Brussels, 24 July 2026

What if every young European had the opportunity to learn about Europe, experience it first-hand and have those experiences recognised wherever they live?

The European Commission has officially registered the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “All On Board – For your right to citizenship without borders”, marking an important milestone for a citizen-led campaign that seeks to make European citizenship a lived reality for everyone. Over the coming months, the ECIT Foundation and its partners will prepare a Europe-wide campaign inviting citizens to support legislation that would give every EU citizen greater opportunities to understand, exercise and benefit from their European citizenship.

At a time when democratic participation is under pressure and many Europeans feel increasingly disconnected from European institutions, the initiative argues that the answer is not less Europe, but a Europe that is experienced by everyone. While freedom of movement, education opportunities and democratic participation are among the European Union’s greatest achievements, access to these opportunities remains uneven.  Too often, participation depends on where someone lives, the type of education they receive, or their socio-economic background, leaving many citizens without a meaningful opportunity to experience Europe first-hand.

“All On Board” is conceived as a youth-led grassroots movement. While the campaign will be coordinated from Brussels, its organisers are committed to giving young people across Europe the freedom to shape, organise, and promote the initiative in ways that resonate within their own communities. By placing the next generation at the heart of the campaign, the ECI aims not only to gather one million signatures but also to empower young Europeans to take an active role in democratic life and foster a lasting culture of civic engagement across the European Union. 

Suzana Carp, representative of the Citizens’ Committee for the initiative and co-founder of the ECIT Foundation, explains:

“The future of education in Europe cannot be built without European citizens, nor without European citizenship education, especially in the age of AI. The All On Board European Citizens’ Initiative will seek to add a new right comprising access to mobility programmes, skills recognition and education about European citizenship. This should be available both for EU Citizens and EU Permanent Residents alike. We look forward to partnering with organisations across the continent to deliver the ambitious goal of 1 million signatures gathered in just 1 year.“

The initiative calls on the European Union to establish three complementary rights for every EU citizen:

• To learn about European rights, values and democratic participation through European citizenship education;
• To experience Europe through at least one meaningful mobility opportunity;
• To have learning recognised, ensuring that academic, technical, vocational and transversal qualifications receive equal recognition across the European Union.

As part of its implementation, the initiative also proposes that every EU citizen receive a European Citizenship Statute at the age of 16, clearly setting out these rights and opportunities. Supporting measures would include a Centre of Excellence for Teacher Training and a network of European Citizens’ Houses to help make European citizenship more visible, accessible and meaningful in everyday life.

Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law and Policy at HEC Paris and founder of The Good Lobby, says:

“I welcome this ECI asking the EU to finally make European citizenship something young people live, not just hold on paper. For too long, participatory democracy tools like the ECI have been under-used and left in institutional limbo – ‘All On Board’ shows what they can achieve when driven by a genuine, youth-led movement. Turning mobility, education and recognition into real rights for every citizen, regardless of background, is exactly the kind of ambition Europe needs right now.”

What Comes Next?

Registration by the European Commission allows organisers to begin preparing the official signature collection campaign. Under the European Citizens’ Initiative process, one million validated signatures from citizens across a sufficient number of Member States are required for the European Commission to formally consider new legislation.

Over the coming months, the ECIT Foundation and its partners will focus on building partnerships across Europe, expanding their network of Youth Task Forces and preparing for the campaign launch. A key milestone will be the Brussels Summer School on 31 August 2026, bringing together young people, educators, civil society organisations and institutional partners to help shape the movement before signature collection begins.

You can register for the event HERE.

Join the movement

The ECIT Foundation is inviting schools, universities, youth organisations, municipalities, civil society organisations and individual citizens to become part of this growing European movement.

Young people interested in creating or joining a Youth Task Force can find more information and register at: https://allonboardeci.eu/join-the-movement

European Citizens’ Initiative publication:

https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2026/000009_en

Media Contact

ECIT Foundation

Website: https://allonboardeci.eu/

Suzana Carp

Representative, “All On Board – For your right to citizenship without borders”
info@ecit-foundation.eu

Notes to editors

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is the European Union’s official instrument of participatory democracy. It enables one million citizens from at least seven EU Member States to invite the European Commission to consider proposing legislation in areas where it has competence.

The initiative “All On Board – For your right to citizenship without borders” was registered by the European Commission on 17. July 2026, enabling organisers to begin preparations for the signature collection campaign.