14/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 14 February, the Commission announced that it had improved the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on the reception of migrants in Europe. The form but not the substance of the ECI “We are a welcoming Europe: we give our assistance" has been approved. “The member states have found it difficult to manage the migration issue. A majority of us want to help people in need because we are not indifferent to what happens to them”. The organisers are calling on the Commission to, “provide support… to local groups helping refugees”, “preventing member states from punishing volunteers” and “defending… the victims of exploitation…, crime… human rights violations”. The signatures supporting this initiative will be collected over the period of a year and if they exceed one million, the Commission will have three months to provide a response. (SP)