In a decision announced in Brussels on 22 July 2026, the European Commission refused to register the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) titled "Save Europe Act", describing it as discriminatory and contrary to the EU’s fundamental values. The organisers wanted the EU to impose an immediate moratorium on so-called “non-Western” immigration—covering family reunion, study and work visas—arguing Europe faced “demographic replacement.” Under the ECI mechanism at least one million signatures across seven member states are needed before Brussels is obliged to consider legislation. By declaring the proposal inadmissible at the registration stage, the Commission prevents signature collection altogether. Officials said the initiative violates Articles 2 and 21 of the EU Treaties, which enshrine equality and non-discrimination. The decision matters for Belgium, home to the EU institutions and frequent host of pan-European civil-society campaigns. Had the ECI been admitted, Brussels would have become the staging ground for demonstrations and lobbying both for and against the moratorium. Corporate immigration advisers also welcomed the clarity, noting that the scheme—if ever adopted—would have disrupted recruitment pipelines for non-EU talent into Belgium’s tech and pharma clusters. While the case is closed, observers expect more ideologically driven ECIs targeting migration after the 2025 spike in asylum arrivals. Mobility professionals should monitor the early-screening stage of ECIs to anticipate policy risks long before they hit the legislative agenda.
Source: Euractiv
