Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens' initiative stipulates that the European Commission, by January 1, 2020 should set up and operate as of that date a Central online collection system for the purpose of the online collection of statements of support of registered citizens' initiatives.

Where a group-of-organisers does not use the central online collection system, it may collect online statements of support in several or all Member States through another single online collection system (the Individual online collection system).


Regulation (EU) 2019/788 has these stipulations about the Central online collection system:

Art. 10 - #euci10:


§1. For the purpose of online collection of statements of support, the Commission shall set up, by 1 January 2020, and operate as of that date, a central online collection system, in accordance with Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46.

The costs of the setting up and operation of the central online collection system shall be borne by the general budget of the European Union. The use of the central online collection system shall be free of charge.

The central online collection system shall be accessible for persons with disabilities.

The data obtained through the central online collection system shall be stored in the servers made available by the Commission for that purpose.

The central online collection system shall allow for the uploading of statements of support collected in paper form.


§2. For each initiative, the Commission shall ensure that statements of support can be collected through the central online collection system during the collection period determined in accordance with Article 8.


§3. At the latest 10 working days before the start of the collection period, the group of organisers shall inform the Commission as to whether it wishes to use the central online collection system and whether it wishes to upload the statements of support collected in paper form.

Where a group of organisers wishes to upload the statements of support collected in paper form, it shall upload all statements of support collected in paper form not later than two months after the end of the collection period, and inform the Commission thereof.


§4. Member States shall ensure that:

(a) citizens can support initiatives online through statements of support by using notified electronic identification means or by signing the statement of support with an electronic signature within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014;

(b) the Commission e-IDAS node developed within the framework of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1501 is recognised.


§5. The Commission shall consult stakeholders on further developments and improvements of the central online collection system to take into account their suggestions and concerns.