3 March 2026 23:00 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission registers citizens' initiative for public social media platform

Key points

Registers ECI for a Europe-level public social media platform
Considers initiative legally admissible; one million signatures required for Commission response

TL;DR

ECI titled 'European Public Social Network' registered on 4 March 2026 in Brussels.
Organisers have six months to open a 12-month signature collection period; one million statements from at least seven Member States are required.
Commission considers the initiative legally admissible but has not analysed its substance and will decide only if signature threshold is met.

Original text

European Commission - Press release Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative calling for a European social media platform Brussels, 4 March 2026 Today, the European Commission has registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), entitled ‘ European Public Social Network' . The initiative invites the Commission to establish, through a legislative act, “ a public social media platform at the European level ”. That social media platform “ would form an alternative to the current platforms and work as a service for the society, be funded by the society and be under its oversight” and “ could stay impartial and independent from political pressures while also guaranteeing rights of all people without distinction ”. As this initiative fulfils the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation, the Commission considers it legally admissible under the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation . The Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals at this stage. The registration does not influence the Commission's final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will take a decision on the initiative only if it collects at least one million signatures from EU citizens. Next steps Following today's registration, the organisers have six months to open the 12-month period of signature collection. If an ECI receives at least one million statements of support during that time, with minimum numbers reached in at least seven Member States, the Commission is required to react, and decide what, if any, action it will take in response to the initiative, justifying its decision. Background The ECI was introduced with the Lisbon Treaty as an agenda-setting tool for citizens. It was officially launched in April 2012. Once formally registered, a European Citizens' Initiative allows one million citizens from at least seven EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose legal acts in areas where it has the power to act. The conditions for admissibility are: (1) the proposed action does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission's powers to submit a legal proposal, (2) it is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious and (3) it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union. Since the beginning of the European Citizens' Initiative, the Commission has registered 128 initiatives. The content of the initiatives only expresses the views of the organisers and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission. For more information ‘ European Public Social Network ' ECI statistics ECIs currently collecting signatures European Citizens' Initiative Forum #EUTakeTheInitiative campaign IP/26/522 Press contacts: Balazs UJVARI (+32 2 29 54578) Antoine LOMBA (+32 2 29 93233) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email

Key tags

Topics

Keywords

Stats

Word count: 446

Summary words: 78

Compression: 17%

Boilerplate removed: Yes

Top phrases:

Entities

People

Organizations

Places

Brussels

Countries

Regions

Europe