[VSerge]

Thanks for pointing this out, as it can be surprising to be asked one's address and full first names. This is not just a petition but actually a legal tool and it makes a big difference. Entirely worth it in order to stand united as citizens and demand the EU doesn't go the way of say, China, with mass surveillance and all the dystopian stuff that can arise from it (to remain with China's example: giving citizens social scores and giving them more or less rights depending on that).

[logifail]

> This is not just a petition but actually a legal tool and it makes a big difference

(Genuine question) what difference does it actually make?

I don't mean in terms of "sending a strong signal" or "issue will be debated in Parliament", or "the Commission publishes a paper/gives a press conference/say they really care", I mean in terms of something actually changing?

[rsynnott]

It's far easier for the Commission to simply not consider something that they don't want to deal with than to say no to something that is demonstrably popular, after having been forced to consider it.

> the Commission publishes a paper/gives a press conference/say they really care

That's not what the Commission does. After considering it, it can either do nothing, or introduce legislation. This would be an improvement on the current situation where it probably won't even consider it of its own initiative.

[lou1306]

A successful ECI must be officially addressed by the Commission. I agree they can just sweep it under the rug, but that's true of any "citizens' initiative" process.

[corty]

In German states, the citizen initiative process is to propose a law that can be voted on by the people if enough signatures have been collected. In some states, even changes to the constitution are possible this way. The federal and European government are quite undemocratic in that regard.

[almamater]

We can find out, no? But we'd have to try first.