On 18 March 2026, ECIT held a meeting to finalise the All on Board ECI ahead of its registration with the European Commission. The event represented an important occasion for the initiative, providing an opportunity to review the legal framework, discuss proposed amendments, and ensure the ECI was fully prepared for formal submission.
The meeting began with a brief presentation of the All on Board ECI by an intern of ECIT, Chiara Ravasio, revisiting its main objectives. The initiative seeks to make European citizenship more tangible and accessible to all citizens, addressing the current situation in which only a relatively privileged minority can engage in meaningful experiences of European citizenship. The ECI is structured around three core goals: educating citizens about European rights, values, and participation alongside their national civic education; offering citizens the opportunity to participate in European exchange programmes as practical, once-in-a-lifetime experiences; and ensuring that the results of these experiences—both academic and professional—are equally recognised across the EU.
Following this introduction, the discussion focused on amendments and the legal aspects of the ECI. Participants carefully reviewed the initiative and its supporting legal documents, ensuring alignment with EU regulations and preparing it for successful registration.
Notably, Elisa Gambardella, advocacy coordinator at SOLIDAR Foundation and President of the Lifelong Learning Platform, contributed suggestions regarding the third goal of the ECI, emphasising the importance of including transversal qualifications and recognising not only formal education but also informal and non-formal learning. She noted that this approach aligns with the Skills Portability Initiative, a recent European Commission consultation aimed at improving transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications. Integrating its principles would enhance inclusivity, particularly in relation to activities such as participation in associations, debates, and community engagement.
The meeting continued with a detailed review of the legal framework of the ECI. The primary objective was to refine the draft legislative act governing the ECI and to prepare subsequent implementing texts in alignment with EU requirements. Legal advisors from Paul Weiss played a central role in guiding the necessary adjustments to ensure compliance with European Commission standards. They stressed the importance of precision in drafting legislative provisions to guarantee the admissibility of the proposal.
Specifically, the lawyers recommended removing references to “residents” in the legislative act, as the rights conferred under the ECI legally apply only to EU citizens in accordance with Article 20(2) TFEU. However, they noted the possibility of recognising residents as beneficiaries at the implementation stage by extending certain citizen rights to them within secondary texts.
Tony Venables further underlined that this broader interpretation could expand the internal marketperspective, fostering freer movement of knowledge and competences across the Union. He also clarified that the legislative act would be registered in parallel with the ECI as its legal basis, while the publication of implementing texts would be postponed until the official launch of the signature collection. This phased approach ensures both clarity and flexibility in the legislative process.
Additionally, Paul Weiss lawyers recommended removing references to cooperation with the Council of Europe and specific case law to maintain full consistency with the chosen legal basis. This revision aimed to preserve a legislative text that remains both ambitious and operationally feasible, facilitating evaluation and potential adoption by the European Commission. Particular attention was given to retaining the original intent of the initiative while simplifying the institutional workload required during the review and implementation phases.
After the legal discussion, Amanda Escanciano Álvarez, ECIT intern responsible for communication and social media, presented the visual and branding elements of the initiative. Drawing on insights from the 3 February ECIT joint conference with CLEVER, the presentation covered logo design, colour palette, and other visual elements. The discussion highlighted the importance of engaging young people, balancing formal and professional elements with visually appealing features—such as blue, pink, and yellow—to attract attention and reflect the initiative’s inclusive, youth-focused objectives.
The meeting then proceeded with a presentation by Jana Sproul, ECIT board member, regarding the role of Youth Task Forces (YTFs). These peer-led groups are central to the campaign, mobilising local communities across Europe. Their activities include organising events and discussions, engaging peers both online and offline, collecting signatures, and sharing outreach strategies across countries. The approach is fundamentally participatory, prioritising youth-led initiatives to foster community engagement and ownership.
The campaign is structured across four levels. At the European level, ECIT Foundation in Brussels provides strategic coordination, materials, communication tools, and legal guidance. The European Coalition of Organisations, comprising youth, academic, and civic networks, amplifies the campaign, shares best practices, and coordinates monthly meetings. National Coordinators adapt the campaign to local contexts, coordinating task forces and partnerships, while local task forces lead grassroots mobilisation, organise events, and collect signatures.
Community building and digital engagement are central to the strategy. Monthly digital town halls provide updates on the campaign, facilitate peer exchange, offer skill-building sessions, and share success stories. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining network of young people across Europe, promoting engagement and visibility for the initiative.
The roadmap towards the signature collection phase was also presented. March focused on setting up infrastructure, action kits, and campaign materials. April will involve partner recruitment and the formation of initial Youth Task Forces. May will be dedicated to co-creation, June will see the official launch of the movement and the first digital town hall, and September will mark the start of the signature collection campaign.
Towards the end of the meeting, Marietta Barth, a volunteer at the Lycée Martin Nadaud (France),presented online an overview of the CLEVER project, which is a European network bringing together the University of Nantes, the School of Journalism in Tours, and six vocational secondary schools from France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Poland. The CLEVER project aims to strengthen active European citizenship education among vocational students through creative and engaging teaching methods. Marietta also presented a video showcasing the students in front of the European Parliament, illustrating the impact and engagement of the project’s activities.
Finally, it was agreed to set a deadline of the end of March for submitting any suggested changes to the ECI and the basic regulation.
Overall, the meeting successfully integrated legal, strategic, and communication elements of the ECI and it concluded with sincere thanks to all participants, both in person and online, for their contributions to this important stage in the preparation of the All on Board ECI.