Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/583of 4 March 2026on the request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled European Public Social Network, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council(notified under document C(2026) 1492)(Only the English text is authentic)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/583 of 4 March 2026 on the request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled European Public Social Network, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2026) 1492) (Only the English text is authentic) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj. , and in particular Article 6(3) thereof, Whereas: (1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled European Public Social Network was submitted to the Commission on 5 February 2026. (2) That request follows the request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled European Public Social Network, which was submitted to the Commission on 7 December 2025. (3) By letter of 5 January 2026 (C(2026) 13 final), pursuant to Article 6(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, the Commission informed the group of organisers that as regards the request for registration submitted on 7 December 2025, the requirements for registration set out in Article 6(3), first subparagraph, points (a), (d) and (e), of that Regulation were fulfilled and that Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (b), thereof was not applicable. However, the Commission also explained that the initiative manifestly fell outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties, in the sense of Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 because the initiative did not call on the Commission to adopt a proposal for a legal act. (4) The Commission therefore informed the organisers pursuant to Article 6(4), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 that they could either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission’s assessment, or maintain, or withdraw, the initial initiative in accordance with Article 6(4), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788. (5) On 5 February 2026, the group of organisers submitted an amended initiative. (6) The aim of the amended initiative, as expressed by the organisers, is to propose that a public social media platform at the European level should be established through a legislative act of the Union. It would form an alternative to the current platforms and work as a service for the society, be funded by the society and be under its oversight and could stay impartial and independent from political pressures while also guaranteeing rights of all people without distinction. The organisers of the initiative consider that the process should integrate appropriate entities like companies or universities in creating and functioning of the platform and make Europe strategically independent in the area of online communication. The organisers have also submitted an additional document with further details on the amended initiative as part of their registration request.

(7) The Commission considers that it cannot be excluded that the Commission could submit a proposal for a legal act setting up a European Public Social Network, based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, insofar as this would aim at improving the functioning of the internal market. (8) For that reason, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties. (9) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case. (10) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation. (11) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. (12) The initiative entitled European Public Social Network should therefore be registered. (13) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European citizens’ initiative entitled European Public Social Network shall be registered.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled European Public Social Network, represented by Lukáš MIKULECKÝ and František TICHÝ acting as contact persons. Done at Brussels, 4 March 2026. For the Commission Maroš Šefčovič Member of the Commission