BETA


2011/2302(REG) EP Rules of Procedure: implementing the European Citizens’ Initiative

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFCO GURMAI Zita (icon: S&D S&D) LAMASSOURE Alain (icon: PPE PPE), JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli (icon: ALDE ALDE), HÄFNER Gerald (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), MESSERSCHMIDT Morten (icon: EFD EFD)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 237-p1

Events

2012/05/22
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2012/05/22
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 614 votes to 15, with 16 abstentions, a decision on amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with regard to the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative.

It should be recalled that the European Parliament adopted the report on the proposal for a regulation on the citizens’ initiative at first reading on 15 December 2010 by a very large majority (628 votes in favour, 15 against and 24 abstentions). The citizens’ initiative will be a powerful tool that European citizens can use to identify issues to place on the EU’s agenda. It was first introduced in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and then taken over by the Lisbon Treaty, with the aim of giving citizens powers of political initiative on a par with those already enjoyed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Its main aim is to provide citizens with a means to be heard by enabling them to refer various issues of interest to the European institutions.

Parliament will be able to help achieve these aims by doing all it can to support the citizens’ initiatives it likes, in particular by organising public hearings .

With regard to public hearings, Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 on the citizens’ initiative stipulates that where the conditions of Article 10(1)(a) and (b) are fulfilled, and within the deadline laid down in Article 10(1)(c), the organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the citizens’ initiative at a public hearing. The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure that this hearing is organised at the European Parliament, if appropriate together with such other institutions and bodies of the Union as may wish to participate, and that the Commission is represented at an appropriate level.

Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 applies as of 1 April 2012. Therefore, it is necessary to amend the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure so that the necessary measures can be taken in terms of organising and conducting the public hearings concerned . In addition, given that the Committee on Petitions has specific experience in this field, Members propose that it should be given the opportunity to engage in political follow-up of initiatives which merit such consideration but which were not ultimately successful.

Parliament invites:

its President to take the necessary steps to ensure that a single contact point is set up in the European Parliament, which citizens, representative associations and civil society can contact on matters relating to citizens’ initiatives;

the Commission to confirm in a letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament its intention to be represented, at any public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives, in principle by the Commissioner responsible for the subject-matter, or, if he or she is unavailable, then either preferably by another Member of the Commission or by the Director-General responsible for the subject-matter.

Lastly, the Bureau and its Secretary-General are invited to take the appropriate measures to ensure the greatest possible visibility of public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives by providing appropriate facilities, including the use of the best available information and communications technology.

Documents
2012/05/22
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2012/05/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by Zita GURMAI (S&D, HU) on amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with regard to the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative.

The report recalls that the European Parliament adopted the report on the proposal for a regulation on the citizens’ initiative at first reading on 15 December 2010 by a very large majority (628 votes in favour, 15 against and 24 abstentions). This result clearly illustrates the broad consensus surrounding this new tool for participatory democracy at European level.

The citizens’ initiative will be a powerful tool that European citizens can use to identify issues to place on the EU’s agenda. It was first introduced in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and then taken over by the Lisbon Treaty, with the aim of giving citizens powers of political initiative on a par with those already enjoyed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Its main aim is to provide citizens with a means to be heard by enabling them to refer various issues of interest to the European institutions.

Parliament will be able to help achieve these aims by doing all it can to support the citizens’ initiatives it likes, in particular by organising public hearings .

With regard to public hearings, Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 on the citizens’ initiative stipulates that where the conditions of Article 10(1)(a) and (b) are fulfilled, and within the deadline laid down in Article 10(1)(c), the organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the citizens’ initiative at a public hearing. The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure that this hearing is organised at the European Parliament, if appropriate together with such other institutions and bodies of the Union as may wish to participate, and that the Commission is represented at an appropriate level.

Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 applies as of 1 April 2012. Therefore, it is necessary to amend the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure so that the necessary measures can be taken in terms of organising and conducting the public hearings concerned . In addition, given that the Committee on Petitions has specific experience in this field, Members propose that it should be given the opportunity to engage in political follow-up of initiatives which merit such consideration but which were not ultimately successful.

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs invites its President to take the necessary steps to ensure that a single contact point is set up in the European Parliament, which citizens, representative associations and civil society can contact on matters relating to citizens’ initiatives.

The report invites the Commission to confirm in a letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament its intention to be represented, at any public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives, in principle by the Commissioner responsible for the subject-matter, or, if he or she is unavailable, then either preferably by another Member of the Commission or by the Director-General responsible for the subject-matter.

Lastly, Members ask its Bureau and its Secretary-General to take the appropriate measures to ensure the greatest possible visibility of public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives by providing appropriate facilities, including the use of the best available information and communications technology.

Documents
2012/04/26
   EP - Vote in committee
2012/03/28
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2012/02/16
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2012/02/02
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2011/12/15
   EP - GURMAI Zita (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in AFCO

Documents

AmendmentsDossier
25 2011/2302(REG)
2012/03/28 AFCO 25 amendments...
source: PE-486.111

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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SCHOLZ Helmut
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European United Left - Nordic Green Left
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2012-05-22T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
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2012-05-22T00:00:00
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Rules of Procedure EP 150
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 237-p1
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 227-p1
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
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EP
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committee_full
Constitutional Affairs
committee
AFCO
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shadows
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-148&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2012-0148_EN.html
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-213
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2012-0213_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2012-02-02T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: LAMASSOURE Alain group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: Verts/ALE name: HÄFNER Gerald group: GUE/NGL name: SCHOLZ Helmut group: EFD name: MESSERSCHMIDT Morten responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2011-12-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: GURMAI Zita
  • date: 2012-04-26T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: LAMASSOURE Alain group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: Verts/ALE name: HÄFNER Gerald group: GUE/NGL name: SCHOLZ Helmut group: EFD name: MESSERSCHMIDT Morten responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2011-12-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: GURMAI Zita
  • date: 2012-05-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-148&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0148/2012 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2012-05-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21530&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-213 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0213/2012 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
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docs
  • date: 2012-02-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE478.388 title: PE478.388 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2012-03-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE486.111 title: PE486.111 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
events
  • date: 2012-02-02T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-04-26T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-05-02T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-148&language=EN title: A7-0148/2012 summary: The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by Zita GURMAI (S&D, HU) on amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with regard to the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative. The report recalls that the European Parliament adopted the report on the proposal for a regulation on the citizens’ initiative at first reading on 15 December 2010 by a very large majority (628 votes in favour, 15 against and 24 abstentions). This result clearly illustrates the broad consensus surrounding this new tool for participatory democracy at European level. The citizens’ initiative will be a powerful tool that European citizens can use to identify issues to place on the EU’s agenda. It was first introduced in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and then taken over by the Lisbon Treaty, with the aim of giving citizens powers of political initiative on a par with those already enjoyed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Its main aim is to provide citizens with a means to be heard by enabling them to refer various issues of interest to the European institutions. Parliament will be able to help achieve these aims by doing all it can to support the citizens’ initiatives it likes, in particular by organising public hearings . With regard to public hearings, Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 on the citizens’ initiative stipulates that where the conditions of Article 10(1)(a) and (b) are fulfilled, and within the deadline laid down in Article 10(1)(c), the organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the citizens’ initiative at a public hearing. The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure that this hearing is organised at the European Parliament, if appropriate together with such other institutions and bodies of the Union as may wish to participate, and that the Commission is represented at an appropriate level. Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 applies as of 1 April 2012. Therefore, it is necessary to amend the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure so that the necessary measures can be taken in terms of organising and conducting the public hearings concerned . In addition, given that the Committee on Petitions has specific experience in this field, Members propose that it should be given the opportunity to engage in political follow-up of initiatives which merit such consideration but which were not ultimately successful. The Committee on Constitutional Affairs invites its President to take the necessary steps to ensure that a single contact point is set up in the European Parliament, which citizens, representative associations and civil society can contact on matters relating to citizens’ initiatives. The report invites the Commission to confirm in a letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament its intention to be represented, at any public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives, in principle by the Commissioner responsible for the subject-matter, or, if he or she is unavailable, then either preferably by another Member of the Commission or by the Director-General responsible for the subject-matter. Lastly, Members ask its Bureau and its Secretary-General to take the appropriate measures to ensure the greatest possible visibility of public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives by providing appropriate facilities, including the use of the best available information and communications technology.
  • date: 2012-05-22T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21530&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2012-05-22T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-213 title: T7-0213/2012 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 614 votes to 15, with 16 abstentions, a decision on amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with regard to the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative. It should be recalled that the European Parliament adopted the report on the proposal for a regulation on the citizens’ initiative at first reading on 15 December 2010 by a very large majority (628 votes in favour, 15 against and 24 abstentions). The citizens’ initiative will be a powerful tool that European citizens can use to identify issues to place on the EU’s agenda. It was first introduced in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and then taken over by the Lisbon Treaty, with the aim of giving citizens powers of political initiative on a par with those already enjoyed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Its main aim is to provide citizens with a means to be heard by enabling them to refer various issues of interest to the European institutions. Parliament will be able to help achieve these aims by doing all it can to support the citizens’ initiatives it likes, in particular by organising public hearings . With regard to public hearings, Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 on the citizens’ initiative stipulates that where the conditions of Article 10(1)(a) and (b) are fulfilled, and within the deadline laid down in Article 10(1)(c), the organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the citizens’ initiative at a public hearing. The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure that this hearing is organised at the European Parliament, if appropriate together with such other institutions and bodies of the Union as may wish to participate, and that the Commission is represented at an appropriate level. Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 applies as of 1 April 2012. Therefore, it is necessary to amend the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure so that the necessary measures can be taken in terms of organising and conducting the public hearings concerned . In addition, given that the Committee on Petitions has specific experience in this field, Members propose that it should be given the opportunity to engage in political follow-up of initiatives which merit such consideration but which were not ultimately successful. Parliament invites: its President to take the necessary steps to ensure that a single contact point is set up in the European Parliament, which citizens, representative associations and civil society can contact on matters relating to citizens’ initiatives; the Commission to confirm in a letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament its intention to be represented, at any public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives, in principle by the Commissioner responsible for the subject-matter, or, if he or she is unavailable, then either preferably by another Member of the Commission or by the Director-General responsible for the subject-matter. Lastly, the Bureau and its Secretary-General are invited to take the appropriate measures to ensure the greatest possible visibility of public hearings on European citizens’ initiatives by providing appropriate facilities, including the use of the best available information and communications technology.
  • date: 2012-05-22T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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    • date: 2012-02-02T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: LAMASSOURE Alain group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: Verts/ALE name: HÄFNER Gerald group: GUE/NGL name: SCHOLZ Helmut group: EFD name: MESSERSCHMIDT Morten responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2011-12-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: GURMAI Zita
    • date: 2012-04-26T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: LAMASSOURE Alain group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: Verts/ALE name: HÄFNER Gerald group: GUE/NGL name: SCHOLZ Helmut group: EFD name: MESSERSCHMIDT Morten responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2011-12-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: GURMAI Zita
    • date: 2012-05-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-148&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0148/2012 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    • date: 2012-05-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21530&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-213 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0213/2012 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
    committees
    • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: LAMASSOURE Alain group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: Verts/ALE name: HÄFNER Gerald group: GUE/NGL name: SCHOLZ Helmut group: EFD name: MESSERSCHMIDT Morten responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2011-12-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: GURMAI Zita
    links
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