European Citizens' Initiative: Commission decides to register initiative on preservation and development of Ukrainian culture and heritage

Today, the European Commission decided to register a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Preservation and development of Ukrainian culture, education, language, and traditions in EU states'.

The organisers of the initiative urge the Commission to step up its actions in supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees in the EU. They also call on the Commission to propose new legislation to preserve Ukrainian culture, language, traditions and heritage, as well as to establish a pan-European structure of integration centres.

The decision to register is of a legal nature and it does not prejudge the final legal and political conclusions of the Commission on this initiative and the action it will intend to take, if any, in case the initiative obtains the necessary support.

The Commission considers this European Citizens' Initiative legally admissible but has not analysed the substance of the proposal at this stage.

Following today's registration, the organisers have six months to open the signature collection. If a European Citizens' Initiative receives one million statements of support within one year from at least seven different Member States, the Commission will have to react. The Commission will have to decide whether to take action in response to the request or not, and will be required to explain its reasoning.

More information is available online in our press release.