Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Commission decides to register two new European Citizens’ Initiatives on water resilience and psychedelics-assisted care.
The European Commission arranged to register two European Citizens’ Initiatives, entitled ‘ECI for a Water-Smart and Resilient Europe’ and ‘PsychedeliCare’. The purposes of the organisers of the ‘ECI for a Water-Smart and Resilient Europe’ include: backing for an action plan for water; elevating water stability to the same priority as decarbonisation; facilitating society’s water footprint; revving a shift towards a water-efficient industry and agriculture; assuring the right skills for a water-smart economy; sustaining restoration and protection measures; and ensuring the right to clean and safe water and sanitation.
How does PsychedeliCare propose to advance psychedelic therapies?
The organisers of the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative call on the EU Commission to sustain expert consensus on psychedelic care means and the rollout of psychedelic therapies, as well as capacity-building measures for multidisciplinary training. The initiative also encourages the EU Commission to promote research into the therapeutic applications of psychedelics and the development of research networks, as well as to embrace common positions at the international level backing for regulations on psychedelic compounds.
What legal conditions must EU Citizens’ Initiatives meet?
Both European Citizens’ Initiatives meet the formal conditions specified in the relevant legislation. The EU Commission therefore believes that they are legally admissible. The Commission has not examined the substance of the proposals at this stage.
The conclusion to register an initiative is based on a legal investigation of its admissibility under the European Citizens’ Initiative Regulation. It does not prejudge the legal and political decisions of the Commission on these initiatives and the effort it would take, if any, in case any of these initiatives get the necessary support of at least one million EU citizens. The scope of the initiatives only expresses the opinions of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the EU Commission.
How will the EU respond if these initiatives gain support?
In the next Steps, following registration, the organisers have six months to extend the signature collection. If a European Citizens’ Initiative acquires at least one million statements of approval within one year with minimum numbers contacted in at least seven different Member States, the Commission will have to respond. The EU Commission will have to determine whether or not it will take action in reaction to the request, and will be required to explain its reasoning.
