49 Amendments of Josep-Maria TERRICABRAS related to 2017/2024(INL)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 2
Annex I – part A – point 2
2. The objective of the revision is, in compliance with the Treaties, to enable citizens both to register and to submit a citizens’ initiative successfully and in a cost-effective manner, and to provide for their peensure that successful initiations toves receive an appropriate follow-up, including legal proposals, from the Commission.
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 (new)
(-1) Recital 1 is replaced by the following: " The Treaty on European Union (TEU) reinforces citizenship of the Union and enhances further the democratic functioning of the Union by providing, inter alia, that every citizen is to have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union by way of a European citizens’ initiative. That procedure affords citizens the possibility of directly approaching the Commission with a request inviting it to submit a proposal for a new legal act or the abrogation or revision of any existing legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing or revising the Treaties similar to the right conferred on the European Parliament under Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and on the Council under Article 241 TFEU."
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 a (new)
(-1a) Recital 7 is replaced by the following: "It is appropriate to fix a minimum age for organising and supporting a citizens’ initiative. That should be set at 16."
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 b (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 b (new)
(-1b) Recital 8 is replaced by the following: "A minimum organised structure is needed in order to successfully carry through a citizens’ initiative. That should take the form of a citizens’ committee, composed of natural persons (organisers) coming, in order to encourage the emergence of European-wide issues and to foster reflection on those issues, from at least seven different Member States. In order to limit the personal liability of the organisers, it should be possible to register the citizens’ committee as an organisation with legal personality in one of the Member States in accordance with national law. For the sake of transparency and smooth and efficient communication, the citizens’ committee should designate representatives to liaise between the citizens’ committee and the institutions of the Union throughout the procedure."
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 c (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 c (new)
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Invites the Commission to increase the transparency of its decision-making process and to formally clarify ECI admissibility criteria by exhaustively substantiating the reasons for ECI approval/rejection in all Commission Decisions published in the ECI register; calls upon the Commission tofor the establishment of an independent body to carry out the initial legal check for the registration and therefore avoiding the conflict of interests of the Commission: Encourages the Commission to take into account and codify the rulings of the Court of Justice in the cases relating to the “Minority Safepack” and “Stop TTIP” initiatives; welcomes the Commission’s change in practice to allow for partial ECI registration; calls on the Commission to allow ECIs that require treaty amendments
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 d (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 d (new)
(-1d) The following recital is inserted: "(14a) The Commission should operate a free and open-source online collection system incorporating the relevant technical and security features necessary in order to comply with the provisions of this Regulation as regards online collection systems. The organisers should have the possibility to use the servers operated by the Commission free of charge when using other certified online collections systems;"
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 e (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 e (new)
(-1e) Recital 15 is replaced by the following: "It is appropriate for Member States which decide not to use the system provided by the Commission to verify the conformity of online collection systems with the requirements of this Regulation before statements of support are collected."
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 f (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 f (new)
(-1f) Recital 16 is deleted;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 g (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 g (new)
(-1g) The following recital is inserted: "(19a) When the Commission receives a citizens’ initiative supported by the requisite number of signatories which fulfils all requirements set out by this Regulation, the organisers should be entitled to present that initiative at a public hearing in the European Parliament. Within one month from the public hearing, the European Parliament should hold a debate concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution with its recommendation to the Commission."
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 h (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 h (new)
(-1h) Recital 20 is replaced as follows: "The Commission should examine a citizens’ initiative and set out its legal and political conclusions separately. It should also set out the action it intends to take in response to it, within a month of the adoption of the motion for resolution adopted by the European Parliament. In order to demonstrate that a citizens’ initiative supported by at least one million Union citizens and its possible follow-up are carefully examined, the Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for taking or not taking any action."
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 i (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 i (new)
(-1i) The following recital is inserted: "(20a) In the normal run of events there is a presumption that the Commission should react to a citizens' initiative by submitting a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council."
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 j (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 j (new)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 k (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 k (new)
(-1k) Recital 21 is replaced by the following: "Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data is fully applicable to the processing of personal data carried out in application of this Regulation. In this respect, for the sake of legal certainty, it is appropriate to clarify that the organisers of a citizens’ initiative or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them, and the competent authorities of the Member States are the data controllers within the meaning of Directive 95/46/EC, and to specify the maximum period within which the personal data collected for the purposes of a citizens’ initiative may be retained. In their capacity as data controllers, the organisers or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them, need to take all the appropriate measures to comply with the obligations imposed by Directive 95/46/EC, in particular those relating to the lawfulness of the processing, the security of the processing activities, the provision of information and the rights of data subjects to have access to their personal data, as well as to provide for the correction and deletion of their personal data."
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 l (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 l (new)
(-1l) Recital 22 is replaced by the following: "Chapter III of Directive 95/46/EC on judicial remedies, liability and sanctions is fully applicable as regards the data processing carried out in application of this Regulation. The organisers of a citizens’ initiative or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them, should be liable in accordance with applicable national law for any damage that they cause. In addition, Member States should ensure that organisers are subject to appropriate penalties for any infringement of this Regulation."
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the simplification of online signature collection (“OCS”) and verification and for a progressive approach to countering the technological barriers to OCS; invites the Commission to address data requirement divergences in national systems, especially regarding nationality and place of residence; welcomes the AFCO proposal that the Commission runemphasises the importance of a free, centralised OCS system; suggests that this system make use of existing, proven online platform technologies and enable synergies with social media tools to galvanize more widespread signature collection; welcomes the Commission’s public survey on creating a “Collaborative ECI Platform”; invites the Commission to prolong the collection period such that the clock for collection starts running from the date of ECI registration; calls for greater increase of transparency measures for ascertaining ECI financingand quality of checks on the funding and sponsorship of ECIs sponsorship of ECIs; invites the Commission to encourage Member States to reduce data requirements and to remove identification number requirements except for Member States that absolutely need them to verify signatures;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: “1. The organisers shall be citizens of the Union and shall be aged 16 or over.”
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1 – point b (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1 – point b (new)
(b) the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: “2. The organisers shall form a citizens’ committee of at least seven persons who are residents of at least seven different Member States. The citizens’ committee may be registered as an organisation with legal personality in one of the Member States in accordance with national law.”
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1 – point c (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1 – point c (new)
(c) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: "4. In order to be eligible to support a proposed citizens’ initiative, signatories shall be citizens of the Union and shall be aged 16 or over."
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 2
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 3
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 3
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1a) the following Article is inserted: "Article 3a Requirements for the Commission and Member States 1. Throughout the organisational phase preceding the registration of a proposed citizens’ initiative, the organisers may ask Europe Direct and the Commission European Citizens’ Initiative (“ECI”) services, which shall provide full legal and practical assistance and guidance free of charge. 2. The Commission, together with the relevant stakeholders, shall create an open-source online platform to support the exchange of information and best practices between stake holders, including independent experts, NGOs, and other institutions and bodies of the Union. Use of this system shall be made available free of charge to all organisers. 3. Member States may establish one- stop-shops on their territories to help organisers setting up a citizens’ initiative by providing exhaustive information as well as specific technical and legal advice.";
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point –a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point –a (new)
(-a) the fourth subparagraph of paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "After the registration is confirmed in accordance with paragraph 2, for the purpose of including it in the register, the organisers may provide the proposed citizens’ initiative in other languages authorised by the Member States in accordance with applicable national law. The Commission shall provide free translation services into all the official languages of the Union.";
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point a
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point a
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point a a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point a a (new)
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls upon the Commission to create a one-stop shop for ECI information dissemination and citizen advisory services, in particular the provision of support in defining a compliant legal basis for an initiative; welcomes the AFCO proposal for a provision calls for the facilitating the new Regulation on ECI communicatiouse of any of the official languages in eactivities at EU levelh Member State; urges the Commission to link such efforts to the principles set out in the EU eGovernment Action Plan 2016- 2020; stresses that youth civic engagement is fundamental for the future of all democracies and proposes to lower the minimum age threshold for being entitled to support an ECI to 16 years;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 2
“3. The Commission may register an initiative partially and shall refuse the registration in whole or in part if the conditions laid down in paragraph 2 are not met.
Amendment 54 #
Where it refuses to register a proposed citizens’ initiative or part thereof, the Commission shall inform the organisers exhaustively and in full detail of the reasons for such refusal and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them. If a part of a proposed citizens’ initiative does not meet the conditions laid down in paragraph 2, the Commission shall give to the organisers a period of 10 days to amend their request for registration.
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 4
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 4
For the purposes of this Article, special attention shouldall be paid to Article 296(2) of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 3 – point a – paragraph 1
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 3 – point a – paragraph 1
in paragraph 1, the following subparagraph iss are added:
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Supports the AFCO proposal totresses the importance of ensureing the follow-up of successful ECIs, in terms of concrete legislative proposals from the Commission, whileithin 12 months of the submission of a successful ECI; calls for using the whole potential of the European Parliament as a co-legislator by adopting a plenary resolution with its recommendation on the follow-up of successful ECIs; calls for maintaining the current system of designating lead committees thematically according to competence, with PETI as associated committee; recalliterates the importance of public hearings in ensuring that an inclusive approach is taken to increasing attendance by various stakeholders;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 3 – point –a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 3 – point –a (new)
(-a) The first subparagraph of paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "The organisers or, if applicable, the organisation created by them in accordance with Article 3(2) of this Regulation shall be responsible for the collection of the statements of support from signatories for a proposed citizens’ initiative which has been registered in accordance with Article 4.";
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 3 – point a – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 3 – point a – paragraph 2 a (new)
On a voluntary basis, signatories shall be able to provide their e-mail addresses in the statement of support form.
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 1
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
(a) the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 2
“Statements of support may be collected online. The Commission shall on a permanent basis operate a free Commission-run centralisedn open-source online collection system in order to simplify the collection of statements of support as well as to facilitate the checking of those statements by the national authorities. The use of this system shall be made available free of charge to all organisers.
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 3
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 3
The organisers may use other certified online collection systems. The data that they produce and shall have the possibility to use the servers operated by the Commission free of charge when using other certified online collections systems. Where statements of support are collected online, the data obtained through the online collection system shall be stored in the territory of a Member State.the European Union”.
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
The second subparagraph of paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "Whenever the system provided by the Commission will not be used, any online system used to collect data for the purposes of this Regulation shall be certified in accordance with paragraph 3 in the Member State or States in which the data collected through the online collection system will be stored."
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 a (new)
(4a) in Article 7, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: "2. In at least one quarter of the Member States, signatories shall comprise, at the time of registration of the proposed citizens’ initiative, at least the minimum number of citizens set out in Annex I. Those minimum numbers shall correspond to the number of the Members of the European Parliament elected in each Member State, multiplied by the total number of Members of the European Parliament at the moment of registration."
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 a (new)
(4a) in Article 9, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "After obtaining the certificates provided for in Article 8(2), and provided that all relevant procedures and conditions set out in this Regulation have been complied with, the organisers may submit the citizens’ initiative to the Commission no later than 18 months after the date of registration of the proposed citizens’ initiative, accompanied by information regarding any support and funding received for that initiative. That information shall be published in the register."
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 5 – point a – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 5 – point a – paragraph 2
“within three monthsone month of the adoption of the motion for resolution referred to in Article 11a, set out in a communication its legal and political conclusions on the citizens’ initiative, the action it intends to take, if anyd, and itsin full detail, the reasons for taking or not taking that action. ”
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 5 – point b – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 5 – point b – paragraph 2
“In the case of a successful citizens’ initiative, in the normal run of events there is a presumption that the Commission will submit a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council within twelve months of the end of the three month period referred to in point (c). If the Commission is of the opinion that there are good reasons not to submit such a proposal, then it shall duly justify its decision. For the purposes of this Article, special attention should be paid to Article 296(2) of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union..
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 7 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 7 – paragraph 2
“1. The European Parliament shall hold a debate on those citizens’ initiatives that successfully meet all of the criteria laid down in this Regulation during the plenary session following the public hearing referred to in Article 11. Those debates may shall be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution .”;containing the European Parliament’s recommendation to the Commission on the actions needed as a follow up to the citizens’ initiative.
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Where the conclusions in the communication of the Commission referred to in Article 10(1)(c) and the recommendation of the European Parliament referred to in paragraph 1 differ, the European Parliament may exercise the right conferred on it under Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)."
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 7 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 7 a (new)
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 8 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 8 – paragraph 2
“ Organisers or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them, shall be liable for any damage they cause in the organisation of a citizens’ initiative through acts that are unlawful and committed intentionally or with culpable or serious negligence, in accordance with applicable national law.”;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 9 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 9 – paragraph 2
Member States and Union Institutions, and in particular the European Commission , shall proactively carry out information campaigns and use all public channels available in order to raise public awareness of the existence of the ECIuropean citizens' initiative, thereby maximising its added- value and promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union.”".