BETA


2016/2008(INI) e-Democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFCO JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón (icon: S&D S&D) PREDA Cristian Dan (icon: PPE PPE), UJAZDOWSKI Kazimierz Michał (icon: ECR ECR), GOULARD Sylvie (icon: ALDE ALDE), ANDERSSON Max (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), ADINOLFI Isabella (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion ITRE
Committee Opinion CULT ADINOLFI Isabella (icon: EFDD EFDD) Curzio MALTESE (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), Ernest MARAGALL (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2017/08/22
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2017/03/16
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2017/03/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 459 votes to 53, with 47 abstentions, a resolution on e-democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges.

Parliament noted that it is important to regain citizens' confidence in the European project and that e-democracy tools can help foster more active citizenship in political life.

Potential and challenges : Members underlined the potential benefits of e-democracy to reinforce democratic processes while recalling the need to develop in parallel a non-digital environment to pursue political participation of citizens.

Parliament encouraged the use of e-participation as a key characteristic of e-democracy, encompassing three forms of interaction between EU institutions and governments on one hand, and citizens on the other, namely:

e-information, e-consultation, e-decision-making.

The resolution pointed out the importance of e-voting and remote internet voting as systems able to widen citizens’ inclusion and facilitate democratic participation, especially in areas that are geographically and socially more marginalised. Further progress on cybersecurity and data protection is essential in order to enhance citizen participation in decision-making.

Proposals on improving the democratic system by means of ICT : Member States and the EU are encouraged in this regard to:

provide educational and technical means for boosting the democratic empowerment of citizens and reduce the digital divide; integrate the acquisition of digital skills into school curricula and lifelong learning, and to prioritise digital training programmes for elderly people; develop networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools; deliver affordable and high-speed digital infrastructure, particularly in peripheral regions and rural and economically less developed areas; invest in targeted programmes which promote ICT education and e-participation for women and girls; promote, support and implement mechanisms and instruments that enable the participation of citizens and their interaction with governments and EU institutions, such as crowd-sourcing platforms.

The European Parliament is urged, as the only directly elected institution of the European Union, to take the lead in reinforcing e-democracy .

Online platform : the resolution called for an online platform to be created so that members of the public can systematically consult it before the European legislator takes decisions, thus being involved more directly in public life. It is important to simplify and accelerate the bureaucratic requirements relating to this and of making wider use of ICT, e.g. through digital platforms and other applications compatible with mobile devices

Increased participation : Parliament called on the Commission to expand and develop e-participation in the mid-term review of the Digital Single Market Strategy to be launched in 2017, and to promote the development and funding of new instruments connected with e-citizenship of the European Union.

The resolution suggested:

reviewing the way the European citizens’ initiative operates so that it can realise its full potential; giving priority to the development of e-administration for Member States and the EU institutions; rendering the public consultation processes effective and accessible to as many people as possible.

The Commission is called upon to provide an independent assessment or consultation of public opinion regarding online voting , with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, as an additional option for citizens to cast their vote for consideration by the Member States by the end of 2018. Members called on the political groups in the European Parliament and the European political parties to increase opportunities for public discussion and e-participation.

Data protection : the resolution stressed the need to protect, as a matter of priority, privacy and personal data when using e-democracy tools and to foster a more secure internet environment.

Lastly, Member States are encouraged to adapt and update legislation to address on-going developments, and fully implement and enforce existing legislation on hate speech, both offline and online.

Documents
2017/03/16
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2017/03/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2017/02/16
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO (S&D, ES) on e-democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges.

The report noted that it is important to regain citizens' confidence in the European project and e-democracy tools can help foster more active citizenship by improving participation, transparency and accountability in decision-making, and reducing the so-called European “democratic deficit”.

Potential and challenges : Members underlined the potential benefits of e-democracy, which is defined as the support and enhancement of traditional democracy by means of information and communication technologies (ICT), and which can complement and reinforce democratic processes by adding elements of citizens’ empowerment through different online activities that include, amongst others, e-government, e-governance, e-deliberation, e-participation and e-voting. However, Members made it clear that e-democracy alone does not ensure political participation , and that a non-digital environment to pursue political participation of citizens must also be addressed in parallel to e-democracy.

The report noted the importance of e-voting and remote internet voting as systems able to widen citizens' inclusion and facilitate democratic participation, especially in areas that are geographically and socially more marginalised.

Members encouraged the use of e-participation as a key characteristic of e-democracy, encompassing three forms of interaction between EU institutions and governments on one hand, and citizens on the other, namely:

e-information, e-consultation, e-decision-making.

The report pointed out the challenge of responding to the citizens' concerns regarding use of online democracy tools. It stated that addressing security concerns and guaranteeing privacy are of paramount importance for building citizens’ trust in the emerging digital political arena.

Proposals on improving the democratic system by means of ICT : Member States and the EU are encouraged in this regard to:

provide educational and technical means for boosting the democratic empowerment of citizens; integrate the acquisition of digital skills into school curricula and lifelong learning, and to prioritise digital training programmes for elderly people; develop networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools; deliver affordable and high-speed digital infrastructure, particularly in peripheral regions and rural and economically less developed areas; invest in targeted programmes which promote ICT education and e-participation for women and girls; promote, support and implement mechanisms and instruments that enable the participation of citizens and their interaction with governments and EU institutions, such as crowd-sourcing platforms.

The European Parliament is urged, as the only directly elected institution of the European Union, to take the lead in reinforcing e-democracy .

Online platform : the report called for an online platform to be created so that members of the public can systematically consult it before the European legislator takes decisions, thus being involved more directly in public life. It is important to simplify and accelerate the bureaucratic requirements relating to this and of making wider use of ICT, e.g. through digital platforms and other applications compatible with mobile devices.

Increased participation : Members underlined the need for more ample information for citizens on the existing e-participation platforms at EU, national and local level. They called on the Commission to expand and develop e-participation in the mid-term review of the Digital Single Market Strategy to be launched in 2017, and to promote the development and funding of new instruments connected with e-citizenship of the European Union.

Stressing that the development of e-administration should be a priority for Member States and the EU institutions, Members welcomed the Commission's ambitious and comprehensive e-government action plan, for which proper national implementation and coordination of available EU funding will be key, in synergy with the national digital agencies and authorities.

The Commission is called upon to provide an independent assessment or consultation of public opinion regarding online voting , with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, as an additional option for citizens to cast their vote for consideration by the Member States by the end of 2018.

Members called on the political groups in the European Parliament and the European political parties to increase opportunities for public discussion and e-participation.

Data protection : the report stressed the need to protect, as a matter of priority, privacy and personal data when using e-democracy tools and to foster a more secure internet environment.

Lastly, Member States are encouraged to adapt and update legislation to address on-going developments, and fully implement and enforce existing legislation on hate speech, both offline and online.

Documents
2017/02/09
   EP - Vote in committee
2016/11/10
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2016/10/14
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2016/10/05
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2016/01/21
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2016/01/21
   EP - Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
2016/01/15
   EP - ADINOLFI Isabella (EFDD) appointed as rapporteur in CULT
2015/11/19
   EP - JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in AFCO

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0041/2017 - Ramón Jáuregui Atondo - Résolution #

2017/03/16 Outcome: +: 459, -: 53, 0: 47
DE IT ES FR RO PL CZ HU BE SE PT SK BG GB AT FI LT SI EL IE MT LU HR EE DK LV NL CY
Total
79
56
35
61
25
43
15
14
17
16
18
12
10
48
15
12
8
7
12
6
6
5
6
5
10
5
10
2
icon: PPE PPE
171

Ireland PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Croatia PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
143

Czechia S&D

3

Hungary S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Croatia S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Cyprus S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
46

Romania ALDE

3

Sweden ALDE

2

Portugal ALDE

1

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Finland ALDE

3
2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

3

Denmark ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Netherlands ALDE

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
42

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
35

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
49

Czechia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium ECR

3

Slovakia ECR

3

Finland ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark ECR

Abstain (1)

3

Latvia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
32

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

France EFDD

1

Poland EFDD

1

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
13

Germany NI

Abstain (1)

2

France NI

2

Poland NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (2)

3
icon: ENF ENF
27

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Austria ENF

3

Netherlands ENF

2
AmendmentsDossier
323 2016/2008(INI)
2016/06/09 CULT 90 amendments...
source: 584.198
2016/11/08 AFCO 233 amendments...
source: 593.899

History

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

committees/0/associated
Old
True
New
 
events/4/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-8-2017-03-15-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
committees/0/shadows/3
name
SPINELLI Barbara
group
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
abbr
GUE/NGL
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE589.225
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFCO-PR-589225_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE582.133&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CULT-AD-582133_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE593.899
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFCO-AM-593899_EN.html
events/0/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/2/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/3
date
2017-02-16T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0041_EN.html title: A8-0041/2017
summary
events/3
date
2017-02-16T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0041_EN.html title: A8-0041/2017
summary
events/4/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170315&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
events/6
date
2017-03-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0095_EN.html title: T8-0095/2017
summary
events/6
date
2017-03-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0095_EN.html title: T8-0095/2017
summary
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
True
committee_full
Constitutional Affairs
committee
AFCO
rapporteur
name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón date: 2015-11-19T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
True
committee_full
Constitutional Affairs
committee
AFCO
date
2015-11-19T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Culture and Education
committee
CULT
rapporteur
name: ADINOLFI Isabella date: 2016-01-15T00:00:00 group: Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy abbr: EFDD
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Culture and Education
committee
CULT
date
2016-01-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: ADINOLFI Isabella group: Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy abbr: EFDD
docs/3/body
EC
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0041&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0041_EN.html
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0095
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0095_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2016-01-21T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: PREDA Cristian Dan group: ECR name: UJAZDOWSKI Kazimierz Michał group: ALDE name: GOULARD Sylvie group: GUE/NGL name: SPINELLI Barbara group: Verts/ALE name: ANDERSSON Max group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2015-11-19T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs (Associated committee) rapporteur: group: S&D name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón body: EP responsible: False committee: CULT date: 2016-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Culture and Education rapporteur: group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Industry, Research and Energy (Associated committee) committee: ITRE
  • date: 2017-02-09T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: PREDA Cristian Dan group: ECR name: UJAZDOWSKI Kazimierz Michał group: ALDE name: GOULARD Sylvie group: GUE/NGL name: SPINELLI Barbara group: Verts/ALE name: ANDERSSON Max group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2015-11-19T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs (Associated committee) rapporteur: group: S&D name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón body: EP responsible: False committee: CULT date: 2016-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Culture and Education rapporteur: group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Industry, Research and Energy (Associated committee) committee: ITRE
  • date: 2017-02-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0041&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A8-0041/2017 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2017-03-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170315&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2017-03-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0095 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0095/2017 body: EP type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
commission
  • body: EC dg: Secretariat-General commissioner: TIMMERMANS Frans
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
True
committee_full
Constitutional Affairs
committee
AFCO
date
2015-11-19T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
AFCO
date
2015-11-19T00:00:00
committee_full
Constitutional Affairs (Associated committee)
rapporteur
group: S&D name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
True
committee_full
Industry, Research and Energy
committee
ITRE
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
CULT
date
2016-01-15T00:00:00
committee_full
Culture and Education
rapporteur
group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Culture and Education
committee
CULT
date
2016-01-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: ADINOLFI Isabella group: Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy abbr: EFDD
committees/2
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Industry, Research and Energy (Associated committee)
committee
ITRE
docs
  • date: 2016-10-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE589.225 title: PE589.225 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2016-10-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE582.133&secondRef=02 title: PE582.133 committee: CULT type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2016-11-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE593.899 title: PE593.899 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2017-08-22T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=28180&j=0&l=en title: SP(2017)390 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2016-01-21T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-01-21T00:00:00 type: Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2017-02-09T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2017-02-16T00:00:00 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=A8-2017-0041&language=EN title: A8-0041/2017 summary: The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO (S&D, ES) on e-democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges. The report noted that it is important to regain citizens' confidence in the European project and e-democracy tools can help foster more active citizenship by improving participation, transparency and accountability in decision-making, and reducing the so-called European “democratic deficit”. Potential and challenges : Members underlined the potential benefits of e-democracy, which is defined as the support and enhancement of traditional democracy by means of information and communication technologies (ICT), and which can complement and reinforce democratic processes by adding elements of citizens’ empowerment through different online activities that include, amongst others, e-government, e-governance, e-deliberation, e-participation and e-voting. However, Members made it clear that e-democracy alone does not ensure political participation , and that a non-digital environment to pursue political participation of citizens must also be addressed in parallel to e-democracy. The report noted the importance of e-voting and remote internet voting as systems able to widen citizens' inclusion and facilitate democratic participation, especially in areas that are geographically and socially more marginalised. Members encouraged the use of e-participation as a key characteristic of e-democracy, encompassing three forms of interaction between EU institutions and governments on one hand, and citizens on the other, namely: e-information, e-consultation, e-decision-making. The report pointed out the challenge of responding to the citizens' concerns regarding use of online democracy tools. It stated that addressing security concerns and guaranteeing privacy are of paramount importance for building citizens’ trust in the emerging digital political arena. Proposals on improving the democratic system by means of ICT : Member States and the EU are encouraged in this regard to: provide educational and technical means for boosting the democratic empowerment of citizens; integrate the acquisition of digital skills into school curricula and lifelong learning, and to prioritise digital training programmes for elderly people; develop networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools; deliver affordable and high-speed digital infrastructure, particularly in peripheral regions and rural and economically less developed areas; invest in targeted programmes which promote ICT education and e-participation for women and girls; promote, support and implement mechanisms and instruments that enable the participation of citizens and their interaction with governments and EU institutions, such as crowd-sourcing platforms. The European Parliament is urged, as the only directly elected institution of the European Union, to take the lead in reinforcing e-democracy . Online platform : the report called for an online platform to be created so that members of the public can systematically consult it before the European legislator takes decisions, thus being involved more directly in public life. It is important to simplify and accelerate the bureaucratic requirements relating to this and of making wider use of ICT, e.g. through digital platforms and other applications compatible with mobile devices. Increased participation : Members underlined the need for more ample information for citizens on the existing e-participation platforms at EU, national and local level. They called on the Commission to expand and develop e-participation in the mid-term review of the Digital Single Market Strategy to be launched in 2017, and to promote the development and funding of new instruments connected with e-citizenship of the European Union. Stressing that the development of e-administration should be a priority for Member States and the EU institutions, Members welcomed the Commission's ambitious and comprehensive e-government action plan, for which proper national implementation and coordination of available EU funding will be key, in synergy with the national digital agencies and authorities. The Commission is called upon to provide an independent assessment or consultation of public opinion regarding online voting , with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, as an additional option for citizens to cast their vote for consideration by the Member States by the end of 2018. Members called on the political groups in the European Parliament and the European political parties to increase opportunities for public discussion and e-participation. Data protection : the report stressed the need to protect, as a matter of priority, privacy and personal data when using e-democracy tools and to foster a more secure internet environment. Lastly, Member States are encouraged to adapt and update legislation to address on-going developments, and fully implement and enforce existing legislation on hate speech, both offline and online.
  • date: 2017-03-15T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170315&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2017-03-16T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=28180&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2017-03-16T00:00:00 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=P8-TA-2017-0095 title: T8-0095/2017 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 459 votes to 53, with 47 abstentions, a resolution on e-democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges. Parliament noted that it is important to regain citizens' confidence in the European project and that e-democracy tools can help foster more active citizenship in political life. Potential and challenges : Members underlined the potential benefits of e-democracy to reinforce democratic processes while recalling the need to develop in parallel a non-digital environment to pursue political participation of citizens. Parliament encouraged the use of e-participation as a key characteristic of e-democracy, encompassing three forms of interaction between EU institutions and governments on one hand, and citizens on the other, namely: e-information, e-consultation, e-decision-making. The resolution pointed out the importance of e-voting and remote internet voting as systems able to widen citizens’ inclusion and facilitate democratic participation, especially in areas that are geographically and socially more marginalised. Further progress on cybersecurity and data protection is essential in order to enhance citizen participation in decision-making. Proposals on improving the democratic system by means of ICT : Member States and the EU are encouraged in this regard to: provide educational and technical means for boosting the democratic empowerment of citizens and reduce the digital divide; integrate the acquisition of digital skills into school curricula and lifelong learning, and to prioritise digital training programmes for elderly people; develop networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools; deliver affordable and high-speed digital infrastructure, particularly in peripheral regions and rural and economically less developed areas; invest in targeted programmes which promote ICT education and e-participation for women and girls; promote, support and implement mechanisms and instruments that enable the participation of citizens and their interaction with governments and EU institutions, such as crowd-sourcing platforms. The European Parliament is urged, as the only directly elected institution of the European Union, to take the lead in reinforcing e-democracy . Online platform : the resolution called for an online platform to be created so that members of the public can systematically consult it before the European legislator takes decisions, thus being involved more directly in public life. It is important to simplify and accelerate the bureaucratic requirements relating to this and of making wider use of ICT, e.g. through digital platforms and other applications compatible with mobile devices Increased participation : Parliament called on the Commission to expand and develop e-participation in the mid-term review of the Digital Single Market Strategy to be launched in 2017, and to promote the development and funding of new instruments connected with e-citizenship of the European Union. The resolution suggested: reviewing the way the European citizens’ initiative operates so that it can realise its full potential; giving priority to the development of e-administration for Member States and the EU institutions; rendering the public consultation processes effective and accessible to as many people as possible. The Commission is called upon to provide an independent assessment or consultation of public opinion regarding online voting , with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, as an additional option for citizens to cast their vote for consideration by the Member States by the end of 2018. Members called on the political groups in the European Parliament and the European political parties to increase opportunities for public discussion and e-participation. Data protection : the resolution stressed the need to protect, as a matter of priority, privacy and personal data when using e-democracy tools and to foster a more secure internet environment. Lastly, Member States are encouraged to adapt and update legislation to address on-going developments, and fully implement and enforce existing legislation on hate speech, both offline and online.
  • date: 2017-03-16T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/secretariat-general_en title: Secretariat-General commissioner: TIMMERMANS Frans
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
AFCO/8/05507
New
  • AFCO/8/05507
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.30.06 Information and communication technologies
  • 8.50 EU law
New
3.30.06
Information and communication technologies, digital technologies
8.50
EU law
activities/4/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0095 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0095/2017
activities/4/type
Old
Vote in plenary scheduled
New
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
New
Procedure completed
activities/3/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20170315&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament
activities/3/type
Old
Debate in plenary scheduled
New
Debate in Parliament
other/0/dg/url
Old
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/index_en.htm
New
http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/secretariat-general_en
activities/3
date
2017-03-15T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Debate in plenary scheduled
activities/4/date
Old
2017-03-13T00:00:00
New
2017-03-16T00:00:00
activities/4/type
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in plenary scheduled
activities/3/date
Old
2017-03-02T00:00:00
New
2017-03-13T00:00:00
activities/3
date
2017-03-01T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Debate in plenary scheduled
activities/3/type
Old
Vote in plenary scheduled
New
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
activities/2/docs/0/text
  • The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO (S&D, ES) on e-democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges.

    The report noted that it is important to regain citizens' confidence in the European project and e-democracy tools can help foster more active citizenship by improving participation, transparency and accountability in decision-making, and reducing the so-called European “democratic deficit”.

    Potential and challenges: Members underlined the potential benefits of e-democracy, which is defined as the support and enhancement of traditional democracy by means of information and communication technologies (ICT), and which can complement and reinforce democratic processes by adding elements of citizens’ empowerment  through different online activities that include, amongst others, e-government, e-governance, e-deliberation, e-participation and e-voting. However, Members made it clear that e-democracy alone does not ensure political participation, and that a non-digital environment to pursue political participation of citizens must also be addressed in parallel to e-democracy.

    The report noted the importance of e-voting and remote internet voting as systems able to widen citizens' inclusion and facilitate democratic participation, especially in areas that are geographically and socially more marginalised.

    Members encouraged the use of e-participation as a key characteristic of e-democracy, encompassing three forms of interaction between EU institutions and governments on one hand, and citizens on the other, namely:

    • e-information,
    • e-consultation,
    • e-decision-making.

    The report pointed out the challenge of responding to the citizens' concerns regarding use of online democracy tools. It stated that addressing security concerns and guaranteeing privacy are of paramount importance for building citizens’ trust in the emerging digital political arena.

    Proposals on improving the democratic system by means of ICT:  Member States and the EU are encouraged in this regard to:

    • provide educational and technical means for boosting the democratic empowerment of citizens;
    • integrate the acquisition of digital skills into school curricula and lifelong learning, and to prioritise digital training programmes for elderly people;
    • develop networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools;
    • deliver affordable and high-speed digital infrastructure, particularly in peripheral regions and rural and economically less developed areas;
    • invest in targeted programmes which promote ICT education and e-participation for women and girls;
    • promote, support and implement mechanisms and instruments that enable the participation of citizens and their interaction with governments and EU institutions, such as crowd-sourcing platforms.

    The European Parliament is urged, as the only directly elected institution of the European Union, to take the lead in reinforcing e-democracy.

    Online platform: the report called for an online platform to be created so that members of the public can systematically consult it before the European legislator takes decisions, thus being involved more directly in public life. It is important to simplify and accelerate the bureaucratic requirements relating to this and of making wider use of ICT, e.g. through digital platforms and other applications compatible with mobile devices.

    Increased participation: Members underlined the need for more ample information for citizens on the existing e-participation platforms at EU, national and local level. They called on the Commission to expand and develop e-participation in the mid-term review of the Digital Single Market Strategy to be launched in 2017, and to promote the development and funding of new instruments connected with e-citizenship of the European Union.

    Stressing that the development of e-administration should be a priority for Member States and the EU institutions, Members welcomed the Commission's ambitious and comprehensive e-government action plan, for which proper national implementation and coordination of available EU funding will be key, in synergy with the national digital agencies and authorities.

    The Commission is called upon to provide an independent assessment or consultation of public opinion regarding online voting, with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, as an additional option for citizens to cast their vote for consideration by the Member States by the end of 2018. 

    Members called on the political groups in the European Parliament and the European political parties to increase opportunities for public discussion and e-participation.

    Data protection: the report stressed the need to protect, as a matter of priority, privacy and personal data when using e-democracy tools and to foster a more secure internet environment.

    Lastly, Member States are encouraged to adapt and update legislation to address on-going developments, and fully implement and enforce existing legislation on hate speech, both offline and online.

activities/2/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0041&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A8-0041/2017
activities/2
date
2017-02-16T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
activities/1
date
2017-02-09T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
committees
activities/2
date
2017-03-01T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Debate in plenary scheduled
activities/3/type
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
activities/1
date
2017-03-02T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/4/mepref
Old
53b2d935b819f205b0000055
New
53b2d715b819f205b000000a
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/4/name
Old
DURAND Pascal
New
ANDERSSON Max
committees/0/shadows/4/mepref
Old
53b2d935b819f205b0000055
New
53b2d715b819f205b000000a
committees/0/shadows/4/name
Old
DURAND Pascal
New
ANDERSSON Max
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/3
group
GUE/NGL
name
SPINELLI Barbara
committees/0/shadows/3
group
GUE/NGL
name
SPINELLI Barbara
activities/0
date
2016-01-21T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
committees
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
AFCO/8/05507
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
other/0
body
EC
dg
commissioner
TIMMERMANS Frans
activities
    committees
    • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: PREDA Cristian Dan group: ECR name: UJAZDOWSKI Kazimierz Michał group: ALDE name: GOULARD Sylvie group: Verts/ALE name: DURAND Pascal group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2015-11-19T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs (Associated committee) rapporteur: group: S&D name: JÁUREGUI ATONDO Ramón
    • body: EP responsible: False committee: CULT date: 2016-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Culture and Education rapporteur: group: EFD name: ADINOLFI Isabella
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Industry, Research and Energy (Associated committee) committee: ITRE
    links
    other
      procedure
      reference
      2016/2008(INI)
      title
      e-Democracy in the European Union: potential and challenges
      legal_basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
      stage_reached
      Preparatory phase in Parliament
      subtype
      Initiative
      type
      INI - Own-initiative procedure
      subject