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A brief presenta-on of the European Ci-zens' Ini-a-ve
Loránt VINCZE Interna0onal Secretary Democra0c Alliance of Hungarians in Romania – RMDSZ
The European Ci-zens´ Ini-a-ve On our way to one million signatures FUEN Congress, 16-‐20 May, 2012, Moscow
1. The European Citizens' Initiative
"... not less than one million ci0zens who are na0onals of a significant number of Member States may take the ini0a0ve of invi0ng the Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on maLers where ci0zens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implemen-ng the Trea-es." (Ar0cle 11(4) of the Treaty on European Union)
2. Facts on the ECI
It is possible to launch the first ci0zens' ini0a0ves since 1 April 2012, one year aXer its entry into force. The Ci-zens CommiKee: 7 ci0zens residing in at least 7 different Member States. One representa0ve and one subs0tute mandated. Organisa-ons cannot ini-ate ECI. Any en-ty can promote or support proposed ini-a-ves provided that it does so with full transparency.
3. The initiative
• the 0tle of the proposed ci0zens' ini0a0ve (no more than 100 characters);
• the subject-‐maLer (no more than 200 characters);
• the descrip0on of the objec0ves of the proposal on which the Commission is invited to act (no more than 500 characters);
• the Treaty provisions considered relevant by the organisers for the proposed ac0on;
• details regarding the seven members of the ci0zens' commiLee;
• all sources of funding and support;
• detailed informa0on in an annex, including a draX legisla0ve text
4. The legal act
According to the EU Trea0es, legal acts can be: 1. Regula-ons: directly binding on all 2. Decisions: binding on those addressed 3. Direc-ves: to be implemented on na0onal level; binding as to the result, na0onal varia0ons are normally possible 4. Recommenda-ons: non-‐binding 5. Opinions: non-‐binding
5. The admissibility
It will be required to register proposed ini0a0ves only if the condi0ons laid down in the Regula0on are met. The proposed ini0a0ves should not:
• manifestly fall outside the scope of the Commission’s power under the Trea0es to submit a proposal for the requested legal act;
• is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexa0ous;
• is not manifestly contrary to the EU values as set out in the EU trea0es.
In case of refusal of registra-on, the Commission will inform the organizers of the reasons and of all possible judicial and extra-‐judicial remedies available to them.
6. The petition campaign
The organizers may collect statements of support in paper form or electronically. Where statements of support are collected online, Ci0zens will have the possibility to sign-‐up on-‐line. The Commission will develop technical standards and make available an open source soXware to help the organizers to build their system. Prior to star0ng the online collec0on, the organizers will have to ask for the cer0fica0on of their on-‐line collec0on system to the competent na0onal authority where the data will be stored. (Only in one MS) The na0onal authori0es will check that the security and technical features of their on-‐line collec0on system comply with the minimum requirements fixed in the Regula0on.
7. The necessary number of signatures
The minimum number of Member States from which ci0zens must come in order to ensure that a ci0zens' ini0a0ve is representa0ve of a Union is ¼ of Member States, which currently means seven.
8. The check of the petition
In their statements of support, ci0zens will have to fill in the informa0on required according to the Member State they come from, which can include their first names, family names, address, date and place of birth, na0onality as well as for a number of Member States a personal iden0fica0on number. The organizers will have to collect on the same form only signatures from signatories to be verified by the same Member State. Then they will have to send these statements of support to the na0onal authority of this Member State. The na0onal authori0es will then carry out appropriate checks in order to cer0fy the number of valid statements of support collected.
9. The reaction of the Commission • Will examine a ci0zens' ini0a0ve which has gathered the necessary statements of support;
• Will receive the organizers at an appropriate level so that they can explain in detail the maLers raised by their ini0a0ve;
• A public hearing will also be organized at the European Parliament. The ci-zens' ini-a-ve is an agenda-‐seRng ini-a-ve and therefore does not affect the Commission's right of ini-a-ve. It will, however, oblige, the Commission, as a college, to give serious considera-on to the requests made by ci-zens' ini-a-ves. If it decides not to act on a ci-zens' ini-a-ve, the Commission will clearly explain its reasons. The poli-cal analysis on the substance of the ini-a-ve by the Commission cannot be subject to an appeal procedure.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
The Regula0on does not impose any rules as regards the successive presenta0on of the same or similar ci0zens' ini0a0ves. It does not prevent opposing ini-a-ves from being launched. The possibility for ci0zens of the Union residing outside the EU to sign-‐up to an ini0a0ve will depend on the Member State from which they are na0onals. In any case, ci-zens are allowed to sign-‐up to an ini-a-ve only once. There is no financial support provided.
11. Joint declaration – facts
1. Minori0es are of fundamental value to the European Union; 2. They are facing difficul0es when recognizing their status, demanding rights or legal frameworks from their respec0ve na0onal Governments; 3. Many European minority groups report alarming census data that show the decrease of the persons belonging to such groups; 4. The current economic crisis endangers even more small minority groups and languages; 5. Best prac0ces are rarely taken into account in other Member States; 6. The current programs and projects of the EC would have an increased efficiency if coordinated as an EU Framework Strategy.
12. Principles for an ECI Aim: The crea-on of a set of legally binding community standards and norms for the protec-on of persons belonging to minori-es Policy areas:
• The implementa0on of measures and policy-‐tools, including public financing for the purpose of protec0ng minority persons;
• The right to self-‐determina-on and/or autonomy of the autochthons na0onal communi0es regarding their educa-on, culture and mass-‐media;
• Language rights, respec0vely, the right to use their mother tongue in public administra0on and jus0ce;
• Educa-on in mother tongue at an appropriate number of schools and of state educa0onal and training establishments on all levels;
• Permanent dialogue of the Governments with the minority representa0ves;
• Effec-ve par-cipa-on of na0onal minori0es in the democra0c process and the public life;
• The promo-on of best prac-ces in the field of minority rights;
• …
http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative
Thank you for your attention!