The European citizen's initiative is one of the Lisbon treaty's main innovations
This new procedure brought forth by the Lisbon Treaty empowers citizens of the European Union (EU) to voice their opinions and gives them the right to directly call upon the European Commission (EC) to propose new legislature. - The European citizen’s initiative brings a whole new dimension to European democracy and animates public debate – said the MEP.
- I would like to see more Hungarian non-governmental organizations from Transylvania to make their voices heard and to take part in the wide-range European consulting process.
Strong representation is the guarantee for us to be able to contribute to the course of our destinies. The majority of the decisions, almost 80%, about our daily lives are made at a European level based upon European interests. With the European citizen’s initiative the decision will also be in the hands of the citizens, not only elected officials.
In the prospect of the European Year of Volunteering civil society can become a more effective part of the legislative process – said Sógor Csaba.
The EC released a Green book related to this subject in November. This Green book contains the necessary tools for the start of the public debate and the consulting procedure. The document can be downloaded here.
The aim of the Commission is to consult on a wide range about the best practice of the European citizen’s initiative due to the fact that the procedure raises administrative, legal and practical questions. Definitions must be given about the threshold of petitioners from a country based on their provenance, how many countries must the petitioners represent, what should their percentage in their country’s population. It is also important to define the minimal number of signatures per member state, the actual form of the initiative and how it is going to formulated. Moreover, a decision should be made about the conditions and deadlines of gathering, monitoring and legalizing signatures. The petitioner’s minimal age should also be considered, as well as conditions of acceptance and the process of the Commission’s oversight. Requirements towards the organizers should also be defined so the transparency and funding conditions are fulfilled.
The registration of the organizations wishing to take part in the development of this initiative in already open. Organizations can sign up here. This database is being created to fulfill transparency criteria so the EC and the general public can be informed about the goals, structure and funding of these organizations.
Comments should be sent to the Commission’s address by 31st of January.
European Commission
Secretariat General
Directorate E "Better Regulation and Institutional Issues"
Unit E.1 "Institutional Issues
B 1049 BRUSSELS
