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Will the Citizens' Initiative have an impact?

  • 21-09-2010 8:26am
    #1
    TalkToEU: John
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭


    We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
    Here's a quick link to what it's about. http://url.ie/7k5x
    The Lisbon Treaty introduces a new form of public participation in European Union policy making. The European Citizens’ Initiative will enable one million EU citizens to call directly on the European Commission to bring forward an initiative of interest to them in an area where the EU has power.

    So if one million people decide to take a stance, raise an issue, or get behind a bright idea on something that falls under the EU’s competence, the European Commission will be bound to examining and considering the proposal. And of course, giving a good reason for declining it.

    Waste of time? or potentially a valuable democratic tool?


Comments

  • #2
    HP44
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14 ✭HP44


    It will need a substantial piece of effort to get a citizens initiative petition up and running. We're talking a huge campaign backed up by legal know how, related experts, willing volunteers and a relative and achievable idea.

    I'd envisage the best way to do this would be through a network of NGOs or interest/lobby groups.
    I'd say some of the environmental NGOs will be the first to use it.

    I'd be curious to see what happens if the Commission said no to one of the first petitions. They'd want to have a good excuse to avoid massive criticism and being accused of not listening to what citizens want.


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