{"id":10224,"date":"2019-07-22T14:36:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T12:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stop-finning-eu.org\/european-citizens-initiative\/"},"modified":"2022-02-15T21:52:18","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T20:52:18","slug":"european-citizens-initiative","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning-eu.org\/cs\/european-citizens-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"European Citizens&#8216; Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #ee6059;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:60px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">European Citizens&#8216; Initiative<\/h2>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #25292b;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:30px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-column-no-min-height\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-section-separator section-separator triangle fusion-section-separator-1\"><div class=\"fusion-section-separator-svg\" style=\"border-bottom:0px solid #ee6059;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;\"><div class=\"divider-candy-arrow bottom\" style=\"top:0px;border-top-color: #ee6059;\"><\/div><div class=\"divider-candy bottom\" style=\"bottom:-20px;border-bottom:1px solid #ee6059;border-left:1px solid #ee6059;\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-section-separator-spacer\"><div class=\"fusion-section-separator-spacer-height\" style=\"height:0px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #25292b;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:100px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:70px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p>As of 2012, EU citizens have had the right to apply directly to the European Commission with a European Citizens&#8216; Initiative in order to propose a concrete legislative amendment.<\/p>\n<p>To do this, a citizens&#8216; committee must first be set up, consisting of at least seven members* from at least seven different EU countries. After successful assessment of the initiative by the European Commission, the Citizens&#8216; Committee has one year to collect signatures.<\/p>\n<p>A total of at least one million signatures must be collected, and the minimum number of signatures must be reached in at least a quarter of the EU states, currently seven EU states[1]. The required minimum number is about 750 times the number of members of the European Parliament of this country &#8211; in Germany, for example, 72,000 signatures are required.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p>The minimum number of signatures required for each EU Member State can be found in the Official Register of the European Commission[2]. It can be signed either in writing or online.<\/p>\n<p>If the required number of signatures is reached within the period, the European Commission is obliged to react and the Citizens&#8216; Committee can present its initiative at a public hearing in the European Parliament. Within three months, the European Commission will respond on how they plan to proceed. At best, this will lead to the adoption of the proposal and a legislative amendment. However, the European Commission may also reject the citizens&#8216; initiative and state its reasons for so doing.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><blockquote>\n<p>We see the European Citizens&#8216; Initiative as a chance to engage for the extension of the Fins Naturally Attached Regulation in the European Union. Therefore, we need as many supporters throughout the EU as possible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>*Minimum voting age (usually 18 years, Austria and Malta 16 years, Greece 17 years) must be reached and you must not be a member of the European Commission. An entry in the electoral register is not required.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><h6>[1] Regulation (EU) No 211\/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens&#8216; initiative, 2011<\/h6>\n<h6>[2] Official Register of the European Commission on the European Citizens&#8216; Initiative<em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/citizens-initiative\/public\/signatories\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/citizens-initiative\/public\/signatories<\/a>, 2019<\/h6>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-4 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #1e2123;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:100px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:70px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><h3>Initiators of the EU Citizens\u2019 Initiative<\/h3>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion_builder_column_1_1 fusion-builder-column-8 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last 1_1\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\" data-bg-url=\"\">\n<h4 class=\"fusion-clearfix\">Representative:<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-7 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;border-width: 0 0 0 0;border-color:#f05858;border-style:dashed;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-8\"><div class=\"fusion-text\">\n<h4>Member:<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-8 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-9\"><p><strong>Nils Kluger<\/strong><br \/>\nGermany<br \/>\nNationality: German<\/p>\n<p>Substitute:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alexander Hendrik Cornelissen<\/strong><br \/>\nNetherlands<br \/>\nNationality: Dutch<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-9 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;border-width: 0 0 0 0;border-color:#f05858;border-style:dashed;padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-10\"><p><strong>Luis Miguel Fonseca Alves<\/strong><br \/>\nPortugal<\/p>\n<p><strong>Katrien Vandevelde<\/strong><br \/>\nBelgium<\/p>\n<p><strong>Monica Tenorio de Figueiredo Gabell<\/strong><br \/>\nSweden<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fernando Frias Reis<\/strong><br \/>\nSpain<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Xavier Le Manach<\/strong><br \/>\nFrance<\/p>\n<p><strong>Julian Engel<br \/>\n<\/strong>United Kingdom<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-10 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;border-width: 0 0 0 0;border-color:#f05858;border-style:dashed;padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-11\"><p><strong>Veerle Gishlain Roelandt<\/strong><br \/>\nItaly<\/p>\n<p><strong>Chrysoula Gkoumpili<br \/>\n<\/strong>Greece<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sabine Reinstaller<\/strong><br \/>\nAustria<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fabienne Rossier<\/strong><br \/>\nFrance<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alexandar Dourchev<\/strong><br \/>\nBulgaria<\/p>\n<p><strong>Andrew Mark Griffiths<\/strong><br \/>\nUnited Kingdom<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-5 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #ee6059;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:60px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-11 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-12\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Initiators #stopfinningEU<\/h2>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-6 hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #25292b;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-12 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-column-no-min-height\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-section-separator section-separator triangle fusion-section-separator-2\"><div class=\"fusion-section-separator-svg\" style=\"border-bottom:0px solid #ee6059;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;\"><div class=\"divider-candy-arrow bottom\" style=\"top:0px;border-top-color: #ee6059;\"><\/div><div class=\"divider-candy bottom\" style=\"bottom:-20px;border-bottom:1px solid #ee6059;border-left:1px solid #ee6059;\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-section-separator-spacer\"><div class=\"fusion-section-separator-spacer-height\" style=\"height:0px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-7 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling fusion-equal-height-columns\" style=\"background-color: #25292b;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 50px;margin-top: 100px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-13 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nils_kluger.jpg&#039;);background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\" data-bg-url=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nils_kluger.jpg\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-14 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/testimonial_box_bg2.png&#039;);background-position:right bottom;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 40px 40px 40px 40px;\" data-bg-url=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/testimonial_box_bg2.png\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-13\"><p><em><strong>\u201cWith this initiative we as citizens have the chance to speak out against illegal finning and catching of sharks purely for their fins. The trading of fins from Europe must stop!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-14\"><p>Nils is a shark conservation activist at Stop Finning Deutschland and scuba diving instructor. He has been diving with sharks around the world and experienced both their beauty and meaning for marine ecosystems as well as the threats humans pose to their existence.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-15\"><p><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong><em>Dr. Nils Kluger<\/em><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:-15px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-16\"><p>Germany, Spokesperson<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-15 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-column-no-min-height\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:90px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-16 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/testimonial_box_bg2.png&#039;);background-position:right bottom;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 40px 40px 40px 40px;\" data-bg-url=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/testimonial_box_bg2.png\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-17\"><p><strong><em>\u201cSharks are the most underappreciated animals in the oceans, sheer perfection and beauty. The importance of sharks in the eco-system is fundamental in the survival of the oceans; we need to step up our measures to protect sharks.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-18\"><p>Alex is the CEO of Sea Shepherd Global. Through his work for Sea Shepherd he has witnessed first hand the devastating effects of shark fishing on shark populations worldwide. He has also had the privilege to dive with sharks in many remote areas.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-19\"><p><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>Alex Cornelissen<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:-15px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-20\"><p>Netherlands, Substitute Spokesperson<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-17 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/alex_cornelissen.jpg&#039;);background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\" data-bg-url=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/alex_cornelissen.jpg\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-8 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #25292b;background-position: left top;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:50px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:130px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#25292b;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-18 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"width:30.6666%; margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-21\"><p><strong><em>&#8222;Many of these species have local or global protections and this petition and the legislation it represents would help really enforce measures put in place to preserve these rapidly disappearing sharks&#8220;.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Andrew is a marine biologist and university lecturer in the UK. Some of his recent research has shown that endangered sharks are on sale in the EU, including shark fins from beautiful animals such as hammerhead and mako sharks.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-97 alignleft\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Griffiths_Andrew.jpg\" alt=\"Griffiths_Andrew\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; Andrew Griffith, United Kingdom<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-19 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third\" style=\"width:30.6666%; margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-22\"><p>Julian Engel is a marine ecologist and fisheries analyst, who has worked in the context of illegal fishing in Honduras, West Africa and South-East-Asia. His work incorporates not only the ecosystem but also the integration of socioeconomics in sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>As the co-founder of the NGO Stop Finning, he creates advocacy on the crucial role that sharks play in healthy ecosystems and the sustainability of our oceans.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Julian_Engel.jpg\" alt=\"Julian_Engel\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; <\/strong><strong>Julian Engel, Great Britain<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-20 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"width:30.6666%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-23\"><p><strong><em>&#8222;Shark numbers all over the world have been decreasing for decades. Most species take many years to reach sexual maturity and reproduce, making these animals particularly vulnerable to overfishing. For many years now the EU has dismissed scientists\u2019 warnings and recommendations, but that has to stop. I joined this initiative because sharks need our help and I believe stopping the fin trade is a step in the right direction. Together, we can do it!&#8220;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lu\u00eds Alves has an MSc in Applied Biotechnology and is a biology PhD candidate at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. His research is focused on the study of the effects of pollution in sharks found in Portuguese waters. He has also worked as a fisheries observer and is the current president of the Portuguese Association for the Study and Conservation of Elasmobranchs (APECE).<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Luis-Alves.jpg\" alt=\"Luis-Alves\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; Lu\u00eds Alves, Portugal<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-21 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"width:30.6666%; margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-24\"><p><strong><em>&#8222;Since a couple of decades, and especially due to an increased market demand for shark fins, overfishing and many other human activities, many sharks species have been driven to the rim of extinction. I believe we all must do our best to create awareness as of the importance of sharks for the balance of all marine biodiversity and, consequently for the entire planet.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Conservationist, environmentalist, shark expert, specialised in shark diver training and in shark advocation. Fernando Frias Reis is the Founder and Executive Director of the Sharks Educational Institute which he founded in 2016.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/fernando_reis.jpg\" alt=\"Fernando-Reis\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; Fernando Reis, Spain<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-22 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third\" style=\"width:30.6666%; margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-25\"><p>Chrysoula is a molecular biologist who is based at the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), Nea Peramos, Greece. Dr. Gubili gained her PhD in the population genetics of the Great White in 2009 and has a very longstanding interest in chondrichthyan biology.<\/p>\n<p>She is a newly appointed researcher at the FRI and she has been recently appointed as head of the \u201cElasmobranch Database\u201d of the Greek National Program of Data Collection in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors for the Northern Aegean Sea.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Gubili_Chrysoula.jpg\" alt=\"Gubili_Chrysoula\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; Dr. <\/strong><strong>Chrysoula Gubili, Greece<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-23 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"width:30.6666%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-26\"><p>Monica is in the process of finishing her Master&#8217;s in Aquatic Ecology at Lund University (Sweden) and has mainly focused on marine environments.<\/p>\n<p>She is fascinated by the ocean and all the life found within. She supports the citizens\u2019 initiative because sharks are misunderstood and feared, but in truth they are of the utmost importance to marine life and ecosystems, and they should not disappear simply because humans are greedy.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Gabell_Monica.jpg\" alt=\"Monica-Gabell\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; <\/strong><strong>Monica Gabell, Sweden<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-24 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"width:30.6666%; margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-27\"><p>Veerle is a diver, ocean lover and sharks are on top of her bucket-encounter-list: Diving is her religion, the ocean her church and sharks are the chief priests.<\/p>\n<p>She has been working with many organizations (Shark Angels, Sea Save Foundation and others) and has her own: The Global Shark Conservation Initiative, which has initiated many letter campaigns to authorities, supermarkets and restaurants in order to get more protection for sharks. This campaign is important to her, as we should do everything within our power to stop sharks from being slaughtered at today\u2019s rate.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/veerle.jpg\" alt=\"Veerle Roelandt\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; Veerle Roelandt, Italy<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-25 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third\" style=\"width:30.6666%; margin-right: 4%;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#1e2123;padding: 5% 5% 5% 5%;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-28\"><p>Katrien Vandevelde is a passionate diver with the soul of an activist.<\/p>\n<p>Over the last 15 years she has worked as a board member, a communications officer and a volunteer for multiple NGO\u2019s, where she initiated and implemented, or assisted in the execution of grassroots projects. Then, along with her husband, she founded BlueShark Conservation, an NGO focussed on raising awareness and on assisting international NGO\u2019s during their shark or ocean conservation campaigns.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-97\" style=\"margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/vandevelde.jpg\" alt=\"Katrien-Vandevelde\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/><em><span style=\"color: #ee6059;\"><strong>&#8211; Katrien Vandevelde, Belgium<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"100-width.php","meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>European Citizens&#039; Initiative - STOP FINNING<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.stop-finning-eu.org\/cs\/european-citizens-initiative\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"cs_CZ\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"European Citizens&#039; 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