The European Commission decided to register a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Preservation and Development of Ukrainian ulture, education, language, and Traditions in EU states.
The organizers of the initiative urge the Commission to step up its actions in supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees into 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 centers.
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.
As the European Citizens’ Initiative fulfills the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation, the Commission considers that it is legally admissible. The Commission has not analyzed the substance of the proposal at this stage.
Next steps
Following the registration, the organizers 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.
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