Lower threshold of participating countries, earlier admissibility checks and a proper follow-up are the key achievements in the new regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), approved by the European Parliament yesterday in Strasbourg. The European Movement International (EMI) welcomes the regulation as citizen’s friendly and believes that the ECI will be a unique tool to actively engage citizens in the agenda setting of the EU policy-making.
Especially Lowering the threshold for the minimum number of Member States from which signatures must be gathered from one third to one fourth, the possibility for a proper follow up through the guaranteed hearing but also the new admissibility check, now to be carried out at the outset and not anymore after the collection of 300,000 signatures, are the main improvements achieved by the European Parliament; only the optional ID card requirements of Member States in order to verify the authenticity of signatures might spoil the overall procedure, while it is worthwhile to mention that it won’t be mandatory and should differ significantly from country to country.
The EMI will be looking forward to the formal adoption of the new legislation by the Council as soon as possible, in order to allow for the launch of the first European Citizens’ Initiatives from the beginning of 2012.
More information: To read the approved text, http://www.europeanmovement.eu/index.php?id=5154