Big News, Art Fairs & Broken Promises – Our September Update

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Dear readers,

As September draws to a close, we look back on a month filled with major milestones and ahead to an eventful autumn. From setting the official launch date for our “All On Board” European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to expanding our team and board, there is plenty of momentum to celebrate!

Here is a quick look at what’s inside this month’s edition:

 

    • Big News: Official launch date announced for the “All On Board” ECI (17 November)!

    • Together Through Art Fair: Join us on Saturday, 10 October at the Maison du MédiaLab in Brussels for our charity auction and fundraiser.

    • Policy & Advocacy: Our Advocacy Lead Lisa Desjardins unpacks European mobility, and our board member Suzana Carp highlighted our innovative ECI approach at the Accredited European Schools Conference.

    • Youth Task Forces: Applications are officially open to lead local campaign actions across Europe.

    • Our Team is Growing: We are welcoming new board members and seven passionate young team leads.

    • Initiative spotlights: ECIT expresses its endorsement of Alberto Alemanno’s Formal complaint concerning Italy’s and Spain’s reintroduction of internal border controls under Regulation (EU) 2016/399, as well as the JEF Europe “Don’t Touch My Schengen!” campaign.

Read on for all the details and ways to get involved!

The Wait is Over: Official ECI Launch Date Announcement!

Mark your calendars: signature collection for the “All On Board” ECI officially kicks off on Tuesday, 17 November 2026! From this day on, the All On Board campaigners will have 12 months to collect one million signatures across EU Member States.

Why 17 November?

Launching on International Students’ Day allows us to celebrate youth mobility alongside a powerful coalition of partner organizations and civil society leaders. Following this initial kickoff, we will host a high-level press conference event in early December with European decision-makers at the European Parliament.

Because this initiative belongs to citizens across all Member States, we are bringing the ECI to you! Key to this strategy will be a series of national launch events in selected countries co-hosted with our local Youth Task Forces to adapt campaign messaging to local contexts.

Let’s Join Forces: If your organisations works on civic engagement and democratic youth participation, we invite you to reach out to our team at info@ecit-foundation.eu to partner up for impact.

Get Ready: Follow our official campaign journey on Instagram @allonboard.eci to stay up to date on launch events!

“Together Through Art” Fair (October 10)

When art meets a salient cause it creates a vibrant community gathering! Join us for our Charitable Art Fair, Together Through Art, on Saturday, 10 October from 14 to 18h at Maison du MédiaLab (Avenue de l’Yser 34, Etterbeek).

Come discover inspiring works, meet fellow supporters of European rights, and help fund our youth-led campaign on the ground.

Together Through Art is an inclusive, non-profit community festival and fundraiser. Our programme brings together local creators, young people, and neighbours for an inspiring afternoon featuring:

  • Charity Art Auction: Featuring artworks from emerging local and international artists, including Making Colors (2021) by Thomas Dielman, Knowing How to Fly (2023) by Antonio Imperatore, Old Factory (2017) by Lucas Leffler, and many more..

  • Charity Raffle: Featuring prizes and products donated by local artisans and small businesses.

Tickets: Entry is €5, which automatically includes one raffle ticket! Additional raffle tickets will be available at the venue to boost your chances of winning while supporting the campaign.

Policy Insight: Promises and Failures of European Mobility

“My ultimate goal [by creating Erasmus], was to contribute to building Europe by creating a sense of European citizenship, not only as a feeling, but through the lived experience of what Europe really means.” – Erasmus founding father Domenico Lenarduzzi, 1994 

The European Union was built on a bold promise: that freedom, equality, and human rights should not stop at national borders. In practice, flagship programs like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, the European Solidarity Corps, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions have enabled millions to study, work, and build lives across the continent.

However, for far too many Europeans, cross-border mobility remains a privilege rather than an accessible right.

In her latest analysis, ECIT Advocacy & Stakeholder Lead Lisa Desjardins examines the widening gap between the EU’s ideal of free movement and the everyday reality faced by mobile citizens. The article explores socio-economic and information barriers, the bureaucratic friction of de facto disenfranchisement, and what happens when skills and qualifications aren’t recognised across borders.

When administrative friction prevents people from moving freely, it undermines the very substance of EU citizenship. This is why expanding inclusive mobility, stripping away bureaucratic barriers, and guaranteeing equal rights for all mobile Europeans sit at the heart of our upcoming “All On Board” ECI. 

Find the full article here !

AES Conference: Unfolding Europe’s Future Through Education

On 24 September, ECIT Board Member and ECI Representative Suzana Carp presented the All On Board ECI at the annual Accredited European Schools (AES) Conference hosted at the European Parliament. 

She highlighted how Article 25 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) provides a never-before-used legal mechanism to strengthen the substantial rights associated with European citizenship. Our ECI pushes for a historical first use of this article to guarantee universal European civic education, strengthen European democracy, and create more engaged citizens.

Call for Youth Task Forces: Lead the Movement in Your City!

Are you passionate about democracy? Do you want to defend European citizens’ rights and gain hands-on campaign experience? Applications for our Youth Task Forces (YTFs) are now open!

Youth Task Forces (YTFs) are the true front lines of our campaign, proving that a small group of committed people can spark big political change. A Youth Task Force is a team of three or more friends, classmates, or activists who take charge of the movement in their communities, universities, or schools.

What you will do:

  • Drive Local Action: Host pop-up stalls, signature booths, and interactive workshops.

  • Mobilize Digital Networks: Create local social media content and digital outreach campaigns.

  • Connect Continent-Wide: Participate in monthly Digital Town Halls to share ideas and receive campaign training.

What we offer:

  • A comprehensive Campaign-in-a-Box (incl. social media & events templates, signature collection guidance, and national data packs).

  • A skill-up programme with practical training in campaigning, advocacy and social media engagement.

  • An official European Democracy Lead Certificate, digital achievement badges, and recognition of your contribution to a European democratic initiative.

  • Access to a European network of young campaigners, ongoing mentorship from the ECIT Foundation, and opportunities to showcase outstanding initiatives at the European level.

No previous European affairs background necessary! Help shape the decisions that will define Europe’s future!

Apply here !  

Initiative Spotlights: Standing Up for Open Borders & Free Movement

European citizenship relies on a fundamental principle: the freedom to move, live, and work across borders without unnecessary barriers. When Member States reintroduce internal border controls or restrict cross-border rights, it erodes the core promises of the Schengen area and harms mobile citizens first.

This month, the ECIT Foundation is proud to spotlight and support two vital initiatives defending borderless Europe:

  • Legal Action Against Internal Border Controls: We formally endorse Alberto Alemanno’s legal complaint submitted to the European Commission regarding the reintroduction of internal border checks by Italy and Spain under Regulation (EU) 2016/399. Arbitrary border checks restrict freedom of movement and undermine the integrity of the Single Market.

  • JEF Europe’s “Don’t Touch My Schengen!” Campaign: We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with JEF Europe in their pan-European campaign to safeguard borderless travel. Schengen is not a luxury or a political bargaining chip—it is one of the most tangible achievements of European integration.

Growing the ECIT Family

We are thrilled to welcome new team members and board leadership to guide ECIT through this historic campaign season:

New Team Leads:

  • Simon Orellana — Communication & Movement Building Lead

  • Giulia Tagliento — Events & Training Lead

  • Camilla Marchman — Advocacy & Stakeholder Lead

New Board Members: We extend a warm welcome to Michael McLoughlin and Jeremy Bierbach, who join the ECIT Foundation Board of Directors! Their expertise in European policy and legal rights will be invaluable as we launch our ECI.

Help Us Power the Movement for Equal Rights Across Europe!

As you know, at ECIT, we rarely ask our community for financial support. However, bringing an ambitious, cross-border ECI to life (collecting signatures in every corner of the EU and making our voices impossible to ignore) takes more than just passion and (wo)manpower.

By donating to our cause, you aren’t just making a financial contribution. You are directly supporting local initiatives, powering our campaign materials, and empowering youth leaders on the ground. Whether you give €10 or €100, every euro goes directly toward building a stronger, youth-led push for equality.

Here is what your support can make possible:

  • €20 covers monthly access to digital tools for our Youth Task Forces, to keep campaign teams connected and organized online across the EU.

  • €50 funds essential campaign materials for local youth coordinators to collect signatures in their communities.

  • €100 provides a micro-grant to a youth group to organise a local event, workshop, or community campaign action

  • €250+ helps sponsor national launch events with young changemakers driving ECI outreach. 

If you believe in a fairer, more inclusive, and truly democratic Europe, please consider donating to our campaign HERE.

Together, we can make sure every citizen’s voice is heard. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Yours sincerely,

The ECIT Team