EU Registers Citizens' Initiative to End Imports from Russia and Belarus

European Commission Registers 'Stop Funding Russia's War' Initiative

The European Commission officially registered a new European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) on January 29, 2026, titled 'Stop Funding Russia's War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU'. This initiative calls for the European Commission to propose immediate and firm measures to end the European Union's remaining import dependencies on Russia and Belarus.

Objectives of the Initiative

The primary objective of the initiative is to halt the flow of EU funds to the Russian state, which organizers argue finances its ongoing war and undermines Europe's security. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to eliminate structural vulnerabilities in critical supply chains and reinforce a coherent, values-based trade policy within the EU. Organizers specifically target sectors where they believe viable alternatives already exist within the EU and among trusted partners, citing examples such as iron and steel, inorganic chemicals, and potassium fertilizers.

Understanding the European Citizens' Initiative

The European Citizens' Initiative is a unique tool for participatory democracy introduced with the Lisbon Treaty in April 2012. It allows one million citizens from at least seven different EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose legal acts in areas where it has the power to act.

Next Steps and Commission's Stance

Following its registration, the organizers of the 'Stop Funding Russia's War' initiative now have a period of six months to open a 12-month signature collection period. For the initiative to progress, it must gather at least one million statements of support, with minimum thresholds met in at least seven Member States. If these conditions are met, the European Commission is then required to react to the initiative and decide what, if any, action it will take, providing justification for its decision. The Commission has stated that while the initiative meets the formal legal admissibility conditions, it has not yet analyzed the substance of the proposals. The registration itself does not prejudge the Commission's final decision on the merits of the initiative or any potential future actions.