The rejected petition
The European Commission has refused to register a European Citizens' Initiative known as the 'Save Europe Act,' which aimed to suspend legal immigration from non-Western countries and push back residents considered 'unintegrated.' The campaign, led by Austrian activist Martin Sellner, argues the decision violates European law and the rights of citizens to petition for policy changes. The initiative, supported by far-right leaders in several countries, seeks a temporary pause on family reunification and student visas for non-European nationals. It also calls for the repatriation of non-European residents based on integration, cultural, or financial factors, rather than just their legal status.
The petition is backed by prominent nationalist figures including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Spain’s Santiago Abascal. These leaders have long advocated for policies that prioritize national identity over global migration. The European Citizens' Initiative is a tool that allows citizens to propose legislation if they collect one million signatures from at least seven member states. The 'Save Europe Act' has already gathered nearly 600,000 signatures informally and recently held a small demonstration outside the European Parliament in Brussels to demand the initiative be formally recognized.
The legal response
The Commission denied the initiative on the grounds that it would discriminate on the basis of race and ethnic origin, which it claimed is 'manifestly contrary' to the EU’s core values and laws. The decision was based on the idea that the proposal would treat individuals based on their cultural or civilizational background rather than through the case-by-case evaluations required by European legislation. Sellner, the movement's leader and a key advocate for the idea of 'remigration,' called the decision arbitrary and promised to challenge it in court as soon as Monday.
While the initiative’s supporters believe the Commission is undermining citizens' rights, the ruling aligns with the EU’s long-standing focus on non-discrimination and equal treatment under the law. The Commission's legal reasoning is that the initiative violates the principle of individual rights, as it would group people by origin rather than assess them individually. The decision highlights the tension between national sovereignty and European legal standards in matters of immigration and integration.
Opposition and counter-protests
Greens/EFA MEP Cristina Guarda praised the Commission’s refusal, calling the initiative 'hate propaganda' and calling the decision a 'righteous act.' She and other lawmakers organized a counter-demonstration to coincide with the activists’ protest outside the European Parliament. The event underscored the deeply polarized debate over immigration and integration in Europe. While the 'Save Europe Act' has a strong base of far-right support, it faces significant opposition from pro-European lawmakers who view it as an assault on the EU’s values and principles.
The legal battle to come will put the EU's approach to free speech and anti-discrimination law under intense scrutiny. Although the 'Save Europe Act' is currently without formal recognition in the bloc’s legislative system, it continues to resonate in the political imagination of those who see immigration as a threat to European culture and identity.