Statement by Cecilia Wikström, chair of the Petitions Committee on the study European Citizens’ Initiative - first lessons of implementation”

On the occasion of the presentation of the study on the “European Citizens’ Initiative - first lessons of implementation” on Wednesday in the Petitions Committee, Cecilia Wikström, chair of the Petitions Committee made a following statement:

“Improvements are necessary to make sure that the European Citizens’ Initiative really works as a real and efficient tool for democracy to bring citizens closer to the EU and its institutions, which is its primary aim”, said Cecilia Wikström (ALDE, SE).

The Study, commissioned by the Petitions and Constitutional Affairs Committees of the European Parliament, identifies a series of obstacles faced by citizens and organisers of European Citizens’ Initiatives and makes recommendations to ensure that this participatory democracy tool is more user-friendly and attractive to citizens.

“The fact that the number of ECIs is declining, that only 2 ECIs of the 46 proposed were successfully tabled and that none of them led to a legislative initiative reveals that the current system clearly does not work”.

“In order to ensure that citizens’ right to legislative initiative is upheld, both legal and practical requirements have to be reviewed carefully to avoid they become insurmountable obstacles for citizens. The recommendations made by the study, such as enhancing information and support to citizens involved in ECIs, including by the creation of a Citizens’ Initiative Centre and the clarification of applicable rules at EU and national level are particularly interesting. The committee have proposed to organise a Hearing on the functioning of the ECI in the course of next year”, concluded Ms Wikström.

Links:

Study “European Citizens’ Initiative - first lessons of implementation”: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2014/509982/IPOL_STU(2014)509982_EN.pdf

PETI Committee website

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/peti/home.html

Profile of the Chair of PETI Committee, Cecilia Wikström (ALDE, SE)

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96677/CECILIA_WIKSTROM_home.html