Activities of Diana RIBA I GINER related to 2020/2201(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on citizens’ dialogues and citizens’ participation in EU decision-making
Amendments (17)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas citizens' participation is a core fundamental right and should include all aspects and levels of decision- making; whereas dialogue and participation by all groups of civil society in EU decision-making is one of the prerequisites for a functioning democratic Union and for fostering democratic security; whereas citizens' dialogues and participation mechanisms should fully reflect the diversity of our society as the cornerstone for better policies and enhanced good governance;
Amendment 8 #
A b. whereas effective democracy depends on citizens having a say and being heard; whereas meaningful citizens participation should be ensured in theory and in practice; whereas according to a Eurobarometer survey on socio- demographic trendlines (2007-2020)1a, only 45% of the citizens consider that their voice counts in the EU; _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/at- your-service/en/be- heard/eurobarometer/socio-demographic- trends-edition-7
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas specific attention needs to be given to ensure that all voices are heard and that systemic ways to embed rights-based, meaningful, inclusive, transparent and accessible participation of all citizens in EU decision-making should be implemented;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. whereas the involvement of women in all their diversity and of all backgrounds in EU decision-making is still a challenge; whereas persons with disabilities often have their views disregarded in favour of other people speaking or making decisions on their behalf; whereas child and youth participation is still scarce in EU decision-making; whereas LGTBI+ people, migrant and refugee and ethnic minority groups, representing some of the most marginalised and excluded groups, have even fewer opportunities to participate in EU decision-making process;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that the level of EU citizens’ engagement in the EU participatory democracy process and the subsequent use of tools is proportionate to the level of knowledge of EU actions and policies within the Union’s multi-level governance system; highlights that citizens' participation is an instrumental element to achieve more democratic and representative decisions, which is apart of empowerment and thus, a component of good governance; stresses that a functioning democracy also requires that people are free to point out deficiencies in the system and to suggest improvements; underlines that citizen’s dialogue and citizens’ participation are necessary for democratic scrutiny and recalls the importance that citizens contribute to good governance by holding authorities accountable;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Points out that access to information, consultation, and active involvement throughout the whole EU decision-making process are essential elements to achieve meaningful participation; highlights the importance of ensuring involvement in the EU decision-making process of those affected by a decision; underlines the need to provide feedback to ensure that citizens’ inputs are taken seriously;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Stresses that building and reinforcing inclusiveness in our societies, and thereby empowering all citizens to exercise and defend their rights and to play an active part in democratic life is an essential element of democratic scrutiny; calls on the Commission to ensure all citizens of all backgrounds are involved in the EU decision-making process;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the need for supportive measures aimed at increasing civic literacy and building civic capacity to encourage citizens’ understanding of the policymaking process and to promote civic engagement in the actions of the Union; urges the Commission and the Member States to step up efforts in this direction;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the inclusion in the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme of a citizens’ engagement and participation strand designed to promote citizens’ engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Believes that the Commission, by refusing to propose a legal follow-up on almost allsuccessful ECIs, failed to ensure that this tool could genuinely achieve its goal aimed at enhancing the democratic functioning of the Union through the participation of citizens in its democratic and political life; warns that the Commission's approach results in undermining citizens' trust in the EUinstitutions; underlines, in this regard, that by means of a resolution adopted in plenary the Parliament asked the Commission to ensure a legal follow-up on the Minority Safepack Initiative;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of the right to petition granted by the Treaties to EU citizens and residents; points out that the right to petition allows citizens to convey information to the institutions with regards to implementation problems on the ground and shortcomings of individual cases; considers, however, that the right to petition should be strengthened; considers it is worth recalling that the EU often stands accused of complexity and detachment from its citizens; stresses the fact that the Charter only applies to EU Member States when they are implementing EU law is perceived as insufficient and unsatisfactory for many petitioners;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that EU citizens have the right to address the European Ombudsman; stresses that in her 2019 annual report, the Ombudsman states that she regularly receives complaints concerning fundamental rights such as equality, non- discrimination and the right to be heard; further recalls that according to the Ombudsman, in order citizens to exercise their democratic right to participate in the EU’s decision-making process and hold those involved to account, legislative deliberations must be transparent; welcomes, in this regard, the series of recommendations that the European Ombudsman has made to the Council of the European Union to improve the transparency of its legislative process; insists that the Council must be as accountable and transparent as the other institutions;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop innovative and inclusive tools for citizens’ participation and dialogues that ensure rights-based, meaningful, inclusive, transparent and accessible participation of all citizens in EU decision-making and that involve those affected by a decision, with particular attention to ensuring the participation of those in vulnerable situations and from racialized groups; stresses the need to enhance the direct involvement and participation of citizens in EU decision-making;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Underlines that for citizens to be actively engaged, availability and accessibility of information in their mother tongue is of importance; is concerned that citizens' engagement and participation in the political process may be limited by language barriers;
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that the Commission is supporting and promoting top-down instruments more than bottom-up tools, thereby putting greater importance on instruments to improve policy outcomes than on allowing citizens to make their voices heard; calls on the Member States and the Commission to encourage the active participation of EU citizens in EU matters, notably young people, in order to support their involvement in shaping society and politics; highlights that EU mechanisms at all levels should also ensure the effective participation of NGOs without discrimination in dialogue and consultation on public policy objectives and decisions;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Underlines the difficulties for citizens to challenge the EU decision- making, as their input is almost entirely limited to the consultative phase of policymaking; calls on the Commission and the Member States to open up new channels of contestation;