12 months, three proposals, one million signatures. That’s the target so that this time next year, the European Commission may have to formally respond to proposals for a revolution in psychedelic policy. Using a little-known legal tool, advocacy group PsychedeliCare is leveraging citizen action to radically change Europe’s approach to mental health.
A citizen’s initiative
On January 14, advocacy group PsychedeliCare launched a European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI), a signature-based campaign launched in the shadow of Europe’s mental health crisis. The ECI has three requests, outlined by Théo Giubilei, PsychedeliCare Founder and Project Coordinator.
“If the initiative reaches one million statements of support across the EU,” Giubilei said, “we will officially request the European Commission to:
- Develop common standards across the EU to ensure patient safe, accessible and affordable psychedelic-assisted therapies in the EU.
- Boost EU-funded research on psychedelic substances and their use in therapy.
- Recommend to Member States to adopt a common stance on the legal classification of psychedelics at the international level. Amending classifications on the international level (the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances in particular) would align international laws with modern research and make psychedelic substances more accessible for regulated therapies.”
If PsychedeliCare’s ECI gets one million signatures from at least seven EU member states by January 13 2026, the European Commission will be obliged to officially respond to their requests. First, the commission will meet with the organisers and hold a public meeting. It will then spend some time formally assessing the initiative. Within six months, the commission must issue an official response saying it will either begin legislating based on the ECI or will reject it. If the commission outright rejects the ECI’s requests, it must state why. The commission is not legally required to propose new legislation, even if the ECI passes.
So can a citizen-led movement break through the entrenched stigma and bureaucratic inertia surrounding psychedelics? Giubilei believes it can.
Why now?
The ECI’s context is what Giubilei describes as Europe’s “mental health crisis.” Research shows that conditions like PTSD and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent in Europe. “This crisis affects us all, directly or indirectly, as individuals, families, communities, and societies,” Giubilei explained to TalkingDrugs.
Meanwhile, psychedelic research is gaining momentum. Clinical trials have shown that substances like psilocybin and MDMA can provide rapid, long-lasting relief for conditions where conventional treatments fall short. There are also benefits to psychedelics being explored outside of traditional mental health conditions, such as their impact on reducing domestic violence or enhancing creativity. “We believe that every EU citizen should have the possibility to access these promising treatments in an affordable and safe manner,” he says.
Countries like Switzerland, Australia, and Canada have already begun integrating Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PATs) into their healthcare systems, yet much of the EU lags behind. Switzerland, for instance, has allowed access to MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy under controlled conditions since 2014. The lack of a harmonised approach to drug policies within European nations has meant that the bloc’s research capacity is highly fragmented, particularly for psychedelics. For Giubilei, this disparity is frustrating: “Why is the rest of the EU still so far behind?”
Breaking boundaries
Despite the scientific progress, the biggest challenge to implementation remains stigma—both among the general public and within policymaking circles. “Running a campaign on this topic isn’t easy, given that both the general public and policymakers still have limited knowledge about the therapeutic use of psychedelics,” Giubilei admits.
“I’m personally convinced of the potential benefits of psychedelics for mental health,” says Giubilei. “Despite the growing evidence, stigma around these substances remains deeply ingrained in Europe. There’s a stark contrast between what science tells us and how the public perceives psychedelics—an issue that continues to hinder research and slow down political action.”
Yet, attitudes are beginning to shift. “When we talk about what we do, people don’t usually reject the idea—on the contrary, there’s a sense of curiosity,” according to Giubilei. Research published in Nature in 2024 revealed a cautiously favourable attitude to psychedelics among European psychiatrists, a perspective which was made more favourable by more knowledge of the subject.
In early 2024, a Dutch panel comprised of experts varying from Psychiatrists to Criminologists recommended that MDMA be allowed as a treatment for PTSD. The panel’s decision came just after the opposite position was taken by the American drug regulator, showing that Europe may be more fertile ground for this kind of campaign.
If the ECI passes it may begin to reduce stigma toward psychedelics at the top level of the EU’s bureaucracy. Treating the topic as legitimate could mean that politicians start to get over prejudices towards psychedelics and see their potential. Advocates like PsychedeliCare can then begin analysing which arguments are working and where policymakers still need convincing.
Legal limitations
Though having the European Commission acknowledge PsychedeliCare’s ECI would be no small feat, that’s a far cry from having the body actually make change. Similar systems exist in other countries, where petitions with over a certain number of signatures must be acknowledged. In 2015, the British government was required to hold a debate on cannabis legislation after a petition got more than 221,000 signatures in favour. After satisfying its legal obligation for debate, the UK maintained exactly the same policy it had held before.
The benefit of an ECI is that, unlike referendums or traditional petitions, they require an official response from the European Comission. This gives them real political weight. But, on the downside, many people have never heard of them. PsychedeliCare faces an uphill struggle convincing people to participate in a process they’re unfamiliar with. Fortunately, they’re not the only organisation championing this initiative.
Communities of change
PsychedeliCare’s journey to its ECI didn’t begin overnight. “This work started in 2022 with the first citizens and associations who joined the project,” says Giubilei. The organization had to carefully define legally viable policy demands, build a recognizable identity, and convince partners that their involvement was crucial.
Today, the initiative boasts over 30 partners, including groups focused on scientific research, harm reduction, indigenous knowledge, European democracy, and psychedelic education. It has also secured endorsements from high-profile figures like psychedelic researcher David Erritzoe, activist Marco Cappato, and European Parliament members Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA) and Tomislav Sokol (EPP).
“This initiative is continuously growing,” says Giubilei.
The EU is already cautiously moving towards exploring the benefits of therapeutic psychedelics. In January, a group of 19 partners were awarded €6.5M by the EU in its first multi-site clinical study into PATS. The group will research psilocybin’s efficacy in treating psychological distress in people with progressive incurable illnesses requiring palliative care. This is a far cry from developing common objectives and standards across Europe, but it’s a start.
What happens next?
If the ECI collects one million signatures within a year, the European Commission will be legally required to review it and respond within three months. PsychedeliCare representatives would then meet with officials to discuss the initiative’s proposals.
In the best-case scenario, the Commission would transform the requests into legislative proposals, setting the stage for a common European framework for PATs. Additionally, PsychedeliCare hopes to push for international policy shifts, such as a re-evaluation of psychedelics under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
However, even if the ECI doesn’t lead to immediate legislation, it could still bring the debate to the level of institutions. “We want to help reduce stigma and foster a more informed, rational debate within EU institutions and member states,” says Giubilei. “We hope to see national discussions emerge, along with clear positions from civil society and political parties, ultimately paving the way for national initiatives on the matter.”
People power
At its core, PsychedeliCare’s ECI is about citizen participation. “Our initiative is open to anyone motivated to help us achieve our goals,” says Giubilei. “National teams across Europe are actively looking for volunteers, and every signature counts.”
If it doesn’t gather its million signatures, the ECI will not succeed in its aims. No doubt, there will be other campaigns, but without buy-in, the European Commission will not be obliged to acknowledge PsychedeliCare’s requests. Giubilei remains confident, however, seeing in the campaign the potential for real change.
“We call on all European citizens to support the initiative by signing it,” he urges. “This is our chance to send a strong signal to political decision-makers and the public that there is real European support for these issues.”
You can sign PsychedeliCare’s ECI here.
