With both an economic and confidence crisis in the EU, it is crucial to use all available opportunities for an open dialogue with citizens and prevent further disenchantment – suggests an opinion on European Citizens' Initiative presented by Luc Van den Brande (EPP/BE) and adopted this week by the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX).
The document stipulates that EU Treaty provisions regarding the European Citizens' Initiative should lead ECI towards the prospect of a "legal act" rather than just "agenda setting". The opinion provides legal recommendations towards the new ECI Regulation and asks for them to be implemented as soon as possible. It calls for an extension of the collection period for statements of support to 18 months. The Commission would be also required to come forward with legislative proposal within one year.
"On the other hand, we also have some burning problems which do not require changes in the ECI Regulation itself but should be addressed immediately – suggests Luc Van den Brande - the number of initiatives presented is systematically declining and the number of refusals is increasing, we need to act fast"
The document proposes a special campaign in all EU Member States, involving regional and local authorities, to make citizens aware of ECI and other citizens' rights. It also calls for more efficient communication and underlines the role of decentralised communication for such instruments:
"Regional and local authorities play a crucial role in making and maintaining the link between the population at large and institutions at all levels in the EU. If the ECI relies a lot on new technologies to collect signatures within the set deadlines, regional and local authorities have a key role to play in disseminating information and relaying issues to and from the grassroots" – underlines the rapporteur.
Representatives of the European regions and cities also believe there should be a reference to citizens' rights and duties and to the principle of subsidiarity for the eligibility criteria of the European Citizens' Initiative. CoR Members are ready to offer assistance to the Commission in assessing whether initiatives comply with them or how they contribute to territorial cohesion and cross-border cooperation.
"Involvement of regional and local governments should be inspired by the fact that the ECI often involves itself in policy areas for which they are completely or partially competent" – underlines Luc Van den Brande.
The opinion is due for adoption at the CoR plenary session in October 2015.