Europen Citizens Initiaitve (ECI): Rights for Nature

Summary

On 19 May 2026, the European Commission registered a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Rights for Nature: Empower Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems that seeks “to recognise rights of nature in European law via a legal act such as a directive or a regulation to strengthen the protection of ecosystems.”

The proposal calls on the Commission to adopt an EU Directive recognizing that ecosystems possess intrinsic value and fundamental rights, and that ecosystems within the meaning of Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 on nature restoration and Article 2(2)(c) of Directive (EU) 2024/1203 be recognized as legal persons and subjects of rights.

Organizers argue that recognizing these rights would help counteract the accelerating degradation of biodiversity, climate systems, soils, forests, rivers, wetlands, and marine environments across Europe. It would reinforce existing Treaty principles of precaution, prevention and sustainability, and align EU policies with scientific knowledge on planetary boundaries and help ensure that environmental, social and economic decision-making operates within ecological limits.

Submission Text
“Ecosystems across Europe are in crisis despite existing environmental law, demonstrating the need for an integrated legal and governance framework that complements existing protections while addressing their structural fragmentation. We seek to move from treating nature as property to recognising ecosystems as living entities with intrinsic value and fundamental rights. These rights include the rights to exist, to regenerate their biocapacities and vital cycles, and to be restored. Ecosystems should also be granted legal personality, similar to companies. The aim is also to empower citizens and communities to act as stewards and representatives of ecosystems, both to prevent harm and to support protection, restoration and regeneration. Thus, these representatives should have legal standing and additional legal measures when defending ecosystems’ rights, building on Mar Menor’s example in Spain (see Annex). (page 1-2)

European Citizens’ Initiative: Process
The ECI is a democratic mechanism that enables EU citizens to invite the European Commission to propose new laws to Parliament. It provides a direct way for citizens to place issues on the European Union legislative agenda. Since the scheme was introduced in 2012, 131 initiatives have been registered, 14 have met the signature threshold (11%), and 2 have become legislative proposals. Only 11% clear the strict signature threshold.

The first step is to establish a group of organizers composed of 7 EU citizens living in 7 different EU countries. Next, organizers must get the initiative registered by the European Commission. The Commission is not obliged to register all initiatives; it will assess whether or not to accept it. Once registered, organizers must collect 1 million signatures from citizens across 7 EU countries. If an ECI meets the 1 million signature threshold, the Commission must formally consider the proposal. The Catch: the Commission is required to assess the proposal, but it is not legally bound to propose new legislation. It will decide whether to take action, and provide reasons for its decision.

Earlier ECI Efforts
An earlier 2017 initiative, led by the non-profit organization Nature’s Rights, proposed an ECI on Rights of Nature and prepared a draft EU Directive for codifying Rights of Nature in European law. The draft Directive establishes a framework for recognizing the Rights of Nature in Europe, including duties of care, protection, enforcement, and ecological governance, and was intended to serve as a model for future EU and member state legislation. An event was held at the European Parliament to introduce the initiative and present the draft Directive to Members of the European Parliament as part of an effort to place Rights of Nature on the EU legislative agenda. However, that draft did not progress into a formal ECI or other EU legislation.

Involved Organizations