The new regulation which establishes the functionalities of the European Citizens' Initiative takes effect on 1 of April. From this date, citizens will be empowered to work together across borders to gather at least one million signatures in support of an idea that will be able to ask the European Commission to propose legislation to enact it.

From 1 of April, committees of at least seven citizens living in at least seven EU Member States can gather at least one million signatures in support of an idea will be able to ask the European Commission to propose legislation to enact it, provided that the idea falls within the Commission's sphere of competence and is consistent with the EU's fundamental values.

From the mentioned date above, the European Citizens' Initiative regulation enters into force, enabling European citizens to get in touch directly with European institutions by registering their initiatives through the website presented in January 2012. Their power to petition the Commission will be equivalent to those enjoyed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

Once an ECI is registered, the committee will have 12 months to collect the necessary statements of support from at least seven Member States. The number of statements of support has to be certified by the competent authorities in the Member States. The Commission will then have three months to examine the initiative and decide how to act on it. It will meet the organisers so they can explain the issues raised in their initiative in more depth. The organisers will also have the opportunity to present their initiative at a public hearing organised at the European Parliament.