The European Commission has officially registered two new European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) aimed at strengthening environmental protection and biodiversity restoration
across the European Union.
One initiative, titled 'Rights for Nature: Empower Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems', calls on the Commission to introduce EU legislation recognising the rights of nature in European law. Organisers are urging the EU to move away from treating nature solely as property and instead recognise ecosystems as living entities with inherent rights.
The proposal advocates granting ecosystems rights including the right to exist, regenerate and be restored. Supporters say such measures would reinforce the protection of natural environments through legislation such as an EU directive or regulation.
A second initiative, 'Reconnecting nature through the creation of European biodiversity corridors', seeks an EU-wide framework to improve ecological connectivity between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Organisers argue that fragmented habitats are undermining biodiversity and resilience across Europe.
The initiative proposes stronger cross-border coordination, common conservation tools and enhanced support for the Natura 2000 network in an effort to reconnect ecosystems throughout the bloc.
The Commission said both initiatives meet the formal requirements set out under the European Citizens’ Initiative Regulation and are therefore legally admissible. However, officials stressed that registration does not amount to endorsement of the proposals or prejudge any future action.
Under EU rules, organisers now have six months to begin collecting signatures. Once launched, they will have 12 months to gather at least one million statements of support from EU citizens, while also reaching minimum thresholds in at least seven member states.
If those conditions are met, the Commission will be obliged to formally examine the initiatives and decide whether to propose legislative action, providing reasons for its decision.
Introduced under the Lisbon Treaty and launched in 2012, the European Citizens’ Initiative allows citizens to ask the Commission to propose legislation in areas where the EU has competence. Since its creation, 131 initiatives have been registered by the Commission.
The Commission noted that the content of the initiatives reflects solely the views of their organisers and does not represent the position of the EU executive.