Next Steps
Following today’s registration, the organisers can start collecting signatures. If a European Citizens’ Initiative receives 1 million statements of support within 1 year from at least seven different Member States, the Commission will have to react. The Commission could decide either to take the request forward or not, and will be required to explain its reasoning.
Background
The European Citizens’ Initiative was introduced with the Lisbon Treaty as an agenda-setting tool in the hands of citizens. It was officially launched in April 2012.
The conditions for admissibility are: (1) the proposed action does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act, (2) it is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious and (3) it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.
Since the beginning of the ECI, the Commission has received 109 requests to launch a European Citizens’ Initiative, 85 of which were legally admissible and thus qualified to be registered.
For More Information
‘Call to Action – Environmental protection in all policies’ ECI
ECIs currently collecting signatures
European Citizens’ Initiative Forum
#EUTakeTheInitiative campaign
Source – EU Commission
