WE BROKE 70,000 SIGNATURES! Here is where we go next (EUMEM & National Coordinators)
Hello everybody!
Thanks to your incredible power and energy, we have officialy passed 70,000 signatures!
What started as a single petition has turned into a massive, unstoppable movement of small businesses and their supporters. Because our campaign has grown far beyond a single petition, we are taking our fight to the next level:
We are now officialy EUMEM
We have launched a movement under EUMEM (European Micro Enterprises Movement). This is where we unite our collective voice to protect small businesses from absurd, unworkable packaging bureaucracy.
Follow us on Instagram for real-time updates and information
Change.org updates are great for big milestones, but the legal landscape and political updates are moving fast every single day. The quickest and most reliable way to get to daily news, legal breakdowns and campaign steps is through our official Instagram: @eumem.eu
We need NATIONAL COORDINATORS!
We are launching a joint, multi-language social media campaign to explain to the public in every country - in their local language - what this law actually means and why it is so destructive to local small businesses.
We need passionate people to help coordinate content, translate key arguments and run a local awareness in their home countries.
Want to represent your country? Send us a DM on Instagram with "COORDINATOR" + YOUR COUNTRY and we will get back to you!
Not for you? Here is what you can do right now:
For those who joined recently and missed the previous e-mail, here are the key steps you can take right now to help the cause:
• Leave official feedback on the EU Portal:
The European Commission currently has an open public feedback page specifically about packaging waste rules and national registers for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Right now, there are almost 6,000 responses. If thousands of us leave a comment, they cannot ignore us.
LINK TO EU FEEDBACK PORTAL:
What to write:
Briefly explain that you are a small business owner / creator / customer and that mandatory EPR registration fees and cross-border bureaucracy make it impossible for small independent businesses to sell across EU borders. Demand a de minimis exemption or a simplified One Stop Shop system for micro-entrepreneurs.
• E-mail your local Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
Politicians respond best to voters from their own country. Finding your local MEPs takes literally 2 minutes.
Find your country's MEPs here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/home?hl=en-US (select your country in the filter)
How to find their e-mails:
Click on any MEP's profile - their official e-mail address is listed directly under the contacts / envelope icon ✉️ on their profile page.
Who to prioritize? Look for MEPs sitting in these committees:
- ENVI (Environment, Public Health & Food Safety)
- IMCO (Internal Market & Consumer Protection) - very important for cross-border trade!
- ITRE (Industry & Micro-enterprises)
Keep it super simple. Your e-mail doesn't need to be fancy, long or perfectly written.
Make sure to attach the link to this petition in your e-mail so they see this isn't just one individual complaining, but a growing movement of 70,000+ people who are angry about this situation.
• ECA (European Crafts Alliance) - they need data from crafters
The European Crafts Alliance (ECA) is currently gathering information from crafters and small businesses to draft lobbying documents for this autumn. They need specific operational statistics and personal stories directly from small makers and sellers to present a strong case in Brussels on behalf of us.
Note: This survey is intended only for crafters or small business owners selling crafted goods impacted by these regulations (not for general supporters)
Please, take a moment to fill out their official survey here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4UEfB0FpPbw1zetViYlj6b1PbShUNl6OC5e9NV1Ki8Rwnzg/viewform
IMPORTANT NOTE ON DONATIONS:
Please note that we do NOT collect any money or donations for this petition. If Change.org asks you for a contribution or payment after signing, that is an optional fee going directly to their platform, not to us. You do NOT need to pay anything to support this campaign - simply sign, share and feel free to decline or cancel any payment prompts!
Thank you for standing up with small businesses. We won't let this slide!
Jeanette Konarcikova | European Micro Enterprises Movement