Implementation of the Regulations on the European citizens’ initiative

Summary:

Resolution adopted by the plenary of the European Parliament on 13 June 2023, focusing on the implementation of the regulations on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI).

Further information:

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) was first introduced by Regulation (EU) No 211/2011, which was later revised by Regulation (EU) 2019/788. Since the introduction of the ECI, the European Commission has received 127 requests, 101 of which have been registered. At the time of adoption of this Resolution, only nine ECIs had reached the threshold of one million signatures, seven of which having received a response from the Commission. Based on the revised ECI Regulation, one ECI was subject to debate in the European Parliament.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) regret that the overall number of ECIs and the impact of the ECI on the European Union's (EU) decision-making process remain very low. They argue that the regulatory and institutional frameworks, as well as the use of the instrument, need to be strengthened by improving its visibility, accessibility and legal effectiveness. The Resolution stresses that the online collection of statements of support is fundamental to the success of ECIs and recalls that individual online collection systems have been an important driver of innovation and have considerably contributed to strengthening support for ECIs.

Parliament welcomes the fact that a number of Member States decided to lower the minimum age entitling to support ECIs. It also stresses the importance of integrating electronic identification systems (eID) into ECI signature collections. It notes that it is difficult to collect signatures in some Member States due to the types of data that signatories are required to provide. In addition, verification and certification procedures are not sufficiently transparent. Given that the ECI is a demanding and costly process, MEPs regretted that it is very difficult for citizens to manage ECIs without the support of associations with substantial organisational capacity and financial resources.

The Resolution also calls on the Commission to appropriately consider and respond to valid ECIs in a timely manner. It should also give due consideration to the arguments of Parliament expressing support for the demands of a valid ECI in a resolution.

The plenary of the European Parliament adopted the Resolution on 13 June 2023, by 502 votes to 49, with 54 abstentions.