The European Commission has officially registered a new European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) that calls for the creation of a public, EU-wide social media
platform designed to serve the public interest.
The initiative, titled “European Public Social Network,” urges the Commission to propose legislation establishing a publicly funded and publicly overseen social media platform at European level. According to its organisers, the platform would act as an alternative to existing private social networks, operating as a service for society rather than a profit-driven business.
Supporters argue that such a platform could remain impartial, independent from political and commercial pressures, and grounded in the protection of fundamental rights for all users, without discrimination.
Legal registration, not political endorsement
The Commission confirmed that the initiative meets all formal requirements set out under EU law and is therefore legally admissible. At this stage, however, the Commission has not assessed the substance or merits of the proposal.
Registration does not imply any endorsement or prejudge the Commission’s eventual position. A final decision will only be taken if the initiative succeeds in gathering at least one million signatures from EU citizens.
What happens next
Following registration, organisers now have six months to prepare before launching a 12-month signature collection period. To move forward, the initiative must secure one million statements of support, with minimum thresholds met in at least seven EU Member States.
If these conditions are fulfilled, the Commission will be legally required to respond, outlining what action it intends to take—or explaining why it chooses not to act.
About the European Citizens’ Initiative
The European Citizens’ Initiative was introduced under the Lisbon Treaty as a tool to strengthen participatory democracy in the EU. It allows citizens to directly invite the Commission to propose legislation in areas where it has the authority to act.
Since its launch in 2012, 128 initiatives have been formally registered. To be admissible, an initiative must fall within the Commission’s legislative powers, must not be abusive or frivolous, and must respect the fundamental values of the European Union.
The Commission stressed that the content of all initiatives reflects solely the views of their organisers and does not represent the institution’s own position.