EU citizens often ask for examples of the impact of European citizens’ initiatives, so in this episode we take a closer look at three initiatives that reached more than 1 million signatures and received a reply from the Commission. We hear from an organiser of each of the three initiatives, ‘Ban glyphosate’ [Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides], ‘End the Cage Age’, and ‘Right2Water’ [Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!].
On each initiative, we speak with European Commission officials who give more details on the actions taken in response to the successful initiatives.
In 2023, the Commission replies to 4 more successful citizens’ initiatives [April, July and December].
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EU citizens often ask for examples of the impact of European citizens’ initiatives, so in this episode we take a closer look at three initiatives that reached more than 1 million signatures and received a reply from the Commission. We hear from an organiser of each of the three initiatives, ‘Ban glyphosate’ [Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides], ‘End the Cage Age’, and ‘Right2Water’ [Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!].
On each initiative, we speak with European Commission officials who give more details on the actions taken in response to the successful initiatives.
In 2023, the Commission replies to 4 more successful citizens’ initiatives [April, July and December].
2.1: Recycling and VAT rates: Meet Europeans in search of sustainable solutions
CitizenCentral
23 minutes 30 seconds
3 years ago
2.1: Recycling and VAT rates: Meet Europeans in search of sustainable solutions
CitizenCentral returns for a second season!
Featuring ‘ReturnthePlastics’ and ‘GreenVAT’ ECIs --
Join us as we talk with two citizen initiatives’ organisers taking different approaches to sustainability and consumer behaviour, as well as three climate and sustainability experts across the EU.
Omar Pérez of the ‘ReturnThePlastics’ initiative explains how this group of organisers aim to replicate recycling systems that already exist in several EU countries. As the results of existing systems start to show, their idea is to install an EU-wide deposit scheme to recycle plastic bottles, using reverse vending machines in supermarkets. A big question remains – who should pay for this system?
Brigitta Hartmann represents the ‘Green VAT’ initiative, which calls for tax reductions on organic, sustainably produced or environmentally friendly products in Europe. The goal is to both give consumers more choice and encourage companies to rethink how products are produced. But, one might ask, would there still be a tax base if all the products become green?
CitizenCentral
EU citizens often ask for examples of the impact of European citizens’ initiatives, so in this episode we take a closer look at three initiatives that reached more than 1 million signatures and received a reply from the Commission. We hear from an organiser of each of the three initiatives, ‘Ban glyphosate’ [Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides], ‘End the Cage Age’, and ‘Right2Water’ [Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!].
On each initiative, we speak with European Commission officials who give more details on the actions taken in response to the successful initiatives.
In 2023, the Commission replies to 4 more successful citizens’ initiatives [April, July and December].
