/european-union/file/initiative-citoyenne-europ%C3%A9enne_enInitiative citoyenne européenne.
Initiative citoyenne européenne.
The new rules for the European Citizens Initiative have been shaped by the contribution of thousands of citizens and organisations across the EU. They will make it easier to launch and support citizens' initiatives demanding concrete changes to EU laws.