Brussels approves registration of pan-European social media initiative

The European Commission has registered a new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) calling for the creation of a publicly funded, EU-level social media platform.

Titled “European Public Social Network,” the initiative urges the Commission to propose legislation establishing a platform that would operate as a public service, funded and overseen by society. Organisers say the network would provide an alternative to existing private platforms, remain independent from political pressure and safeguard equal rights for all users, the Comission stated.

The Commission said the proposal meets the formal requirements under the ECI Regulation and is therefore legally admissible. It has not assessed the substance of the proposal at this stage. Registration does not prejudge whether the Commission will ultimately take action.

Organisers now have six months to begin collecting signatures and, once launched, will have 12 months to gather at least one million statements of support from EU citizens, with minimum thresholds reached in at least seven member states. If successful, the Commission must formally respond and decide what action, if any, to take.

Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty and launched in 2012, the European Citizens’ Initiative allows citizens to invite the Commission to propose legislation in areas within its competence. Since its inception, 128 initiatives have been registered.

By Sabina Mammadli