The Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe (IRI Europe) was founded in 2001, with an official address in Amsterdam, as the first international think-tank for issues around modern direct democracy.
In partnership with its sister institutes in the USA and Asia IRI Europe advises both governmental and non-governmental organisations at all political levels on the introduction, use of and support for direct-democratic popular rights. In particular, IRI Europe supported and assisted the introduction of the European Citizens’ Initiative – the first direct-democratic procedure at the transnational level.
The institute has published numerous research studies and handbooks and also organises study and educational visits to different places in the world around the issue of direct democracy.
IRI Europe is often asked to act as an international expert witness in relation to legislation on citizens’ rights.
