News
BackDefinitely ahead of schedule it appears that the European Parliament and the Council are close to reaching agreement on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The intention is reach finalization before the end of December. There seems to be agreement on most of the important political issues. After only six months of negotiations this would be a remarkable success. The ECI would give the citizens of the Union the opportunity to be directly involved in shaping the policy of the European Union.
European Parliament lowers hurdles for the admission of an ECI
The European Parliament (EP) has set itself ambitious targets and already asserted some ECI-related demands against the Council. Yesterday, the responsible Constitutional Affairs Committee of the EP voted on the ECI. In the evening, the first official trilogue negotiations with the Council came straight to the point. Agreement on some key points was reached in the late hours of the evening. It was decided for example that the EU Commission will make the admissibility check on an ECI at the point of registration. The Commission had originally planned to carry out the admissibility check only after 300,000 signatures had been collected. The Council wanted to lower the threshold for the signatures to be collected to 100,000. The EP was against any kind of pre-collection of signatures to carry out an admissibility check and asserted itself against the Council. The EP also got its demand accepted that a citizens' committee of at least seven members coming from seven Member States must be set up to register an ECI.
Signatures for an ECI must come from at least one quarter of the Member States
A compromise was reached between EP und Council concerning the necessary minimum number of Member States, from which the signatures must come from. The EP had suggested a fifth as minimum number, whereby the Council was in favour of a third. In the end they agreed on a quarter. A result both parties can live with. Agreement was also reached on the issue who will have to verify the authenticity of the signatures. This will be done by each Member State itself, whereby different methods will be used. Another important issue, which was agreed, is that the Commission will be involved in future. It has to ensure that the initiators of an ECI will be provided with a handbook containing the most important provisions.
First ECI can be started in 2012
Council and EP will - that is at least the intention of the roadmap - agree on a compromise before the end of December. This gives the Member States one year to integrate the ECI in their national legislation. Hence, the first ECI can be expected for the beginning of 2012 at the earliest.
Further information:
Press release of the EP
The European Parliament (EP) has set itself ambitious targets and already asserted some ECI-related demands against the Council. Yesterday, the responsible Constitutional Affairs Committee of the EP voted on the ECI. In the evening, the first official trilogue negotiations with the Council came straight to the point. Agreement on some key points was reached in the late hours of the evening. It was decided for example that the EU Commission will make the admissibility check on an ECI at the point of registration. The Commission had originally planned to carry out the admissibility check only after 300,000 signatures had been collected. The Council wanted to lower the threshold for the signatures to be collected to 100,000. The EP was against any kind of pre-collection of signatures to carry out an admissibility check and asserted itself against the Council. The EP also got its demand accepted that a citizens' committee of at least seven members coming from seven Member States must be set up to register an ECI.
Signatures for an ECI must come from at least one quarter of the Member States
A compromise was reached between EP und Council concerning the necessary minimum number of Member States, from which the signatures must come from. The EP had suggested a fifth as minimum number, whereby the Council was in favour of a third. In the end they agreed on a quarter. A result both parties can live with. Agreement was also reached on the issue who will have to verify the authenticity of the signatures. This will be done by each Member State itself, whereby different methods will be used. Another important issue, which was agreed, is that the Commission will be involved in future. It has to ensure that the initiators of an ECI will be provided with a handbook containing the most important provisions.
First ECI can be started in 2012
Council and EP will - that is at least the intention of the roadmap - agree on a compromise before the end of December. This gives the Member States one year to integrate the ECI in their national legislation. Hence, the first ECI can be expected for the beginning of 2012 at the earliest.
Further information:
Press release of the EP