Europeans urge EU-level public social network

BRUSSELS

European citizens have launched an initiative for the creation of a public social media platform at the European level, the European Commission announced Wednesday.

The "European Public Social Network" urges the commission to establish a platform that would serve society, be publicly funded, operate independently from political pressures and ensure the rights of all users without distinction.

The EU Commission confirmed that the initiative meets the formal requirements under the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) Regulation, making it legally admissible.

But registration does not constitute an evaluation of the initiative's proposals or influence any potential action by the commission.

Under the rules, the organizers have six months to launch a 12-month period for collecting signatures.

If at least 1 million citizens from a minimum of seven EU member states support the initiative, the commission must respond and decide whether to take legislative action, providing justification for its decision.

The ECI was officially launched in 2012 to allow citizens to request that the commission propose legislation within its powers.