The EU Commission has made a move!
- Cora Pfafferott
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The EU Commission has made a move!
16 Jun 2017 19:57 - 16 Jun 2017 20:47
<The European citizens' initiative, foreseen in the Treaty on
European Union, allows EU citizens
to participate directly in the development of EU policies
by calling on the European Commission
to make a legislative proposal.
To be considered by the Commission,
an initiative must gather the support
of at least one million EU citizens
from at least seven member states.
The Commission must decide whether or not
to make a legislative proposal, and explain the reasons for that choice.>
European Union, allows EU citizens
to participate directly in the development of EU policies
by calling on the European Commission
to make a legislative proposal.
To be considered by the Commission,
an initiative must gather the support
of at least one million EU citizens
from at least seven member states.
The Commission must decide whether or not
to make a legislative proposal, and explain the reasons for that choice.>
What does a Swiss pro-European think about the EU? I was eager to find this out and therefore I spoke to Lukas Wegmüller, co-leader of the New European Movement Switzerland. The organisation advocates Switzerland’s accession to the EU.
As a Swiss citizen, Lukas is used to practicing direct democracy. Four times per year he is called to the polls to decide about citizens’ initiatives, and he has the right to initiate law proposals. From his perspective, democracy is in a poor state in the EU. For example, the European Citizens’ Initiative has too many flaws and its track record of success is poor. But there is hope.
In April Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the EU Commission, announced to improve the legislation that sets out the rules of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). This move is a success of Democracy International and civil society groups that have been advocating a reform of the ECI, the tool that allows us EU citizens to submit legislative proposals to the EU.
The European Commission has just started an open consultation to gather suggestions for improvement of the European Citizens’ Initiative. Individuals and organisations can participate until 16 August 2017 VIA THIS LINK . Democracy International will monitor this process and put pressure on the Commission so that there will be real improvement and more democracy in the EU in the end.
Last edit: 16 Jun 2017 20:47 by Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas.
Moderators: Miguel Saludes, Abelardo Pérez García, Oílda del Castillo, Antonio Llaca, Efraín Infante, Pedro S. Campos, Héctor Caraballo