A Bürgerinitiative, or citizens’ initiative, is a voluntary group of people who come together to campaign for a shared cause. These initiatives often focus on local issues. In Berlin, Bürgerinitiativen frequently form around construction projects, environmental and transport issues, or efforts to preserve public facilities.
Bürgerinitiativen can take action in many different ways. For example, they may organise information events and protests or engage directly with politicians and public authorities. In some cases, a Bürgerinitiative can also develop into a Volksbegehren.
There are no formal requirements for setting up a Bürgerinitiative. It is a form of civic engagement that is, in principle, open to everyone – regardless of age, place of residence or nationality.
