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Participate, interact and vote in the European Union

Your rights – and how to use them

If you are a citizen of an EU country, by definition you enjoy EU citizenship and have the right to actively take part in the political life of the EU. You can contribute to and comment on EU policies and laws, vote in local elections in your country of residence and in European elections.

Public consultations and feedback

Help shape EU policies by contributing to EU consultations and other feedback opportunities on planned initiatives on the Have Your Say – Public consultations and feedback portal. Here, you can also submit comments on evaluations and policy reviews. The Commission considers these replies when it prepares initiatives and reviews.

Help simplify existing EU laws by sharing your ideas on the Have Your Say: Simplify! platform. Your suggestions inform the work of the Fit for Future Platform, a high-level group of experts which supports the Commission in cutting red tape and making existing EU laws fit for the future.

European Citizens’ Initiative

Help set the EU policymaking agenda by initiating or taking part in European Citizens’ Initiatives. These Initiatives allow you to ask the European Commission to prepare legislation on an issue that matters to you and which falls within its powers.

Once an initiative has reached 1 million signatures and the minimum thresholds in 7 EU countries, the Commission will consider it and decide if and what action to take.

European Citizens’ Engagement Platform

Engage and debate EU policies on the Citizens' Engagement Platform. It was created upon recommendation from the Conference on the Future of Europe. On the Platform, you can find and participate in discussions on topics that affect all citizens. Your feedback is a vital part of the policymaking process. Everyone's voice matters and the EU is keen to hear yours.

Contribute to EU policies through Citizens’ Panels. They bring together randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU countries to discuss key forthcoming proposals. The European Commission takes the Panel recommendations into consideration when defining its policy initiatives.

European and local elections

Find out how to register to vote or stand as a candidate in local and European elections, including in the country where you live if you are an EU national living in another EU country. Learn about the conditions that apply.

Petition the European Parliament

Find out how to start, submit and support a petition to the European Parliament on an EU-related policy that affects you.

Principle of multilingualism

When you contact EU institutions and advisory bodies directly, you are entitled to a reply in any of the EU’s 24 official languages.

Create e-communities

Are you an expert in EU policymaking and governance? Register with SINAPSE, an online platform where you can create or join e-communities of other experts. Here, you can share and exchange information and expertise on policymaking and governance issues.

Local councillors

Want to learn more about the EU’s impact on a local level? The project ’Building Europe with Local Councillors’ gathers locally elected councillors from all EU countries and helps them communicate with their local audiences on EU topics. It aims to boost engagement and foster debates about these issues and the future of Europe by creating a truly European public sphere. Find a councillor near you.

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Related links

EU citizenship rights in the Treaty on the functioning of the EUCharter of Fundamental Rights of the EUMembers of the European Parliament from your countryDebating EuropeEurobarometer public opinion pollsMake a complaintAccess to information and documentsHow EU policy is decidedFollow, like, share and discuss on the EU’s social media networksHow EU laws are madeEuropean Youth: Dream big. Act now10 ways the EU makes your life easier

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