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BackFrom the point of view of the employees, the introduction of the European Citizens‘ Initiative (ECI) represents one of the most important innovations of the Treaty of Lisbon. The ECI has the potential to reduce the often diagnosed gulf between the EU and its citizens. In an overall evaluation of the Treaty of Lisbon, the AK too regards its introduction as an important criterion for endorsing the new primary legislation structure of the EU.
On the one hand, the ECI should promote both the engagement and the readiness of the citizens to take the initiative; on the other hand, the results of an ECI have to be taken seriously. Otherwise, the new instrument is in danger of becoming a democratic policy alibi measure, which just confirms the reputation of the EU to be a „Europe for elites that is remote from its citizens“.
