2017/0220(COD) | [ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1 b (new)

Having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European union and in particular Article 41 thereof,

Amendment 100 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Citizens residing in Member States other than those of their nationality shall have the right to support an initiative either in their country of residence or in their country of origin.

Amendment 101 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Member States and the Commission shall adopt all the necessary provisions to facilitate the exercise, by persons with disabilities, of their right to support a citizens' initiative.

Amendment 102 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) it has received the support of at least one million signatories from at least one quarter of the Member States. (meaning six member states). (This amendment applies throughout the text.Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)

Amendment 103 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) in at least one quarter of the Member States, the number of signatories is at least equal to the minimum number set out in Annex I, corresponding to the number of the Members of the European Parliament elected in each Member State, multiplied by ~~750~~the total number of Members of the European Parliament, at the time of registration of the initiative. (Update Annex I accordingly)

Amendment 104 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2

2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 a signatory shall be counted: (a) in its Member State of nationality. (b) in the member state of choice (host state or state of origin) in case the citizen is a permanent resident of another member state (pursuant to Directive 2004/38). (c) in the member state of choice in case of dual or multiple citizenship (d) the member state of residence in case of beneficiaries of international and subsidiary protection or EU Blue Card holders (pursuant to Council Directive 2009/50/EC and Directive 2011/95/EU)

Amendment 105 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2

2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 a signatory shall decide whether to be counted in its Member State of nationality or residence.

Amendment 106 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2

2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 a signatory shall be counted in its Member State of nationality irrespective of the place where the statement of support was signed by the signatory.

Amendment 107 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – title

Information and assistance by the Commission, other Union institutions and by Member States

Amendment 108 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall~~, upon request, provide information and assistanc~~ provide easily accessible exhaustive information and legal and technical assistance and guidance free of charge about the European citizens’ 'initiative to citizens and groups of organisers to allow them to clarify and define the objective and facilitate the registration of their ECI.

Amendment 109 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. 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 for assistance. Those services shall provide full legal and practical assistance and guidance free of charge.

Amendment 11 #

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 5 a (new)

having regard to the judgment of the General Court in the case of T-754/14 and in particular paragraphs 45 and 47 thereof,

Amendment 110 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. The Commission shall also provide guidance to the Europe Direct Contact Centre so that they can also provide information and legal, technical assistance, guidance and advice to ECI organisers at national level.

Amendment 111 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall make available an online collaborative platform providing citizens and groups of organisers with a discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. The Commission shall engage regularly with the ECI organisers through the collaborative platform.

Amendment 112 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall make available an online collaborative platform providing citizens and groups of organisers with a discussion forum and information ~~and advice~~ about the European citizens’ initiative. The Commission provides citizens and groups of organisers with advice.

Amendment 113 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)

Within 3 months after the publication of this Regulation, the Commission shall issue an user guide in order to facilitate the understanding of the European citizens' initiative. This user guide shall be issued after consultation of the committee established by Article 21 and the scrutiny board established by Article 21a.

Amendment 114 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. The Commission shall make available an online, open-source, collaborative platform providing citizens, groups of organisers another relevant stakeholders with a discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative, as well as an exchange of best practices. Use of this platform shall be made available free of charge to all organisers.

Amendment 115 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall make available an online register ('the register') allowing groups of organisers to manage their initiative throughout the procedure. The register shall comprise a public website providing information on the European citizens’ initiative in general including on the ECI financing and funding sources as well as on specific initiatives and their respective status.

Amendment 116 #

Laurenţiu REBEGA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4

4. After the Commission has registered an initiative in accordance with Article 6, it shall provide the translation of the ~~content of that~~whole initiative into all the official languages of the Union for its publication in the register and its use for the collection of statements of support in accordance with this Regulation. A group of organisers may, in addition, provide translations into all the official languages of the Union of the Annex for its publication in the register and also, as the case may be, of the draft legal act referred to in Annex II and submitted in accordance with Article 6(2).

Amendment 117 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4

4. After the Commission has registered an initiative in accordance with Article 6, it shall provide the free translation of the content of that initiative into all the official languages of the Union for its publication in the register and its use for the collection of statements of support in accordance with this Regulation. A group of organisers may, in addition, provide translations ~~into all the official languages of the Union~~of the proposed citizens’ initiative in other languages authorised by the Member States in accordance with applicable national law as well as translations of the Annex for ~~its publication in the register and also, as the case may be, of the~~an explanatory statement into all the official languages of the Union, for the publication of both in the register. If a draft legal act, as referred to in Annex II ~~and~~, is submitted in accordance with Article 6(2), it may also be included in the register. If an Annex or an explanatory statement has less than 5 000 characters (adjusted mean per language), the group of organisers may also request the Commission to translate the Annex free of charge into all official languages of the Union.

Amendment 118 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4

4. After the Commission has registered an initiative in accordance with Article 6, it shall provide the translation of the content of that initiative into all the official languages of the Union for its publication in the register and its use for the collection of statements of support in accordance with this Regulation. A group of organisers may, in addition, ask the Commission to provide translations into all the official languages of the Union of the Annex for its publication in the register and also, as the case may be, of the draft legal act referred to in Annex II and submitted in accordance with Article 6(2).

Amendment 119 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4

4. After the Commission has registered an initiative in accordance with Article 6, it shall provide the translation of the content of that initiative into all the official languages of the Union for its publication in the register and its use for the collection of statements of support in accordance with this Regulation. A group of organisers may, in addition, ~~provide~~request the Commission to translat~~ions~~e into all the official languages of the Union of the Annex for its publication in the register and also, as the case may be, of the draft legal act referred to in Annex II and submitted in accordance with Article 6(2).

Amendment 12 #

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 5 a (new)

Having regard to the judgement of the General Court of the European Union in Case T-754/14 Michael Efler and Others v Commission,

Amendment 120 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. The European Economic and Social Committee shall be entitled to offer institutional mentoring and facilitation to the group of organisers, as it sees more appropriate to raise awareness of initiatives, while respecting its remit and preserving a neutral role. It shall be entitled to organise one or more hearings in its premises, since the registration of an initiative and through the signature collection phase, inviting the group of organisers to present their initiatives.Relevant independent experts may be also invited. It shall be entitled to also contribute to the promotion of the citizens' initiative in general as a tool to foster democratic participation within the Union.

Amendment 121 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points to provide information ~~and~~, as well as specific technical and legal advice and other assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative. Such one- stop-shops shall be present at least in the different Commission representation offices in all Member States;

Amendment 122 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more physical contact points to provide information, legal advice and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative. It should use the resources of the point of contact based in the Europe Direct Contact Centre and the European Commission Representations and the European Parliament offices in the Member States;

Amendment 123 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points ~~to provide information and assistance~~within their respective Europe Direct Contact Centre to provide information and assistance, as well as specific technical and legal guidelines to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 124 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points to provide information and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative. This assistance shall be free of charge.

Amendment 125 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall ~~establish~~appoint one or more contact points to provide information and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 126 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. The information shall be provided in a manner that is accessible and usable format and technologies appropariate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely mannter and without additional cost. the information shall be presented at an easily comprehensible manner with the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and any other accessible means, modes and formats of communication;

Amendment 127 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Europe Direct information points and the representation offices of the Commission at the member states ypon the request of the organisers shall be at the position to: (a) provide full assistance, free of charge (b) facilitate communication with the Commission

Amendment 128 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. An initiative shall be prepared and managed by a group of at least s~~even~~ix natural persons (the 'group of organisers'). Members of the European Parliament shall not be counted for the purpose of that minimum number.

Amendment 129 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2

2. The members of the group of organisers shall be citizens of the Union, ~~of the age to be entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament~~aged 16 or over and residents of at least seven different Member States.

Amendment 13 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) 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 of the Union has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. The European citizens’ initiative is a Union instrument of participatory democracy which affords citizens of the Union 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 or envisaged legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing or revising the Treaties, ~~similar to~~beyond 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 130 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2

2. The members of the group of organisers shall be citizens or residents of the Union, of the age to be entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament ~~and residents of~~originating from at least s~~even~~ix different Member States.

Amendment 131 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2

2. The members of the group of organisers shall be citizens of the ~~Union~~Member States, of the age to be entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament and residents of at least seven different Member States.

Amendment 132 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. The group of organisers may be registered as a legal entity, namely an organisation with legal personality in one of the Member States in accordance with national law.

Amendment 133 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

The group of organisers shall designate or elect two of its members as, respectively, representative and substitute, who shall liaise between them and the institutions of the Union throughout the process and who shall be mandated to act on behalf of the group of organisers (the 'contact persons').

Amendment 134 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

The group of organisers may also designate a maximum of twohree other natural persons, chosen from among its members or otherwise, who are mandated to act on behalf of the contact persons for the purpose of liaising with the institutions of the Union throughout the procedure.

Amendment 135 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5

5. Without prejudice to the liability of the representative of the group of organisers as data controller under Article 82(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the members of a group of organisers shall be ~~jointly and severally~~ liable, in accordance with applicable national law, for any damage caused in the organisation of an initiative ~~by unlawful acts committed intentionally or with serious negligence~~.

Amendment 136 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5

5. Without prejudice to the liability of the representative of the group of organisers as data controller under Article 82(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the members of a group of organisers or, if applicable the legal entity created by them, shall be joint~~ly and several~~ly liable, in accordance with applicable national law, for any damage caused in the organisation of an initiative by unlawful acts committed intentionally or with serious negligence.

Amendment 137 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new)

Article 5a Hearing officer for European citizens' initiatives The Commission, acting in accordance with the rules laid down in the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, shall appoint one or more hearing officers from among persons who are highly professionally qualified in the law of the European Union, and shall also provide auxiliary support staff. The Commission shall ensure sincere cooperation and political dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council for the purposes of transparency and of ascertaining that there are no conflicts of interests involved in the appointment of hearing officers and the performance of their duties. The hearing officer shall assess whether the conditions under this Regulation are met for registration of a proposed European citizens' initiative. The hearing officer shall enjoy full independence in the performance of his or her duties.

Amendment 138 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1

1. Statements of support for an initiative may only be collected after the initiative has been registered by the Commission and where relevant after Member States have verified the conformity of the individual online collection systems set up by the group of organisers within the requirements of this Regulation.

Amendment 139 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1

1. Statements of support for an initiative may only be collected after the initiative has been registered by the Commission, following a favourable assessment by the hearing officer referred to in this Regulation.

Amendment 14 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) In its report on the application of Regulation (EU) No 211/201124 of March 201524, the Commission listed a number of challenges arising in the implementation of that Regulation and made a commitment, which is still pending, to analyse further the impact of those issues on the effectiveness of the European citizens' initiative instrument and to improve its functioning. _________________ 24 COM(2015)145 final. COM(2015) 145 final.

Amendment 140 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b

(b) where it is made up of more than 7 members, indicate those s~~even~~ix members to be taken into account for the purpose of Article 5(1) and (2);

Amendment 141 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

Without prejudice to paragraphs 5 and 6, the ~~Commission shall decide~~hearing officer shall deliver an opinion on the request within two months of its submission.

Amendment 142 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. The Commission shall create an independent body for the specific purpose to assess the admissibility of submitted citizens' initiative, exclusively on the basis of the criteria set out in paragraph 3. This independent body shall refrain from political considerations and shall merely perform a legal compliance check. Its administrative procedure shall be ultimately subject to the scrutiny of the Union Ombudsman.

Amendment 143 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

The Commission shall register the initiative if according to the independent assessment body referred to in paragraph 2a:

Amendment 144 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

The hearing officer shall recommend that the Commission ~~shall~~ register the initiative if:

Amendment 145 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c

(c) ~~none of the parts of~~ the initiative does not manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers 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;

Amendment 146 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c

(c) ~~none of the~~the initiative or parts of the initiative does not manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;

Amendment 147 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e

(e) the initiative is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and rights enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 148 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

If one or more of the requirements set out in points (a) to (e) are not met, the hearing officer shall recommend that the Commission ~~shall~~ refuse to register the initiative, without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5.

Amendment 149 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Where ithe or she considers that the requirements laid down in paragraph 3 (a), (b), (d) and (e) are met but that the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) is not met, the ~~Commission~~hearing officer shall, within one month of the submission of the request, ~~inform the group of organisers of its assessment and of the reasons thereof~~provide his or her assessment and the reasons therefor. The Commission shall simultaneously forward that information to the group of organisers.

Amendment 15 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)

(3 a) according to the Judgement of the General Court in case T-754/14, the ECI aims at allowing the citizens of the European Union to participate directly in the democratic life of the European Union. Their active participation in the democratic process is further strengthened especially through the mechanism of ECI, that allows them to raise questions and present them to the European Commission, and to request from the latter to submit a proposal for a European Union legal act after having, as the case may be, presented the ECI at a public hearing organised at the Parliament, by stimulating a democratic debate without having to await the adoption of the legal act whose modification or withdrawal is ultimately sought.

Amendment 150 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

In that case, the group of organisers may either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission's assessment to ensure that the initiative is in conformity with the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) or maintain or withdraw the initial initiative.The group of organisers may alternatively seize the scrutiny board established by Article 21a. to review the assessment of the Commission. The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of its choice within one month of the receipt of the Commission's assessment giving the reasons thereof, and shall, as the case may be, transmit amendments to the information referred to in Annex II to replace the initial initiative.

Amendment 151 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

In that case, the group of organisers may either amend the initiative to take into account the ~~Commission~~hearing officer's assessment to ensure that the initiative is in conformity with the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) or maintain or withdraw the initial initiative. The group of organisers shall inform the Commission and the hearing officer of its choice within one month of the receipt of the ~~Commission's~~ assessment giving the reasons thereof, and shall, as the case may be, transmit amendments to the information referred to in Annex II to replace the initial initiative.

Amendment 152 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

In that case, the group of organisers may either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission's assessment to ensure that the initiative is in conformity with the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) or maintain or withdraw the initial initiative. The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of its choice within ~~one~~two months of the receipt of the Commission's assessment giving the reasons thereof, and shall, as the case may be, transmit amendments to the information referred to in Annex II to replace the initial initiative.

Amendment 153 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – introductory part

Where the Commission receives the information from the organisers, once the hearing officer's assessment has been acquired, it shall:

Amendment 154 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b

(b) partially register the initiative if a ~~substantial~~ part of the initiative~~, including its main objectives,~~ does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;

Amendment 155 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b

(b) partially register the initiative if ~~a substantial~~ part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;

Amendment 156 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4

The ~~Commission shall decide~~hearing officer shall express an opinion on the request within one month of receipt of the information and, as the case may be, the amended initiative from the group of organisers referred to in the second subparagraph.

Amendment 157 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1

Any initiative that has been submitted to the Commission for registration, including every initiative that has been registered, shall be made public in the register and on the website of the European Citizens' Initiative.

Amendment 158 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part

Where the Commission, having acquired the hearing officer's assessment, partially registers an initiative:

Amendment 159 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6

6. The Commission shall register an initiative under a single registration decision and a single registration number and inform the group of organisers thereof.

Amendment 16 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 b (new)

(3 b) according to the same judgment, ECI proposals constitute an expression of the effective participation of citizens of the European Union in the democratic life thereof and they do not undermine the institutional balance intended by the Treaties, even when they are dealing with ongoing legislative procedures.

Amendment 160 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them. The Commission shall provide robust, consistent and comprehensive reasons for its decision to refuse to register an ECI, so that citizens can understand and scrutinise its position and if necessary exercise their right to contest it. The Commission shall make public in the register and on the website of the European Citizens' Initiative the decision , reasoning and motivation of the Commission to register, partially register or refuse to register an initiative.

Amendment 161 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision asetting out full details concerning the grounds of the refusal, taking into account any Annexes submitted and expressly referring to the legal bases used, and make those publically available with due regard of Article 296(2) TFEU and Article 41 of the Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, providing also all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 162 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where ithere is a refusesal to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the ~~Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and~~hearing officer shall provide clear, comprehensive and detailed information on the reasons for his or her assessment. The Commission shall forward that information to the group of organisers and also inform them clearly and comprehensively of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 163 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall ~~inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and~~fully state the reason for refusing the registration, clearly indicating the parts that do not fall within its competence, and shall state out the reasons in support of that conclusion. The Commission will inform the group of organisers of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 164 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall inform ~~the group of organisers~~and adequately justify stating the reasons in full detail for choosing the course of action announced in the communication. The group of organizers shall be fully informed of the reasons for its decision and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 165 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall ~~inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them~~duly substantiate the reasons of its decision and inform the group of organisers and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them. This information includes the recourse to the scrutiny board established by Article 21a.

Amendment 166 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers exhaustively and in full detail of the reasons for its decision and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 167 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Where organisers are informed of a refusal to register, fully or in part, they can amend their initiative and resubmit to the Commission within one month. Decisions made by organisers regarding the registration of their ECI shall also be made available in the register and on the website of the European Citizens' Initiative.

Amendment 168 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8

8. The Commission shall inform, in a clear, comprehensive and detailed manner, the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee ~~and~~, the Committee of the Regions and the national parliaments of the registration of an initiative.

Amendment 169 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 128 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the 'collection period'), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than ~~thre~~nine months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 17 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to ~~make~~exploit the potential of the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizensin order to strengthen the principle of democracy and the democratic functioning of the Union by giving every citizen a general right to participate in democratic life.

Amendment 170 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 128 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the 'collection period'), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than three months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 171 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 12 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the 'collection period'), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than ~~three~~four months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 172 #

Pál CSÁKY, László TŐKÉS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 12 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the 'collection period'), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than ~~three~~six months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 173 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

Where the group of organisers wishes to terminate the collection of statements of support before the end of 128 months after the beginning of the collection period, it shall inform the Commission of the date at which the collection period is to end. (This amendment applies throughout the whole text.)

Amendment 174 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. The group of organisers, or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them in accordance with Article 5(2a) and (7) 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 6.

Amendment 175 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)

The Commission and the competent authorities of Member States shall adopt all the necessary provisions so that Union citizens residing in a Member State other than that of their nationality shall have the possibility to choose whether their support to an initiative is counted either in their country of residence or in their country of origin. Competent authorities from the different Member States shall coordinate to ensure a proper allocation of the statements of support in their respective accounts.

Amendment 176 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1

The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of the number of collected statements of support in each Member State at least every twohree months during the collection period and of the final number within three months of the end of the collection period for publication in the register. The Commission should maintain regular communication with the ECI organisers during and after the campaign.

Amendment 177 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

For the purpose of online collection of statements of support, the Commission shall set-up and operate, by 1 January 2020, a central online collection system, in accordance with Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017. The use of this system shall be voluntary and free of charge to all organisers.

Amendment 178 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

The central online collection system shall be open-source and shall be accessible for persons with disabilities.

Amendment 179 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. The group of organisers using other certified online collection systems shall still have the possibility to use the servers operated by the Commission free of charge. Where statements of support are collected online, the data obtained through the online collection system shall be stored in the territory of the European Union.

Amendment 18 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to ~~achieve the full potential of the~~encourage as many citizens as possible to get involved in organising, participating or supporting a European citizens’' initiative and to achieve the full potential of this instrument as a tool to foster debate and citizens’ participation at Union level, promote European integration and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 180 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1

1. Each Member State (the 'responsible Member State') shall verify and certify that the statements of support signed by its nationals or residents comply with the provisions of this Regulation. (This amendment applies throughout the text.Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)

Amendment 181 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

~~The group of organisers shall submit the statements of support to the competent authorities only where the minimum numbers of signatories laid down in Article 3 have been reached by the initiative.~~deleted

Amendment 182 #

Pál CSÁKY, László TŐKÉS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The group of organisers shall submit the statements of support to the competent authorities only where the minimum numbers of signatories laid down in Article 3(1)(a) have been reached by the initiative, having regard to the minimum number laid down in Annex I to the statements of support.

Amendment 183 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – title

14 When the Commission receives a valid initiative in respect of which the statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, it shall publish without delay a notice to that effect in the register and transmit the initiative to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.Publication and public hearings

Amendment 184 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph –1 (new)

-1. When the first six months of the signature collection period have elapsed, the group of organisers may request that a first public hearing be held, at Union level, in order to present its initiative. The hearing shall be organised by the European Parliament within three months of the request submitted by the group of organisers.

Amendment 185 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1

1. When the Commission receives a valid initiative in respect of which the statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, it shall publish without delay a notice to that effect in the register and transmit the initiative to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee ~~and~~, the Committee of the Regions, as well as to national parliaments.

Amendment 186 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1

Amendment 187 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within three months after the submission of the initiative, the group of organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the initiative at a public hearing in the European Parliament in order to promote constructive and open public debate with all stakeholders, thus strengthening the European public sphere and democracy at EU level and reinforcing the importance of the initiative.

Amendment 188 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within three months ~~after~~of the submission of the valid initiative in relation to which statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, the group of organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the initiative at a second public hearing.

Amendment 189 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

When twelve months have elapsed since the submission of the Commission communication on its legal and political conclusions concerning a valid initiative in relation to which statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, the group of organisers may request that a third public hearing be held at Union level. The hearing shall be organised by the European Parliament within six months of the submission of the request by the group of organisers.

Amendment 19 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, ~~and to bri~~to streng the ~~Union closer to~~n its democratic dimension and to close the gap between the Union and its citizens.

Amendment 190 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ~~co-~~organizse the public hearing ~~at the European Parliament~~. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders and representatives of civil society and social partners, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing. Within one month of the public hearing, the European Parliament should hold a plenary debate on the initiative, which may be followed by a vote on a motion for resolution proposing a specific recommendation to the Commission.

Amendment 191 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ~~co-~~organizse the public hearing at the European Parliament. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, a~~s well as interested stakeholders~~nd in particular the European Economic and Social Committee, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing. The attendance of other interested stakeholders shall be subject to the consent of the group of organisers. The public hearing shall be web-streamed and publically available thereafter.

Amendment 192 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ~~co-~~organize the public hearing at ~~the European Parliament. Representatives of the o~~its premises. Representatives of the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the Committe of Regions (CoR) shall be invited. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union based on the topic stressed in the ECI, as well as interested stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 193 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ~~co-~~organizse the public hearings at ~~the European Parliament~~its premises. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, ~~as well as interested~~of the national parliaments and public stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearings.

Amendment 194 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The Commission and the European Parliament shall co-organize the public hearing at the European Parliament. Representatives of the Council assist and participate in the hearing. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 195 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)

The hearing shall pursue the public interest. The exclusive objective of the hearing is to inform exhaustively about the content and aims of a initiative.

Amendment 196 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 b (new)

The main aim of the hearing shall be to provide, in the public interest, the group of organisers with a forum to present the content of their initiative. The focus of the initiative shall be to provide detailed exposition of its purpose and to suggest concrete legislative goals.

Amendment 197 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

~~The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests.~~deleted

Amendment 198 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of ~~relevant public and private interest~~stakeholders involved depending on the topic discussed. Additionally the hearing shall be fully accessible, publicly web-broadcasted and shall allow for the opportunity for real- time participation by the citizens.

Amendment 199 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public ~~and private interests~~interests. The European Parliament shall also ensure the presence of experts who are highly skilled in the subject on which the initiative is based, subject to prior verification that there are no conflicts of interests involved.

Amendment 20 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation ~~aims to~~should make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, more transparent, more effective, more democratic, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 200 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests, as well as the representation of institutions and advisory bodies of the Union.

Amendment 201 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3 a (new)

The European Parliament in accordance with its Rules of Procedure shall strive to host a debate at plenary level with the option to have a motion for resolution depicting its position on the European citizens' initiative proposed.

Amendment 202 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall be represented in the hearing at an appropriate level. The presence of at least one member of the College of Commissioners shall be assured at the hearings.

Amendment 203 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission and Council shall be represented in the hearing at an appropriate level.

Amendment 204 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall be represented in the hearings at an appropriate level.

Amendment 205 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall be represented in the hearing at ~~an appropriate~~the highest level.

Amendment 206 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. 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 14, and no later than one month thereafter. The debate shall be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution with European Parliament’s recommendation to the Commission on the actions needed as a follow up to the citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 207 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. The European Parliament may also develop appropriate forms of response to those citizens' initiatives, which have been successfully registered but do not meet the one million signatures, but nevertheless receive significant citizens' support.

Amendment 208 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. A second hearing may be organised by the Parliament, for instance at the request of the group of organisers including their participation, subsequently to the communication by the Commission, in order to contribute to the assessment of its reply and any concrete legislative proposal contained therein.

Amendment 209 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. National and regional parliaments may also organise hearings on the citizens' initiatives, inviting where appropriate the organisers, with particular emphasis on Member States where a successful initiative has reached the minimum threshold of signatures.

Amendment 21 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation ~~aims to~~shall make the European citizens’ initiative ~~more~~ accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 210 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new)

Article 14 a Involvement of the Parliament after the submission of an initiative 1. Upon notification by the Commission that a valid and certified initiative has been received in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, the European Parliament shall organise the public hearing referred to in Article 14 on its premises as early as possible, and in any event no later than three months after the submission of the initiative. The European Parliament shall adopt the necessary provisions to ensure consistency in the organisation of hearings of the different citizen's initiatives over time. 2. 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 14. The debate shall be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution with European Parliament’s recommendation to the Commission on the actions needed as a follow up to the citizens’ initiative. 3. After the communication by the Commission is published, the Parliament may organise a new public hearing in presence of the organisers of the citizens' initiative, as well as independent experts. 4. Where the conclusions in the communication of the Commission referred to in Article 15(2) and the recommendation of the European Parliament referred to in paragraph 2 differ, the European Parliament may exercise the right conferred on the European Parliament under Article 225 TFEU. 5. Registered citizens' initiatives that at the end of the collection period do not reach the minimum amount of supports to be validated in accordance with Article 3 may be examined by the Parliament by other means, by analogy with petitions.

Amendment 211 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – title

15 Examination by the Commission - First Phase

Amendment 212 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1

1. Within one month of the submission of ~~the initiative~~a valid initiative in relation to which statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, the Commission shall receive the group of organisers at an appropriate level to allow them to explain in detail the matters raised by the initiative.

Amendment 213 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Within three months of the submission of a valid initiative in relation to which statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, the European Parliament shall organise a debate in plenary session.

Amendment 214 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within five months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the public hearing referred to in Article 14(2), the Commission shall set out in a communication its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its reasons for taking or not taking action. The Commission should give detailed and clear reasons and full justification for a decision not to take any action explaining its political conclusions to the public in a detailed and transparent manner.

Amendment 215 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 216 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within f~~ive~~our months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the public hearing referred to in Article 14(2), the Commission shall set out in a draft communication its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its reasons for taking or not taking action.

Amendment 217 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

In conformity of the principle of good administration, the Commission substantiates its decision.

Amendment 218 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. In the case of a successful initiative, the Commission shall by default submit a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council within twelve months of the end of the period referred to in paragraph 2. If exceptionally the Commission is of the opinion that there are good reasons not to submit such a specific proposal, then it shall duly justify its decision on an exhaustive and fully detailed manner, thus allowing for its proper assessment by the European Parliament and other institutions, organisers and signatories, concerned stakeholders and public in general. For the purposes of this Article, special attention should be paid to Article 296(2) TFEU and Article 41 of the Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 219 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. No later than four months after the reception of the communication, the European Parliament shall assess the Commission's reply to the citizens' initiative in form of legislative action or absence thereof. The European Parliament may organise a second hearing in presence of the organisers of the initiative as well as independent experts, and it shall hold a plenary debate on this issue, according to its Rules of Procedure. Those debates shall be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution.

Amendment 22 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and a higher level of citizen participation ~~at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizen~~in the decision making process.

Amendment 220 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Where the conclusions in the communication of the Commission referred to in Article 15(2) and the recommendation of the European Parliament differ, the European Parliament may exercise the right conferred on the European Parliament under Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Amendment 221 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission and the group of organisers ~~may~~shall inform the signatories on the response to the initiative in accordance with Article 17 (2) and (3).

Amendment 222 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. The Commission should keep the organisers updated on its activities in relation to the initiative and on the evolution of the initiative after the Commission has delivered on its decision.

Amendment 223 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)

Article 15 a Examination of the Commission - Second Phase 1. Within one month from the publication of the draft communication a second public hearing shall be organized by the European Parliament at its premises in accordance with article 14, with the view to debate fully and with transparency the proposed course of action by the European Commission. 2. Within two months from the second public hearing the final communication from the Commission shall be communicated to the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Committee of Regions (CoR) and the organizers.

Amendment 224 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)

Article 15 a Political hearing The European Parliament and the Council can organise, jointly or separately, a hearing of the Commission on its decision to intend or not to intend an action after a valid initiative.

Amendment 225 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – title

Transparency and funding

Amendment 226 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1

The group of organisers shall provide, for the publication in the register, and as the case may be on their campaign website, information on the sources of support and funding for the initiative exceeding 5100 euros per sponsor.

Amendment 227 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)

An annual appropriation in the Union's Budget shall be allocated to support the organisation of citizens' initiatives. An established group of organisers may apply for financial coverage of expenses related to legal advice and support prior to the submission or after the conclusion of the signature collection. The group of organisers of registered initiatives shall be entitled to a grant, aimed at covering expenses related to communication and logistical aspects of their signature collection campaign.

Amendment 228 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)

The Commission should ensure full transparency of funding and sponsorship information through quality checks, alerts and complaints system to ensure that funding and sponsorship information provided by ECI organisers are correct.

Amendment 229 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission, with the support of the European Parliament and other Union Institutions, as well as Member States, shall raise public awareness about the existence of the European citizens’ initiative through proactively carrying out communication activities and information campaigns~~, thereby~~ using all public channels available, thereby maximising its added- value and contributing to promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union. The Commission may grant financial support to entities that contribute to the overall promotion of the citizens' initiative as a democratic participation instrument, provide free technical support and legal advice to the organisers.

Amendment 23 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)

(5a) The European citizens’ initiative should be made more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and for supporters.

Amendment 230 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission and member States shall raise public awareness about the existence of the European citizens’ initiative through communication activities and information ad hoc campaigns, grass- root initiatives and the use of social and digital media thereby contributing to promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union and promoting awareness of how citizens can influence and shape the European Union through a European citizens 'initiative.

Amendment 231 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. As an additional means of raising awareness on a registered ECI, the group of organisers of a registered initiative shall be entitled to present their initiative in a public hearing at the premises of the official representation of the Commission or the European Parliament in the Member States. This shall take place at no cost to the group of organisers, in the month of their choice between the date of the registration and the termination of collection of statements of support, and at least once in each Member State. The responsible services of the Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure that adequate official communication about the event takes place at the national level.

Amendment 232 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

For the purposes of communication and information activities regarding the initiative concerned and subject to explicit consent by a signatory, his or her email address may be collected by a group of organisers or by the Commission.

Amendment 233 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph –1 (new)

-1. In processing personal data pursuant to this Regulation, the group of organisers of a citizens’ initiative or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them, and the competent authorities of the Member State shall comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 .

Amendment 234 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. The organisers or, if applicable, the legal entity created by them, shall ensure that personal data collected for a given citizen’s initiative are not used for any purpose other than their indicated support for that initiative.

Amendment 235 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1

1. For the purpose of Article 11, each Member State shall designate without delay one or more competent authorities responsible for issuing the certificate referred to in Article 11(3).

Amendment 236 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2

2. For the purpose of Article 12, each Member State shall designate without delay one competent authority responsible for coordinating the process of verification of statements of support and for issuing the certificates referred to in Article 12(5).

Amendment 237 #

Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 4 – title

~~DELEGATED ACTS AND~~ IMPLEMENTING ACTS

Amendment 238 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 a (new)

Article 21 a Scrutiny board 1. For the purpose of implementing Article 6, a scrutiny board is established within the Commission. 2.The scrutiny board is composed of experienced and competent members of the Commission, the Council, the European Parliament and the Ombudsman. 3. The number of members and the rules of functioning of the scrutiny board are defined in accordance with the procedure defined by Article 23.

Amendment 239 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1

~~The Commission is empowered to adopt~~ delegated ~~acts in accordance with Article 23 concerning amendments to the Annexes to this Regulation within the scope of the relevant provisions of this Regulation.~~

Amendment 24 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) To achieve those objectives, the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate to the nature of this instrument. They sh~~ould strike a judicious balance between rights and obligations~~all allow participation in the process of the European citizens' initiative without any discrimination whatsoever. They should strike a judicious balance between rights and obligations, giving when in doubt priority to the rights of the citizens as stressed in the Treaties and the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the Union, striving to avoid formalism.

Amendment 240 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2. The power to adopt the delegated acts referred to in Article 22 shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [date of entry into force of the basic legislative act or any other date set by the co-legislators]. 3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 22 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. 5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 22 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of [two months] of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by [two months] at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.Article 23 deleted Exercise of the delegation

Amendment 241 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens' initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than ~~fiv~~three years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every ~~fiv~~three years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.

Amendment 242 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens' initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than f~~ive~~our years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every f~~ive~~our years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.

Amendment 243 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens' initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than ~~five~~two years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every five years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.

Amendment 244 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 1

1. The title of the initiative, in no more than 100 characters not including spaces;

Amendment 245 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2

2. The content of the initiative on which the Commission is invited to act, in no more than 10 200 characters (adjusted mean per language);

Amendment 246 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2

2. The content of the initiative on which the Commission is invited to act, in no more than 1000 characters not including spaces;

Amendment 247 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 4 – paragraph 1

The full names, postal addresses, nationalities and dates of birth of s~~even~~ix members of the group of organisers residing in s~~even~~ix different Member States indicating specifically the representative and the substitute as well as their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers35 ; _________________ 35 Privacy statement: in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data, data subjects are informed that these personal data are compiled by the Commission for the purpose of the procedure in respect of the proposed citizens’ initiative. Only the full names of the organisers, the country of residence of the representative or, as the case may be, the name and the country of the seat of the legal entity, the e-mail addresses of the contact persons and information relating to the sources of support and funding will be made available to the public in the Commission’s online register. Data subjects are entitled to object to the publication of their personal data on compelling legitimate grounds relating to their particular situation, and to request the rectification of that data at any time and its removal from the Commission’s online register after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of registration of the proposed citizens’ initiative. (This amendment applies throughout the text.Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)

Amendment 248 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 4 – paragraph 2

If the representative and/or the substitute are not among the s~~even~~ix members referred to in the above paragraph, their full names, postal addresses, nationalities, dates of birth, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers.

Amendment 249 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 5

5. Documents that prove the full names, postal addresses, nationalities and dates of birth of each of the s~~even~~ix members referred to in point 4 above and of the representative and the substitute if they are not among those s~~even~~ix members; (This amendment applies throughout the text.Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)

Amendment 25 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) To achieve those objectives, the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly including for persons with disabilities and proportionate to the nature of this instrument. They should strike a judicious balance between rights and obligations and ensure that successful initiatives receive an appropriate follow up from the Commission.

Amendment 250 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – part 1 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

I want my statement of support to be counted in my the Member State I reside / I am national of ((Tick where appropriate.In case of choice by nationality, indicate the Member State))

Amendment 251 #

Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – part 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

I want my statement of support to be counted in my the Member State I reside / I am national of ((Tick where appropriate.In case of choice by nationality, indicate the Member State))

Amendment 26 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) To achieve those objectives, the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be transparent, clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate to the nature of this instrument. They should strike a judicious balance between rights and obligations.

Amendment 27 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) It is appropriate to set a minimum age for supporting an initiative. To achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as an instrument of participatory democracy and to foster citizen participation at Union level especially among young European citizens, that age should be set at 16 years. The decisive time for determining the ability of one person to support an Initiative is that of expression of the support.

Amendment 28 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) It is appropriate to set a minimum age for organising or supporting an initiative. To achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as an instrument of participatory democracy and to foster citizen participation at Union level and civic engagement in general, especially among young European citizens, that age should be set at 16 years.

Amendment 29 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) In accordance with Article 11(4) of the TEU an initiative inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required to implement the Treaties, is to be taken byrequires not less than one million citizens of the Union who are nationals of a significant number of Member States. to be considered successful;

Amendment 30 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) In accordance with Article 11(4) of the TEU an initiative inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required to implement the Treaties, is to be taken by not less than one million citizens of the Union who are nationals or permanent residents of a significant number of Member States.

Amendment 31 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

~~(8)~~8. In accordance with Article 11(4) of the TEU an initiative inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required to implement the Treaties, is to be taken by not less than one million citizens of the Union who are nationals of a ~~significant number of~~t least four Member States.

Amendment 32 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)

(8a) A European citizens’ initiative in which the Commission is invited to submit a proposal to amend the Treaties should be deemed admissible, given that Article 48 of the TEU confers upon the Commission the power to submit to the Council proposals to amend the Treaties.

Amendment 33 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) In order to ensure that an initiative is representative of a Union interest while ensuring that the instrument remains easy to use the minimum number of Member States from which citizens must come should be set at one quarter of Member States and the minimum number of signatories coming from each of those Member States should be degressively proportional and correspond to the number of Members of the European Parliament elected in each Member State, multiplied by 750.

Amendment 34 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

Amendment 35 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

(10) In order to ensure that an initiative is representative and to ensure similar conditions for citizens to support an initiative, it is also appropriate to establish the minimum number of signatories coming from each of those Member States. Those minimum numbers of signatories required in each Member State should be degressively proportional and correspond to the number of Members of the European Parliament elected in each Member State, multiplied by 750.deleted

Amendment 36 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

Amendment 37 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

(10). In order to ensure that an initiative is representative and to ensure similar conditions for citizens to support an initiative, it is also appropriate to establish the minimum number of signatories coming from each of those Member States. Those minimum numbers of signatories required in each Member State should be degressively proportional and correspond to the number of Members of the European Parliament elected in ~~each Member State, multiplied by~~the State with the smallest number of MEPs, i.e. 6 out of 750.

Amendment 38 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11). Every citizen of the Union solely and exclusively should have the right to support an initiative on paper or online, under similar conditions regardless of the Member State of nationality or residence.

Amendment 39 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)

(12 a) In view of the advisory, translation and awareness-raising activities (including the ‘ECI Day’) undertaken by the consultative institutions of the Union, especially the European Economic and Social Committee, the Commission will keep those institutions informed on newly registered initiatives and future awareness-raising campaigns relating to the ECI.

Amendment 40 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’' initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should provide information and assistance free of charge to organisers and make available an online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’' initiative~~. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member Stat~~, that will serve also as a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices and to enable citizens to discuss proposed citizens' initiatives and to formulate new ones. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States building upon the Europe Direct Information Centres should establish one or more ~~contact point~~ECI help desks in their respective territories to provide citizens with information and assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative on technical issues related to the ECI, including how to promote the ECI at national and local level. An annual ECI conference at EU level should be organised on the ECI day with the aim of further strengthening dialogue and exchange of best practices between organisers, civil society and social partners and EU institutions and to assess the state of implementation and effectiveness of the ECI.

Amendment 41 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should provide information and assistance to organisers and make available an online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish ~~one or more~~, in due time and in any case by the time this Regulation comes into force, contact points in their respective territories to provide citizens with information ~~and~~, assistance ~~regarding the~~and guidance regarding the submission of a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 42 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)

(13 a) In order to raise awareness and foster the debate concerning on-going initiatives as national level, where signatures are collected, it is important to involve both national and regional parliaments from an early stage and that the offices of the representations of the Commission and the European Parliament in the Member States put their facilities at the service of citizens' initiatives. At the Union level, the neutral role of the European Economic and Social Committee makes it suitable to play a role of facilitator and institutional mentor during the on-going citizens' initiatives.

Amendment 43 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)

(13 a) Stresses the need to create an infrastructure with legal advice on European Citizens' Initiatives and to create a legal framework to protect members of the European Citizens' Initiatives.

Amendment 44 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) A minimum organised structure is needed in order to launch and manage citizens’ initiatives successfully. That structure should take the form of a group of organisers, composed of natural persons resident in at least s~~even~~ix different Member States, in order to encourage the emergence of Union-wide issues and to foster reflection on those issues. For the sake of transparency and smooth and efficient communication, the group of organisers should designate or elect a representative and a substitute to liaise between the group of organisers and the institutions of the Union throughout the procedure. The group of organisers should have the possibility to create, in accordance with national law, a legal entity (non- governmental and non-profit) to manage an initiative. That legal entity should be considered as the group of organisers for the purposes of this Regulation.

Amendment 45 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)

(14a) In order to ensure full objectivity and transparency with regard to the registration of a European citizens’ initiative proposal, the Commission should appoint one or more hearing officers from among persons who are highly professionally qualified in the law of the European Union, providing also auxiliary support staff. The hearing officers should be given the role of independent arbiter to assess the necessary conditions for registering a proposal for a European citizens’ initiative. The hearing officers should be appointed in accordance with the rules laid down in the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union. In relation to the appointment of the hearing officers and the performance of their duties, transparency and the absence of conflicts of interests should be ensured. Sincere cooperation and political dialogue between the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council with regard to the appointment of a hearing officer should be ensured.

Amendment 46 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In order to ensure coherence and transparency in relation to initiatives and to avoid a situation where signatures are collected for an initiative which does not comply with the conditions laid down by the Treaties and this Regulation, initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation should be registered by the Commission before collecting statements of support from citizens. T~~he Commission should deal with~~o prevent any conflict of interest in the exercise of its multiple duties concerning citizens' initiative, the Commission should establish an independent body to deal with this merely legal examination. Officers will be appointed for this exclusive purpose will deal with the registration in accordance with the general principles of good administration, under the EU Ombudsman's scrutiny.

Amendment 47 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In order to ensure coherence and transparency in relation to initiatives and to avoid a situation where signatures are collected for an initiative which does not comply with the conditions laid down by the Treaties and this Regulation, initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation should be registered by the Commission before collecting statements of support from citizens. The Commission should deal with registration in accordance with the general principles of good administration and the protection of legitimate interests of citizens. Citizens should be notified when an initiative is prima facie inadmissible and allowed the chance to rectify the faults in the submission as to minimize chances of rejection.

Amendment 48 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In order to ensure coherence and transparency in relation to initiatives and to avoid a situation where signatures are collected for an initiative which does not comply with the conditions laid down by the Treaties and this Regulation, initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation should be registered by the Commission before collecting statements of support from citizens. All registered initiatives should be made publicly available, prior to collecting the necessary statements of support from citizens, on the Commission website specially designated to ECI initiatives. The Commission should deal with registration in accordance with the general principles of good administration.

Amendment 49 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In order to ensure coherence and transparency in relation to initiatives and to avoid a situation where signatures are collected for an initiative which does not comply with the conditions laid down by the Treaties and this Regulation, ~~initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation~~the Commission should acquire the opinion of the hearing officer pursuant to this Regulation and, where that opinion is favourable, should be register~~ed by the Commiss~~ the initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation before collecting statements of support from citizens. The Commission and the hearing officer should deal with registration in accordance with the general principles of good administration.

Amendment 50 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)

(15 a) In order to promote an impartial and fair handling of the ECI, it is appropriate to establish a scrutiny board within the Commission. This board should be constituted by competent and experienced staff from the Commission, the European Parliament, the Council and the European Ombudsman. This board could be seized by the promoters of an ECI or by the European Parliament, the Council or the Ombudsman in case the Commission refuses to register an ECI. This board should have the capabilities and the competences to assess whether the refusal to register the ECI complies with the Regulation and, if not, invite the Commission to overturn its decision and register the ECI.

Amendment 51 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative. The choice for a partial registration shall not render void the Commission's obligation to fully justify its decision by giving reasons for choosing to partially register an initiative.

Amendment 52 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ 'initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where ~~a substantial~~ part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’'s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative. In the case of partial registration the Commission should advise organisers about the legal basis of their proposal and propose possible solutions to avoid further inadmissibility.

Amendment 53 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers ~~to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing~~according to the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 54 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be transparent, clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 55 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a ~~substantial~~ part of the initiative~~, including its main objectives,~~ does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 56 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)

(16 a) Multilingualism is an essential policy of the Union, and it becomes even more crucial when related to the European citizens' initiative, which aims to reach the broadest possible range of support throughout the whole Union territory for issues of pan-European relevance. Cost-free translation of the initiative is to be granted to the group of organisers in all the EU official languages, not only including the text of the initiative itself, but also other texts of reasonable length associated to it, such as explanatory statements or annexes including concrete legislative proposals. In the same logic, it is important that translations into other languages used in Member States other than EU official languages are also included in the register, in order to maximise the participatory dimension of initiatives.

Amendment 57 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

(17) Statements of support for an initiative should be collected within a specific time limit. In order to ensure that an initiative remains relevant, whilst taking into account the complexity of collecting statements of support across the Union, that time limit should not be longer than 12 months from the date of the start of the collection period determined by the group of organisers. If organisers decide not to use the central system for the online collection of statements of support provided by the Commission, the period shall start only after Member States verify the conformity of an alternative online collection systems within the requirements of this regulation.

Amendment 58 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

Amendment 59 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

Amendment 60 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18

(18) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and citizens, the Commission should set-up and operate a central system for the online collection of statements of support incorporating the relevant technical and security measures necessary to comply with the provisions of this regulation. That system should be voluntary and made available free of charge to groups of organisers and should comprise the necessary technical features allowing online collection including the hosting and software as well as accessibility features ensuring that citizens' with disabilities can provide support to the initiatives. That system should be set-up and maintained in accordance with Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/4626 . _________________ 26 Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017 on the security of communication and information systems in the European Commission (OJ L 6, 11.1.2017, p. 40–51).

Amendment 61 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18

(18) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for ~~organisers and~~ citizens, the Commission should set-up and operate a central system for the online collection of statements of support. That system should be made available free of charge to groups of organisers and should comprise the necessary technical features allowing online collection including the hosting and software as well as accessibility features. This ought to ensur~~ing~~e that citizens' with disabilities ~~can~~will be facilitated to initiate, propose or provide support to the initiatives on an equal footing. That system should be set-up and maintained in accordance with Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/4626 . _________________ 26 Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017 on the security of communication and information systems in the European Commission (OJ L 6, 11.1.2017, p. 40–51).

Amendment 62 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20

(20) A group of organisers should have the possibility to set-up its own online collection systems for the collection of statements of support across the Union and to decide in which Member State the data collected for the initiative should be stored. The group of organisers should use a single individual online collection system for each initiative. Individual online collection systems set up and operated by a group of organisers should have adequate technical and security features in order to ensure that the data are securely collected, stored and transferred throughout the procedure. For that purpose, the Commission should set out detailed technical specifications for the individual online collection systems, in cooperation with the Member States. The Commission may seek advice of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) which assists the Union institutions in developing and implementing policies related to security of network and information systems and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), which advises Union institutions and bodies on all matters relating to the processing of personal information. The group of organisers may also consult with ENISA and EDPS if they opt for setting up its own online collection systems.

Amendment 63 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) It is appropriate for Member States to verify the conformity of the individual online collection systems set up by the group of organisers with the requirements of this Regulation and issue a document certifying such conformity before organisers initiate the 12 month period for collecting statements of support ~~are collected~~. The certification of the individual online collection systems should be carried out by the competent national authority of the Member States in which the data collected through the individual online collection system is stored. Without prejudice to the powers of the national supervisory authorities under the General Data Protection Regulation, Member States should designate the competent national authority responsible for the certification of the systems. Member States should mutually recognise the certificates issued by their competent authorities.

Amendment 64 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) It is appropriate for Member States to verify the conformity of the individual online collection systems set up by the group of organisers with the requirements of this Regulation and issue a document certifying such conformity before statements of support are collected. The certification of the individual online collection systems should be carried out by the competent national authority of the Member States in which the data collected through the individual online collection system is stored. Without prejudice to the powers of the national supervisory authorities under the General Data Protection Regulation, Member States should designate without delay the competent national authority responsible for the certification of the systems. Member States should mutually recognise the certificates issued by their competent authorities without the introduction of additional checks.

Amendment 65 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) It is appropriate for Member States to verify the conformity of the individual online collection systems set up by the group of organisers with the requirements of this Regulation and issue a document certifying such conformity before statements of support are collected. The certification of the individual online collection systems should be carried out by the competent national authority of the Member States in which the data collected through the individual online collection system is stored. These actions should be carried out free of charge. Without prejudice to the powers of the national supervisory authorities under the General Data Protection Regulation, Member States should designate the competent national authority responsible for the certification of the systems. Member States should mutually recognise the certificates issued by their competent authorities.

Amendment 66 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)

(21 a) Citizens of the Union residing outside of the Union, or citizens holding double nationality (one being that of a member state and the other of a third state), or beneficiaries of refugee status or subsidiary protection and their family members holding a valid residence permit pursuant to Directive 2011/95/EU1b shall not be precluded from supporting an ECI. Same applies for EU Blue Card holders and their family members in accordance with Council Directive 2009/50/EC1c. Permanent residents of a member state in accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC 1a should be able to choose between their host member state and their country of origin when expressing their support. _________________ 1b Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted 1c Council Directive 2009/50/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment 1a Directive 2004/38/EC of the European and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member State

Amendment 67 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22

(22) Where an initiative has received the necessary statements of support from signatories, each Member State should be responsible for the verification and certification of statements of support signed by its nationals or residents therein, in order to assess whether the required minimum numbers of signatories having the right to support a European citizens' initiative have been reached. Taking account of the need to limit the administrative burden for Member States, such verifications should be carried out on the basis of appropriate checks, which may be based on random sampling. Member States should issue a document certifying the number of valid statements of support received.

Amendment 68 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 a (new)

(22a) In order to encourage participation and public debate on the issues raised by initiatives, once the first six months of a collection period have passed, the group of organisers should have the right to present its initiative and, to that end, request that a first public hearing be held at Union level. The hearing should be organised by the European Parliament within three months of the request submitted by the group of organisers.

Amendment 69 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be ~~co-~~ organised by the ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament in its premises within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure ~~a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as~~ the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, a~~s well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing.~~nd in particular the European Economic and Social Committee, should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing. Interested stakeholders should also be able to attend. The main aim of the hearing, being the sole opportunity for the group of organisers to present their initiative in detail publicly to a broad audience including the main Union institutional actors, is for the group of organisers to provide detailed explanations on the purpose of their initiative and their concrete expectations in terms of legislative outcome;

Amendment 70 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) ~~In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where~~When an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should, in addition, have the right to present that initiative at a second public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be ~~co-~~ organised by the ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 71 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be ~~co-~~ organised by the ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests, representation of civil society and social partners, as well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission and the Council. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing. Within one month of the public hearing, the European Parliament should hold a plenary debate on the initiative, which may be followed by a vote on a motion for resolution proposing specific recommendations to the Commission.

Amendment 72 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be co- organised by the Commission and the European Parliament within three months of~~rom~~ the submission of the initiative anto the Commission. The European Parliament should ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests as well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission and the Council. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing. The organisers of a successful ECI should be involved in the organization of such hearings to make sure the campaign that has taken place and citizenship support is fully reflected.

Amendment 73 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be ~~co-~~ organised by the ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and shall ensure ~~a balanced representation of relevant public and private interest~~presence of relevant stakeholders, as well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission~~. Other institutions and advisory bod~~, a representative from the Presidency of the Council, representative from the European Economic Social Committee (EESC) and the Committee of Regions (CoR). Other institutions and agencies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing depending on the thematic of the ECI at hand upon their request.

Amendment 74 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

Amendment 75 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)

(23a) Twelve months after the Commission has submitted the communication setting out its legal and political conclusions on an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation, the group of organisers should have the right to request that a third public hearing be held at EU level in order to allow clear, detailed, and exhaustive analysis of the Commission position and ascertain that the Commission's action is consistent with such commitments as it might have entered into. The hearing should be organised by the European Parliament within six months of the submission of the request by the group of organisers.

Amendment 76 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)

(23 a) The European Parliament should endeavour to foster an appropriate level of public debate on successful initiatives, including the possibility of holding a plenary debate on the initiative, which may be followed by a vote on a motion for resolution.

Amendment 77 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 b (new)

(23b) The European Parliament should ensure that public hearings are attended by experts who are highly skilled in the subject on which the initiative is based, having first ascertained that there are no conflicts of interests involved. The Commission should ensure that it is represented at a level appropriate to the hearings. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, national parliaments, and relevant public stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in hearings.

Amendment 78 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 c (new)

(23c) The European Parliament should hold a wide-ranging plenary debate on successful initiatives.

Amendment 79 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission ~~should examine a valid initiative and respond to it~~after the public hearing and plenary debate in the European parliament and after proper dialogue with the ECI organisers, should examine a valid initiative and respond to it in due time taking into account that successful initiatives should have an appropriate follow up. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the legislative or non-legislative actions it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise give its detailed and clear reasons if it does not intend to take any action, be it partial or complete refusal.

Amendment 8 #

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 24 and 298(1) thereof,

Amendment 80 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should ~~explain~~justify adequately in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner, substantiating the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise ~~give its reasons~~do if it does not intend to take any action. In both cases a second public hearing shall be organized to discuss the conclusions communicated by the Commission, under the same rule as the first.

Amendment 81 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. It is presumed that the Commission will follow up with a concrete legislative proposal within twelve months of its communication. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise give its reasons if exceptionally it does not intend to take any action.

Amendment 82 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should ~~likewise give~~give in an even more developed way its reasons if it does not intend to take any action.

Amendment 83 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24 a (new)

(24 a) In order to promote the political debate that ECI might initiates at European level and in order to increase the political responsibility of the Commission before the co-legislators and European citizens, the Council and the European Parliament should be able to organize an hearing of the Commission once it has decide to intend or not to intend an action after a valid ECI ;

Amendment 84 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency. The Commission should perform quality and random checks on the financial and funding sources provided by the ECI organisers. Citizens should also be able to trigger an alert in case of suspicions of wrongdoings. The sources of support and funding should also be publicly available and regularly updated together with the rest of the information on the ECI initiative published online.

Amendment 85 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should be able to provide updated information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission upon request. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency. After the registraton the organizers shall publicize the sources of funding on the webpage of the initiative in order to allow potential supporters to make a credible decision at the time of expression of their support.

Amendment 86 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency. To ensure as much as possible a level playing field, allocation of Union's funding to cover expenses related to kicking-off viable initiatives should be foreseen.

Amendment 87 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent and accountable. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency.

Amendment 88 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27

(27) While liablitity and penalties for the processing of personal data remains regulated under Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the group of organisers should be ~~jointly and severally~~ liable, in accordance with applicable national law, for any other damage that they cause in the organisation of an initiative ~~by unlawful acts committed intentionally or with serious negligence~~. Member States should ensure that the group of organisers is subject to appropriate penalties for infringements of this Regulation.

Amendment 89 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28

(28) [Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 200029 applies to the processing of personal data carried out by the Commission in application of this Regulation.] _________________ 29[Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1–22)].deleted

Amendment 9 #

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1 a (new)

Having regard to the Treaty on the European Union, and in particular Articles 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11 thereof,

Amendment 90 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 a (new)

(28 a) Where the measures provided for in this Regulation entail the processing of personal data by the Commission or by organisers, that processing should be carried out in accordance with Union law on the protection of personal data, in particular Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council[1], Regulation (EU)2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council[2] and Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council[3] . 1. Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of theEuropean Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 8,12.1.2001, p. 1). 2. Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of theEuropean Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General DataProtection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1). 3. Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 89).

Amendment 91 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29

(29) In order to contribute to the promotion of active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union, the Commission and the organisers should be able to collect, in accordance with data protection rules, email addresses of signatories for the purpose of communication activities regarding an initiative, in particular for the purpose of providing information on the follow-up actions in response to an initiative. The collection of email addresses should be optional and subject to the explicit consent of signatories. Email addresses should not be collected as part of the statements of support forms and potential signatories should be informed that their right to support an initiative is not conditional on giving their consent to collecting their email addresses. Signatories should be able to withdraw their explicit consent for the collection of their email addresses at any time before and after the European citizens' initiative has been closed in which case the Commission and the ECI organisers should immediately delete the email address from their database and stop communication with the signatories.

Amendment 92 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29

(29) In order to contribute to the promotion of active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union, the Commission and the organisers should be able to collect, in accordance with data protection rules, email addresses of signatories for the purpose of communication activities regarding an initiative, in particular for the purpose of providing information on the follow-up actions in response to an initiative. The collection of email addresses should be optional and subject to the consent of signatories which should be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous pursuant to article 7 of Regulation 2016/679. Email addresses should not be collected as part of the statements of support forms and potential signatories should be informed that their right to support an initiative is not conditional on giving their consent to collecting their email addresses.

Amendment 93 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 a (new)

(29 a) In order to contribute to the promotion of active and equal participation of all citizens in the political life of the Union, the Commission and the organisers should ensure that their webpages and mobile applications are accessible for people with disabilities. While Directive (EU) 2016/2102 does not apply to websites and mobile applications of Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, for the purpose of the central online collection system, online register, or online collaborative platform and any webpages in relation to the European Citizens' Initiative that the Commission and organisers are responsible for should be accessible in a manner equivalent to the requirements of Directive (EU) 2016/2102. In particular, the Commission is encouraged to comply with the relevant European harmonised standards, providing compliance with the requirements perceivability, understandability, operability and robustness. The Commission should ensure compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), especially Articles 9 and 21, in order to foster access to information for persons with intellectual disabilities, alternatives in easy-to-read language should be provided to the greatest possible extent and proportionately.

Amendment 94 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30

(30) In order to adapt to future needs the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission for the purpose of amending the Annexes to this Regulation. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council should receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts should systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

Amendment 95 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32

(32) This Regulation respects fundamental rights and observes the principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union~~, in particular Article 8 thereof~~.

Amendment 96 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

This Regulation establishes the procedures and conditions required for an initiative inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens of the Union consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties or to amend or repeal a legal act in force (the 'European citizens’ initiative' or 'initiative').

Amendment 97 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

A citizens' initiative may concern a proposal for a new legal act by the Commission, or the abrogation or revision of any existing or envisaged legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing or revising the Treaties;

Amendment 98 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)

Article 1 a Scope 1. A citizens' initiative may concern a proposal for a new legal act by the Commission, or the abrogation or revision of any existing or envisaged legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing or revising the Treaties;

Amendment 99 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1

Every citizen of the Union who is at least 16 years of age at the time of expression of support, has the right to support an initiative by signing a statement of support ('the signatory'), in accordance with this Regulation.

source: 619.134

2018/03/26 CULT 116 amendments...

Amendment 100 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8.º – paragraph 2

2. The Commission shall indicate the beginning and end of the collection period in the register. One month before the deadline for the collection of statements of support is due to expire, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers thereof.

Amendment 101 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission ~~or the group of organisers~~, as the case may be, shall automatically close the operation of the central online collection system in accordance with Article 10 ~~or of~~, and the organisers must close down any individual online collection system in accordance with Article 11 on the date at which the collection period ends.

Amendment 102 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 5

The forms for the statement of support may be adapted for the purpose of the online collection, provided that the relevant national authority agrees.

Amendment 103 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

~~By 1 January 2020, the Commission shall publish the forms set out in Annex III in the register.~~deleted

Amendment 104 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 6

6. AOne signature must correspond with one person, and a person may sign a statement of support for a given initiative only once.

Amendment 105 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2

Where the required number of statements of support has not been reached or in the absence of a response from the group of organisers within three months of the end of the collection period, the Commission shall close the initiative and publish a notice to that effect in the register. The Commission shall inform the organisers of this closure via the online platform created for this purpose.

Amendment 106 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

The central online collection system shall be user-friendly and accessible for persons with disabilities.

Amendment 107 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

After the registration of the initiative and before the beginning of the collection period, and without prejudice to the powers of the national supervisory authorities under Chapter VI of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the group of organisers shall request the competent authority of the Member State in which the data collected through the individual online collection system will be stored to certify that that system complies with the requirements laid down in paragraph 4, sending the user group a certificate of conformity if necessary.

Amendment 108 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

Where an individual online collection system complies with those requirements, the competent authority shall ~~within one month~~, if required, issue a certificate to that effect in accordance with the model set out in Annex IV. The group of organisers shall make a copy of that certificate or those certificates publicly available on the website used for the individual online collection system.

Amendment 109 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within three months of the end of the collection period and without prejudice to paragraph 3, the group of organisers shall submit the statements of support, collected online or in paper form, to the competent authorities referred to in Article 19(2) of the responsible Member State. The group of organisers can also transmit the statements at any time during the collection period.

Amendment 110 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1

Amendment 111 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The Commission and the European Parliament shall co-organize ~~the~~such public hearing at the European Parliament. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 112 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)

The group of organisers may, if it so wishes, be accompanied by not more than three persons specialising in the subject of the initiative.

Amendment 113 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. In addition to the public hearing referred to in paragraph 2, the European Parliament shall hold a debate on those citizens’ initiatives that successfully meet all the criteria laid down in this Regulation. Such debate may be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution in order to request the Commission to submit an appropriate proposal according to Article 225 TFEU.

Amendment 114 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1

1. Within one month of the submission of the initiative, the Commission shall receive the group of organisers at an appropriate level to allow them to explain in detail the matters raised by the initiative. The organisers shall be informed via contact persons, and within a reasonable time frame, of the terms and conditions for the public hearing, and in particular of the identity of the Commission representatives, the speaking order and the speaking time.

Amendment 115 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within five months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the public hearing referred to in Article 14(2), the Commission shall set out in a communication its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its reasons for taking or not taking action. Such reasons shall be duly justified and explained in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner. The Commission may request the Court of Justice of the European Union an opinion on the legal aspects of the initiative, which shall be delivered without undue delay.

Amendment 116 #

Jill EVANS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 117 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 118 #

Liliana RODRIGUES, Silvia COSTA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 119 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within five months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the public hearing referred to in Article 14(2), the Commission shall set out in a communication its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its reasons for taking or not taking action. Where the Commission does not intend to take action, it shall notify the group of organisers of the possibilities for submitting their initiative to the Committee on Petitions, thus allowing their work to continue.

Amendment 120 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3

3. The ~~Commission and the group of organisers may inform the signatories on the response to the initiative~~signatories shall be informed by the Commission on the response to the initiative without undue delay. In view of this objective, the Commission may inform the signatories in accordance with Article 17 (2) and (3).

Amendment 121 #

Angel DZHAMBAZKI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)

Article 15 a Follow-up and Action 1. Where an initiative has been registered fully and successfully, the Commission shall take appropriate legislative action, when:a) All procedural requirements for registering the initiative, in accordance with this regulations, have been duly fulfilled. b) Within 3 months following the publication of the registered initiative, no objection has been raised by the Parliament or Council. c) The assessment conducted by the Commission has clearly identified need to address specific areas of Union law in accordance with the content of the registered initiative. 2. The Commission shall take action within a maximum period of one year, following the publication of the registered initiative and forward any legislative action proposal to the Council and the Parliament.

Amendment 122 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1

The group of organisers ~~shall~~must provide, for the publication in the register, and as the case may be on their campaign website, information on the sources of support and funding for the initiative ~~exceeding 500 euros per sponsor~~, in particular the identity or corporate name of the donors and the size of each donation.

Amendment 123 #

María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1

The group of organisers shall provide, for the publication in the register, and as the case may be on their campaign website, clear, accurate and comprehensive information on the sources of support and funding for the initiative exceeding 500 euros per sponsor.

Amendment 124 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall raise public awareness about the existence of the European citizens’ initiative through co mmunication activities and information campaigns, thereby contributing to promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union. Targeted communication strategies, including social media, are critical for enhancing the effectiveness of the European Citizens’ Initiative and for ensuring transparency.

Amendment 125 #

Svetoslav Hristov MALINOV

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall raise public awareness about the existence of the European citizens’ initiative through communication activities and information campaigns also using digital platforms and technologies to reach out and engage community, thereby contributing to promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union.

Amendment 126 #

Svetoslav Hristov MALINOV

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. The Commission shall also increase the awareness campaigns on local, national and European level especially among young people.

Amendment 127 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2

2. The power to adopt the delegated acts referred to in Article 22 shall be conferred on the Commission for a~~n indeterminate~~ period of ~~time~~five years from [date of entry into force of the basic legislative act ~~or any other date set by the co-legislators~~].

Amendment 128 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens’ initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than five years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every five years thereafter. The reports shall be made public and shall form the basis of a presentation and an exchange of views with Parliament.

Amendment 13 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) 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 of the Union has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. The European citizens’ initiative is a Union instrument of direct participatory democracy which affords citizens of the Union the possibility of directly approaching the Commission with a request inviting it to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing 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 14 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) The legal act of the Union that may be required, by a European citizens’ initiative, for the purpose of implementing the Treaties may consist in a new legal act, the abrogation of any existing legal act or the modification of a current legislative proposal. The required legal act may also consist in the amendments of the Treaties, as provided for by Article 48 TEU.

Amendment 15 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to submit proposals for a legal act of the Union, to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 16 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and meaningful citizen participation to public life at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 17 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) To achieve those objectives, the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be effective, clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate to the nature of this instrument. They should strike a judicious balance between rights and obligations.

Amendment 18 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) It is appropriate to set a minimum age for supporting an initiative. To achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as an instrument of participatory democracy and to foster citizen participation at Union level especially among young European citizens, th~~at age~~e age at which registration of an initiative may be requested should be set at 1~~6 years~~8.

Amendment 19 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) It is appropriate to set a minimum age for supporting an initiative. To achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as an instrument of direct participatory democracy and to foster meaningful citizen participation at Union level especially among young European citizens, that age should be set at 16 years.

Amendment 20 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) In accordance with Article 11(4) of the TEU an initiative ~~invit~~obliging the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required to implement the Treaties, is to be taken by not less than one million citizens of the Union who are nationals of a significant number of Member States.

Amendment 21 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

Amendment 22 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) Every citizen of the Union should have the right to support an initiative on paper or online~~, under similar conditions regardless~~ if he or she is a citizen of ~~the~~a Member State ~~of nationality or residence~~.

Amendment 23 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12

(12) While personal data processed in application of this Regulation might include sensitive personal data, given the nature of the European citizens’ initiative as a participatory democracy instrument, it is justified to require the provision of personal data to support an initiative and to process such data as far as it is necessary in order to allow statements of support to be verified in accordance with national law and practice, though personal data should be processed as carefully as possible, in particular as regards the public disclosure and internet posting of personal identifiers, since some citizens’ initiatives concern sensitive issues relating to the political or religious views of the organisers of initiatives and/or signatories thereto.

Amendment 24 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should provide ~~information and~~clear, accurate and comprehensive information as well legal and practical assistance to organisers and make publicly available an online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish one or more contact points in their respective territories, accessible to people with disabilities, to provide citizens with information ands well as legal and practical assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 25 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should provide information and assistance to organisers and make available an online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish one or more ~~contact point~~platforms in their respective territories to provide citizens with information and assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 26 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) A minimum organised structure is needed in order to launch and manage citizens’ initiatives successfully. That structure should take the form of a group of organisers, composed of natural persons who are citizens of and resident in at least sefiven different Member States, in order to encourage the emergence of Union-wide issues and to foster reflection on those issues. For the sake of transparency and smooth and efficient communication, the group of organisers should designate a representative to liaise between the group of organisers and the institutions of the Union throughout the procedure. The group of organisers should have the possibility to create, in accordance with the national law~~, a legal entity~~ of the Member State of residence, a legal entity, in particular an association, to manage an initiative. That legal entity should be considered as the group of organisers for the purposes of this Regulation.

Amendment 27 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In order to ensure coherence and transparency in relation to initiatives and to avoid a situation where signatures are collected for an initiative which does not comply with the conditions laid down by the Treaties and this Regulation, initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation should be registered by the Commission before collecting statements of support from citizens. The Commission should deal with registration in accordance with the general principles of good administration and notify organisers as soon as possible of its decision to register an initiative or refuse registration thereof.

Amendment 28 #

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative effective and more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 29 #

Jill EVANS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency ~~should~~must be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 30 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

(17) Statements of support for an initiative should be collected within a specific time limit. In order to ensure that an initiative remains relevant, whilst taking into account the complexity of collecting statements of support across the Union, that time limit should not be longer than 12 months ~~from the date of the start of the collection period determined by~~after confirmation of registration of the initiative by the Commission, which will be duly forwarded to the representative of the group of organisers.

Amendment 31 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

Amendment 32 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) It is appropriate for Member States to verify the conformity of the individual online collection systems set up by the group of organisers with the requirements of this Regulation ~~and issue a document certifying such conformity before statements of support are collected~~. The certification of the individual online collection systems should be carried out by the competent national authority of the Member States in which the data collected through the individual online collection system is stored. Without prejudice to the powers of the national supervisory authorities under the General Data Protection Regulation, Member States should designate the competent national authority responsible for the certification of the systems. Member States should mutually recognise the certificates issued by their competent authorities.

Amendment 33 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22

(22) Where an initiative has received the necessary statements of support from signatories, each Member State should be responsible for the verification and certification of statements of support signed by its nationals, in order to assess whether the required minimum numbers of signatories having the right to support a European citizens’ initiative have been reached. Taking account of the need to limit the administrative burden for Member States, such verifications should be carried out on the basis of appropriate checks, which may be based on random sampling. If necessary, Member States ~~should~~may issue a document certifying the number of valid statements of support received.

Amendment 34 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be co- organised by the Commission and the European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission. OIn particular, organisers and their representatives should be given sufficient speaking time that is equal to that for the Commission. Organisers and their representatives must be informed with reasonable notice about how the hearing will proceed, in particular as regards the identity of the Commission representatives, the order in which they will speak and the speaking time allocated to each. Subject to compliance with the equal arrangements set out above, other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 35 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be co- organised by the Commission and the European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing. The European Parliament should hold a debate on those citizens’ initiatives that successfully meet all of the criteria laid down in this Regulation. Such debate may be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution in order for the Parliament to make use of the legislative power conferred upon by Article 225 TFEU.

Amendment 36 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal ~~and political~~ conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise give its reasons if it does not intend to take any action.

Amendment 37 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. In the light of this, the Commission may request the Court of Justice of the European Union an opinion about the legal aspects of the initiative. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise give its reasons if it does not intend to take any action.

Amendment 38 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation, and with full transparency, that that financial support is not disproportionate in the light of the average financial support for such initiatives and that the organisations concerned are in no way the originators of the initiatives in question.

Amendment 39 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26

(26) Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council28 applies to the processing of personal data carried out under this Regulation. In that respect, for the sake of legal certainty, it is appropriate to clarify that the representative of the group of organisers, or as the case may be the legal entity created for the purpose of managing the initiative, and the competent authorities of the Member States are to be considered as the data controller(s) within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, and to specify the maximum period within which the personal data collected for the purposes of an initiative can be retained. In their capacity as data controllers, the representative of the group of organisers, or as the case may be the legal entity created for the purpose of managing the initiative, and the competent authorities of the Member States should take all appropriate measures to comply with the obligations imposed by Regulation (EU) 2016/679, 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 consent, or not to consent, to the processing of their personal data. _________________ 28 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).

Amendment 40 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)

The required legal act of the Union may consist in a proposal for a new legal act, the abrogation of any existing legal act, the modification of a current legislative proposal or the amendment of the Treaties according to Article 48 TEU.

Amendment 41 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) in at least ~~one quarter of th~~five Member States, the number of signatories is at least equal to the minimum number set out in Annex I, corresponding to the number of the Members of the European Parliament elected in each Member State, multiplied by 750, at the time of registration of the initiative.

Amendment 42 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4.º – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall~~, upon request,~~ provide information and assistance about the European citizens’ initiative to citizens and groups of organisers.

Amendment 43 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall, upon request, provide clear, accurate and comprehensive information and assistance about the European citizens’ initiative to citizens and groups of organisers.

Amendment 44 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall make available an online collaborative platform that may provid~~ing~~e citizens and groups of organisers with a discussion forum and must provide them with information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative, together with a contact form allowing any user to ask a question on that topic and receive an answer from the relevant Commission department within an appropriate and reasonable period.

Amendment 45 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall make publicly available an online collaborative platform providing citizens and groups of organisers with a discussion forum ands well as information and legal and practical advice about the European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 46 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)

The online collaborative platform shall be user-friendly and accessible to people with disabilities.

Amendment 47 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall make available an online register (‘the register’) allowing groups of organisers to manage their initiative throughout the procedure and ascertain what its status is. The register shall comprise a public website providing information on the European citizens’ initiative in general as well as on specific initiatives and their respective status. it may include a personal space for each initiative’s organisers, via which the Commission can message them about developments concerning the initiative and its status and make any relevant announcement. The Commission shall ensure that the register is regularly updated.

Amendment 48 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall make publicly available an online register (‘the register’) allowing groups of organisers to manage their initiative throughout the procedure. The register shall comprise a ~~public website providing~~n easily and effectively accessible public website providing clear, accurate and comprehensive information on the European citizens’ initiative in general as well as on specific initiatives and their respective status.

Amendment 49 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4.º – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall make available an online register (‘the register’) allowing groups of organisers to manage their initiative throughout the procedure. The register shall comprise a public website providing information on the European citizens’ initiative in general, but particularly details regarding every stage of the initiative, specifying what steps to take and the state of play of every initiative, with warnings when a deadline is approaching, as well as on specific initiatives and their respective status.

Amendment 50 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4.º – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Groups of organisers must be informed as soon as the translated version of their initiative is available, and if it contains any inaccuracies, the group of organisers shall rectify them and inform the Commission promptly.

Amendment 51 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4

4. After the Commission has registered an initiative in accordance with Article 6, it shall provide as soon as possible the translation of the content of that initiative into all the official languages of the Union, and in particular - by way of priority - into the European Union’s three working languages - for its publication in the register and its use for the collection of statements of support in accordance with this Regulation. A group of organisers may, in addition, provide translations into all the official languages of the Union of the Annex for its publication in the register and also, as the case may be, of the draft legal act referred to in Annex II and submitted in accordance with Article 6(2).

Amendment 52 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4.º – paragraph 4

4. After the Commission has registered an initiative in accordance with Article 6, it shall provide the translation of the content of that initiative into all the official languages of the Union for its publication in the register and its use for the collection of statements of support in accordance with this Regulation. A group of organisers may, in addition, provide translations into all the official languages of the Union of the Annex for its publication in the register and also~~, as the case may be,~~ of the draft legal act referred to in Annex II and submitted in accordance with Article 6(2).

Amendment 53 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more con~~tact point~~line platforms to provide information and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 54 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points ~~to provide information and~~, accessible to people with disabilities, to provide information as well legal and practical assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 55 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4.º – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points and make them known, with a view to provideing information and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 56 #

Jill EVANS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points to provide information and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative and provide information in the official and co-official languages of the Member State.

Amendment 57 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4.º – paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. The Member States shall encourage national, regional and local authorities to supply information on the European citizens’ initiative to their citizens.

Amendment 58 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. An initiative shall be prepared and managed by a group of at least sefiven natural persons (the ‘group of organisers’) who are citizens of a Member State of the European Union. Members of the European Parliament shall not be counted for the purpose of that minimum number.

Amendment 59 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2

2. The members of the group of organisers shall be citizens of the Union, of the age to be entitled, when the request for registration of the initiative is lodged with the Commission, to vote in elections to the European Parliament, and residents of at least sefiven different Member States.

Amendment 60 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

The group of organisers shall designate two of its members as, respectively, representative and substitute, who shall liaise between them and the institutions of the Union throughout the process and who shall be mandated to act on behalf of the group of organisers (the ‘contact persons’). The contact persons shall register their contact details on the online platform set up for that purpose by the Commission, such details to include their private postal address, a private e-mail address and a private landline or mobile telephone number, in order to facilitate communication between the organisers and the Commission.

Amendment 61 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

The group of organisers may also designate a maximum of two other natural persons, chosen from among its members or otherwise, who are mandated to act on behalf of the contact persons for the purpose of liaising with the institutions of the Union throughout the procedure, provided that the relevant contact details, including a postal address, an e-mail address and a landline or mobile telephone number, are submitted when the request for registration is lodged.

Amendment 62 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of any changes regarding its composition throughout the procedure and shall provide appropriate proof that the requirements laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 are fulfilled. The changes in the composition of the group of organisers shall be reflected in the statement of support forms and the names of the current and former members of the group of organisers shall remain available in the register throughout the procedure. The organisers shall ensure that their contact details are regularly updated, and the Commission’s online platform shall make it possible to modify the contact details of contact persons.

Amendment 63 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b

(b) where it is made up of more than 7 members, indicate those seven members to be taken into account for the purpose of Article 5(1) and (2) and provide their contact details;

Amendment 64 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c

(c) as the case may be, indicate that a legal entity has been created, pursuant to Article 5(7), and provide a copy of the internal rules of that entity.

Amendment 65 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b

(b) in the situation referred to Article 5(7), the legal entity has been created specifically for the purpose of managing the initiative and the member of the group of organisers designated as the representative thereof is given a mandate to act on behalf of the ~~legal entity~~organisers;

Amendment 66 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c

(c) none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;deleted

Amendment 67 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

If one or more of the requirements set out in points (a) to (ed) are not met, the Commission shall refuse to register the initiative, without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5.

Amendment 68 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

If one or more of the requirements set out in points (a) to (e) are not met, the Commission shall refuse to register the initiative, without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5, and shall notify the organisers, in particular via the contact persons and the online platform created for that purpose, as quickly as possible and in writing.

Amendment 69 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

If one or more of the requirements set out in points (a) to (e) are not met, the Commission, after informing the European Parliament on its reasoning, shall refuse to register the initiative, without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5.

Amendment 70 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 71 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Where it considers that the requirements laid down in paragraph 3 (a), (b), (d) and (e) are met but that the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) is not met, the Commission shall, as quickly as possible and at the very latest within one month of the submission of the request, inform the group of organisers of its assessment and of the reasons thereof, in particular via the online platform created for that purpose, and shall do so in writing, clearly explaining the reasoning behind its decision.

Amendment 72 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 73 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

If it comes to the conclusion that the initiative or parts of the initiative fall outside its remit, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers of that conclusion and of the reasons why it reached that conclusion.

Amendment 74 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

In that case, the group of organisers may either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission’s ~~assessment to ensure that the initiative is in conformity with the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) or~~information or even maintain or withdraw the initial initiative. The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of its choice within one month of the receipt of the Commission’s ~~assessment~~information giving the reasons thereof, and shall, as the case may be, transmit amendments to the information referred to in Annex II to replace the initial initiative.

Amendment 75 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – introductory part

WhAftere the Commission receives the information from the organisers it shall:

Amendment 76 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point a

~~(a) register the initiative, if it meets the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c);~~deleted

Amendment 77 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b

Amendment 78 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point c

~~(c) otherwise refuse to register the initiative.~~deleted

Amendment 79 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 a (new)

(a) maintain the registration of the initial initiative, if the organisers so decide;

Amendment 80 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 b (new)

(b) register the initiative as amended by the organisers.

Amendment 81 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4

The Commission shall decide on the request within one month of receipt of the information and, as the case may be, the amended initiative from the group of organisers referred to in the second subparagraph.deleted

Amendment 82 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4

The Commission shall decide on the request as quickly as possible, and at the very latest within one month of receipt of the information, and, as the case may be, the amended initiative from the group of organisers referred to in the second subparagraph. It shall inform the organisers of its decision in writing, in particular via the online platform created for that purpose, clearly explaining the reasoning behind this decision.

Amendment 83 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2

Where the Commission partially registers an initiative: (a) it shall publish information on the scope of the registration of the initiative in the register; (b) the group of organisers shall ensure that potential signatories are informed of the scope of the registration of the initiative and of the fact that statements of support are coldelected ~~only in relation to the scope of the registration.~~

Amendment 84 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 – point a

~~(a) it shall publish information on the scope of the registration of the initiative in the register;~~deleted

Amendment 85 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 – point b

~~(b) the group of organisers shall ensure that potential signatories are informed of the scope of the registration of the initiative and of the fact that statements of support are col~~delected ~~only in relation to the scope of the registration.~~

Amendment 86 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6

6. The Commission shall register an initiative under a single registration number and inform the group of organisers thereof as soon as possible, in particular via the online platform created for that purpose.

Amendment 87 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register ~~or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4~~an initiative, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 88 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision in a clear and transparent manner and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them. This information shall be transmitted, in particular, via the online platform created for that purpose.

Amendment 89 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register in accordance with the last subparagraph of paragraph 3 or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall duly inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 90 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8

8. The Commission shall inform in a clear, thorough and detailed manner the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee ~~and~~, the Committee of the Regions and the national parliaments of the registration of an initiative.

Amendment 91 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6.º – paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. The requirements for the submission of final initiatives shall be the same in all Member States.

Amendment 92 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 12 months from athe date ~~chosen by the group of organisers~~of the Commission’s communication informing the organisers of the registration of the initiative (the ‘collection period’), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than three months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 93 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 128 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the ‘collection period’), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than ~~three~~six months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 94 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8.º – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 128 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the ‘collection period’), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than three months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 95 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 128 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the ‘collection period’), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than three months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 96 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

~~The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of the date chosen at the latest 10 working days before that date.~~deleted

Amendment 97 #

Amendment 98 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

Where the group of organisers wishes to terminate the collection of statements of support before the end of 12 months after the beginning of the collection period, it shall inform the Commission ofas soon as possible, but in any case before the date at which the collection period is to end.

Amendment 99 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2

2. The Commission shall indicate the beginning and end of the collection period in the register. If the organisers collect the signatures by any means other than a particular online collection system, they must clearly inform the visitors and potential signatories of the date the collection period comes to an end.

source: 619.375

2018/05/17 AFCO 164 amendments...

Amendment 100 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall make available an online register (‘the register’) allowing groups of organisers to manage their initiative throughout the procedure. The register shall comprise a public website providing clear, accurate and complete information on the European citizens’ initiative in general as well as on specific initiatives and their respective status.

Amendment 101 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4

Amendment 102 #

4a. A group of organisers may, in addition, provide translations of the information referred to in Annex II, as well as of the Annex and the draft legal act referred to in Annex II, into languages other than the official languages of the Institutions of the Union that have been authorized by a Member State in accordance with applicable national law.

Amendment 103 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5

5. To ensure the process is transparent and that data is protected, the Commission shall develop an EU file exchange service for the transfer of statements of support to the competent authorities of the Member States, in accordance with Article 12, which guarantees the confidentiality, integrity and authentication of the transfer, and make it publicly available and free of charge.

Amendment 104 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. EIn order to reduce the high number of applications refused on procedural grounds, each Member State shall establish one or more contact points to provide information and assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative. The Commission shall refrain from refusing on procedural grounds to register citizens’ initiatives that comply with the recommendations given in this technical advice.

Amendment 105 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6

6. Each Member State shall establish one or more contact points to provide information and practical and legal assistance to groups of organisers in setting up a European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 106 #

Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. An initiative shall be prepared and managed by a group of at least seven natural persons (the ‘group of organisers’). Members of the European Parliament or members of political parties within the Member States or public officials within Member States shall not be counted for the purpose of that minimum number.(…)

Amendment 107 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. An initiative shall be prepared and managed by a group of at least seven natural persons (the ‘group of organisers’). Members of the European Parliament and Members of national parliaments shall not be counted for the purpose of that minimum number.

Amendment 108 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 7

7. Where a legal entity has been created, in accordance with the national law of a Member State specifically for the purpose of managing a given initiative, that legal entity shall not have a political character, shall not manage public funds and shall be considered as the group of organisers or its members, as the case may be, for the purpose of paragraphs 5 and 6, Articles 6(2) and (4) to (7) and Articles 7 to 18 and annexes II to VII, provided that the member of the group of organisers designated as the representative thereof is given a mandate to act on behalf of the legal entity.

Amendment 109 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new)

Article 5a Hearing officer for European citizens’ initiatives The Commission, acting in accordance with the rules laid down in the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, shall appoint one or more hearing officers from among persons who are known to have a good command of the law of the European Union, and shall also provide auxiliary support staff. The Commission shall ensure sincere cooperation and political dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council for the purposes of transparency and of ascertaining that there are no conflicts of interests involved in the appointment of hearing officers and the performance of their duties. The hearing officer shall assess whether the conditions under this Regulation are met for registration of a proposed European citizens’ initiative. The hearing officer shall enjoy full independence in the performance of his or her duties.

Amendment 110 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new)

Article 5a ECI Committee 1. The Commission shall create a committee of independent experts (the ‘ECI Committee’) in order to assess the admissibility of a submitted initiative in accordance with Articles 5 b and 6. 2. The European Parliament and the Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, shall adopt the provisions for the establishment and the functioning of the ECI Committee before 1 July 2019.

Amendment 111 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 b (new)

Article 5b Admissibility 1. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the ECI Committee shall declare admissible an initiative if: (a) none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a new legal act or the abrogation or amendment of any existing legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties, including with the view to their amendment, (b) the initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious; (c) the initiative is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 TEU. 2. Where it considers that the requirements laid down in points (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 are met but part of the initiative does not fulfil the requirements laid down in point (a) of paragraph 1, the ECI Committee shall: (a) indicate the parts of the initiative that are not admissible and declare the initiative partially admissible; (b) for each of the parts that are not admissible, make a detailed assessment of the reasons and the legal basis justifying its decision. 3. In all other cases the ECI Committee, it shall declare the initiative inadmissible and make an assessment of the reasons and the legal grounds supporting its decision.

Amendment 112 #

Amendment 113 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a

(a) without prejudice to Article 4 (4a), transmit the information referred to in Annex II in one of the official languages of the Union;

Amendment 114 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

Without prejudice to paragraphs 5 and 6, the ~~Commission shall decide~~hearing officer shall deliver an opinion on the request within two months of its submission.

Amendment 115 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. The Commission shall refer to the ECI Committee the information referred to in Annex II. Without prejudice to paragraph 4, the ECI Committee shall decide on the admissibility of the initiative in accordance with Article 5b within one month of the receipt of the information.

Amendment 116 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

The hearing officer shall recommend that the Commission ~~shall~~ register the initiative if:

Amendment 117 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c

(c) ~~none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside~~The initiative targets an issue which falls in the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a new legal act or the abrogation or revision of existing legal acts of the Union for the purpose of implementing or amending the Treaties;

Amendment 118 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c

(c) ~~none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;~~the ECI Committee declares the initiative admissible.

Amendment 119 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c

(c) the scope and none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and do not impinge on the exclusive competence of the Member States;

Amendment 120 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d

~~(d) the initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious;~~deleted

Amendment 121 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d

(d) ~~the initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious;~~The Commission shall not implement thematic restrictions that are not foreseen in this Regulation, in Article 11 TEU and in Article 24 TFEU. The Commission shall not refuse to register citizens’ initiatives arbitrarily on the basis of an assessment qualifying them as Euro-sceptical or reflecting the interests of a minority, provided that such initiatives are in accordance with the principles enshrined in Articles 2 and 6 TEU and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 122 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e

~~(e) the initiative is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.~~deleted

Amendment 123 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e

(e) tThe initiative is not ~~manifestly~~ contrary to the ~~valu~~principles of the Union as set out in Articles 2 ~~of the Treaty on European Union~~and 6 TEU and in the Charter of fundamental rights.

Amendment 124 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)

(ea) when promoting the European citizens’ initiative, the group of organisers commit to refrain from using European or national political or institutional instruments for the purpose of receiving statements of support.

Amendment 125 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

Amendment 126 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

If one or more of the requirements set out in points (a) to (ec) are not met, the Commission shall refuse to register the initiative, without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5.

Amendment 127 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Amendment 128 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Where it considers that the requirements laid down in paragraph 3 (a), (b), (d), (e) and (e a) are met but that the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) is not met, the Commission shall, within one month of the submission of the request, inform the group of organisers of its assessment and of the reasons thereof.

Amendment 129 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Where it considers that the requirements laid down in paragraph 3 (a)~~, (b), (d)~~ and (eb) are met but th~~at the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) is not met~~e ECI Committee considers the initiative partially admissible, the Commission shall, within one month of the submission of the request, inform the group of organisers of ~~its~~the assessment ~~and~~ of the ~~reasons thereof~~ECI Committee.

Amendment 130 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

In that case, the group of organisers may either amend the initiative to take into account the ECI Commi~~ssion~~ttee’s assessment to ensure that the initiative is in conformity with the requirement laid down in p~~aragraph 3(c)~~oint (c) of paragraph 1 of Article 5b or maintain or withdraw the initial initiative. The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of its choice within one month of the receipt of the ECI Commi~~ssion~~ttee’s assessment giving the reasons thereof, and shall, as the case may be, transmit amendments to the information referred to in Annex II to replace the initial initiative.

Amendment 131 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

In that case, the group of organisers may either amend the initiative to take into account the ~~Commission~~hearing officer’s assessment to ensure that the initiative is in conformity with the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c) or maintain or withdraw the initial initiative. The group of organisers shall inform the Commission and the hearing officer of its choice within one month of the receipt of the ~~Commission’s~~ assessment giving the reasons thereof, and shall, as the case may be, transmit amendments to the information referred to in Annex II to replace the initial initiative.

Amendment 132 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – introductory part

Where the Commission receives the information from the organisers it shall refer the information to the ECI Committee which will decide on the admissibility of the amended initiative within 15 working days. The Commission shall:

Amendment 133 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – introductory part

Where the Commission receives the information from the organisers, once the hearing officer’s assessment has been received, it shall:

Amendment 134 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point a

(a) register the initiative, if ~~it meets the requirement laid down in paragraph 3(c)~~the ECI Committee declares the initiative admissible;

Amendment 135 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b

(b) partially register the initiative if a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties; and it does not impinge on the exclusive competences of the Member States. That part of the initiative which is partially registered shall be self-standing and it shall not exceed the Commission’s competence to submit a proposal for a legal act. Where elements of the European citizens’ initiative have the potential to impinge on the exclusive competence of the Member States, the Commission shall consult the Member States within the framework provided by this Regulation.

Amendment 136 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b

Amendment 137 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b

(b) partially register the initiative if ~~a substantial~~ part of the initiative~~, including its main objectives,~~ does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;

Amendment 138 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

(b) partially register the initiative if ~~a substantial~~ part of the initiative, including its main objectives, ~~does not manifestly fall outside~~targets an issue which falls in the framework of the Commission’s powers Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;.

Amendment 139 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4

Amendment 140 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where ithe or she refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the ~~Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for its decision and~~hearing officer shall provide clear, comprehensive and detailed information on the reasons for his or her assessment. The Commission shall forward that information to the group of organisers and also inform them clearly and comprehensively of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 141 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7

7. Where it refuses to register or only partially registers an initiative in accordance with paragraph 4, the Commission shall inform the group of organisers of the reasons for ~~its decision~~the ECI Committee’s decision on the admissibility and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

Amendment 142 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. The definition of legal act shall not be limited to measures producing definitive effects or otherwise restricted by narrow interpretations of the aim of the legal act.

Amendment 143 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8

Amendment 144 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. The Commission shall define the scope of any new initiative in such a way that it falls within the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

Amendment 145 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected within a period not exceeding 128 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the ‘collection period’), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than three months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 146 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

All statements of support shall be collected, within a period not exceeding 126 months from a date chosen by the group of organisers (the ‘collection period’), without prejudice to Article 11(6). That date must be not later than ~~three~~six months from the registration of the initiative in accordance with Article 6.

Amendment 147 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of the date chosen ~~at the latest 10 working days before that date~~.

Amendment 148 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

Where, during the collection period, the group of organisers wishes to terminate the collection of statements of support before the end of ~~12 months after the beginning of the collection period, it shall inform the Commission of~~a period of 16 months, it shall inform the Commission of that intention at least 10 days before the date at which the collection period is to end.

Amendment 149 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

Where the group of organisers wishes to terminate the collection of statements of support before the end of 12 months after the beginning of the collection period, it shall inform the Commission of the date at which the collection period is to end.(Does not affect the EN version)

Amendment 150 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

The Member States may, in addition, authorise the use of additional languages other than official languages of the Institutions of the Union in accordance with applicable national law.

Amendment 151 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Member States shall inform the Commission as to whether they wish to use additional languages other than the official languages of the Institutions of the Union before 1 July 2019 and shall provide the translation of Annex III into those languages.

Amendment 152 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1

TFor the purpose of publication in the register, the group of organisers ~~shall~~may regularly inform the Commission of the number of collected statements of support in each Member State ~~at least every two months~~ during the collection period and shall inform of the final number within three months of the end of the collection period ~~for publication in the register~~.

Amendment 153 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

For the purpose of online collection of statements of support, the Commission shall set-up and operate, by 1 January 2020, an open-source central online collection system, in accordance with Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017.

Amendment 154 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

The data collected through the individual online collection system may be stored in the servers made available by the Commission for that purpose and in any case shall be stored in the territory of a Member State.

Amendment 155 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Within one month of the registration of an initiative, and at the latest 10 working days before the start of the collection period, the group of organisers shall inform the Commission as to whether it wishes to use the servers of the Commission.

Amendment 156 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2

2. The group of organisers shall ensure that the individual online collection system complies with the requirements laid down in paragraph 4 of this article and in Article 17(3) throughout the collection period.

Amendment 157 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

The competent authorities shall, within three months of receiving the statements of support, verify these on the basis of appropriate checks, ~~which may be based on random sampling,~~based on samples selected in accordance with national law and practice.

Amendment 158 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 a (new)

The group of organisers can request, at the moment of submission, that if it fails to meet the required number of statements of support, the registered initiative be forwarded to the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament as a petition, with the indication of the number of statements of support gathered.

Amendment 159 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – title

14 Publication and public hearings

Amendment 160 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1

Amendment 161 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. When the first six months of the signature collection period have elapsed, the group of organisers may request that a first public hearing be held, at Union level, in order to present its initiative. The hearing shall be organised by the European Parliament within three months of the request submitted by the group of organisers.

Amendment 162 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within three months after the submission of ~~the initiative~~a valid initiative in relation to which statements of support have been collected and certified in accordance with Articles 8 to 12, the group of organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the initiative at a second public hearing.

Amendment 163 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Amendment 164 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament, with the support of the Commission, shall ~~co-~~organise ~~the public hearing at~~in accordance with its Rules of Procedure the public hearing before the competent Committee or Committees of the European Parliament. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 165 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The Commission and the European Parliament shall ~~co-organise~~ensure that the public hearing atis organised by the European Parliament in accordance with its own Rules of Procedure. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as ~~interested stakeholders,~~experts shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing presented by the organisers of the initiative.

Amendment 166 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The Commission and the European Parliament shall ~~co-organise~~ensure that the public hearing is organised at the European Parliament. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, a~~s well as interested stakeholders,~~nd, where relevant, representatives of national and regional parliaments shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 167 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The Commission and the European Parliament shall co-organise the public hearing at the European Parliament. Representatives of the Council, other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders or experts, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 168 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ~~co-~~organise the public hearings at ~~the European Parliament~~its premises. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, ~~as well as interested~~of the national parliaments and public stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearings.

Amendment 169 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

~~The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests.~~deleted

Amendment 170 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

~~The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests.~~deleted

Amendment 171 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

The ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public ~~and private interests~~interests. The European Parliament shall also ensure the presence of experts who are highly skilled in the subject with which the initiative is concerned, subject to prior verification that there are no conflicts of interests involved.

Amendment 172 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interest groups.

Amendment 173 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall be represented in the hearings at an appropriate level.

Amendment 174 #

Alain LAMASSOURE

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. In the case of a successful citizens’ initiative, the Commission shall, within 12 months after the publication of the initiative, submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a legislative proposal in response to the initiative. If the Commission considers that there are good reasons not to submit a legislative proposal, it shall clearly and thoroughly justify its decision. For the purposes of this Article, special attention should be paid to Article 296(2) TFEU and Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Amendment 175 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. In addition to the hearings, the European Parliament shall hold a plenary debate on those citizens’ initiatives that successfully meet all of the criteria laid down in this Regulation. That debate may be concluded by the adoption of a resolution calling on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal as referred to in Article 225 TFEU.

Amendment 176 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. The competent Committee or Committees of the European Parliament may issue after the hearing and before the examination by the Commission an opinion on the initiative, without prejudice of resorting to the procedure laid down in article 225 TFEU with a view to exercising Parliament´s right to request the Commission to submit an appropriate proposal.

Amendment 177 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new)

Article 14a Examination by the European Parliament The European Parliament shall hold a debate on the submitted initiative during the plenary session following the public hearing referred to in Article 14. The debate shall be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution including a European Parliament’s recommendation to the Commission on the actions needed as a follow-up to the citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 178 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1

Amendment 179 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1

1. Within one month of the submission of the initiative, the Commission shall receive the group of organisers at an appropriate level to allow them to explain in detail the ~~matters raised by~~purpose of the initiative.

Amendment 180 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

2. Within five months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the public hearing referred to in Article 14(2), the Commission shall set out in a communication full details of its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its detailed reasons for taking or not taking action.

Amendment 181 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Within five months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the ~~public hearing~~European Parliament resolution referred to in Article 14~~(2)~~ b, the Commission shall set out in a communication its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take~~, if any,~~ and its reasons for taking or not taking action exhaustively and in full detail.

Amendment 182 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. If an initiative contains a request for a new draft law to be proposed and the Commission rejects that request, the group of organisers may, within two months, forward their request to the European Parliament so that it can consider using its right to ask the Commission to submit an appropriate proposal under Article 225 TFEU.

Amendment 183 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3

3. The signatories shall be informed by the Commission ~~and~~on the ~~group of organisers may inform the signatories on the response to the initiative~~response to the initiative without undue delay, including via the organisers. For this purpose, the Commission may inform the signatories in accordance with Article 17 (2) and (3).

Amendment 184 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3

3. TWhen the contact information of the signatories is available in accordance with Articles 17 (2) and (3), the Commission and the group of organisers ~~may~~shall inform the signatories on the response to the initiative ~~in accordance with Article 17 (2) and (3)~~.

Amendment 185 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. In the case of a successful citizens’ initiative, the Commission shall, within six months of its publication, submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a legislative proposal in response to the initiative. If the Commission considers that there are serious reasons suggesting not to submit a legislative proposal, it shall clearly and thoroughly provide a justification for its concerns to the organisers and to the European Parliament. In the absence of any response or actions from the Commission, within six months of the publication of the initiative, the Commission shall explain to the organisers and to the European Parliament, thoroughly and in detail, why it did not ensure a follow-up. For the purpose of this Article, special attention shall be paid to Article 296(2) TFEU and to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Amendment 186 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. In the event of a successful citizens’ initiative, the Commission shall, within 12 months after the publication of the initiative, submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal in response to the initiative. If the Commission considers that there are good reasons not to submit a legislative proposal, it shall clearly and thoroughly justify its decision.

Amendment 187 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)

Article 15a Follow-up by the European Parliament Where the conclusions in the communication of the Commission referred to in Article 15 and the recommendation of the European Parliament referred to in Article 14b differ, the European Parliament may exercise the right conferred on the European Parliament under Article 225 TFEU. When exercising this right, the European Parliament shall organise a second public hearing where the organisers shall be invited. Representatives of the other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 188 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)

Article 15a Follow-up to successful citizens’ initiatives by the European Parliament After the six months period referred to in Article 15(3a), the European Parliament shall assess the reply of the Commission to the ECI regardless of it being a legislative proposal or the absence thereof. In particular, it shall hold a plenary debate on this issue, in accordance with its Rules of Procedure. Such a debate may be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution. If the Commission does not react, the European Parliament shall consider the possibility to propose an own-initiative legislative report.

Amendment 189 #

Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Structure of the ECI Programme and supported actions In order to achieve its objectives, the Programme shall finance, inter alia, the following types of action: (a) the development and improvement of the ECI IT systems, including in particular the ECI Register, the central online collection system and the online collaborative platform; (b) the communication, administration and support of ECI activities that aim to eliminate existing hurdles to citizens using the ECI and to harmonise further the procedure and requirements for the submission of ECIs across the Union; (c) the provision of legal advice directly linked to the registration process that has been obtained before the registration of an ECI in line with the provisions of Article 6 of this Regulation; (d) the provision of translations of the registered initiatives and organisation of meetings with the initiatives’ organisers;

Amendment 190 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)

The Commission shall be entitled to perform random checks on the information submitted in respect of the sources of support and funding, to assess the quality of the information provided and to request additional clarifications from the groups of organisers. Such checks shall aim to ensure transparency of funding and other support provided to groups of organisers and shall be carried out in an effective, impartial and proportionate manner. Sources of support and funding shall mean any offering of financial means or credit offering, any offering in kind, the provision below market value of any goods, services (including loans and the provision of personnel) or works, and/or any other transaction which provides an economic advantage, with the exception of support carried out on a voluntary basis by individuals.

Amendment 191 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission, Parliament and the Council and the Member States shall raise public awareness about the existence of the European citizens’ initiative through communication activities and information and publicity campaigns, thereby contributing to promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union.

Amendment 192 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens’ initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than ~~fiv~~three years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every ~~fiv~~three years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.

Amendment 193 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens’ initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than five years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every ~~fiv~~three years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.

Amendment 194 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens’ initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than ~~fiv~~three years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every ~~fiv~~three years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.

Amendment 31 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) 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 of the Union has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. The European citizens’ initiative is a Union instrument of participatory democracy which affords citizens of the Union the possibility of directly approaching the Commission with a request inviting it to submit a proposal for a new legal act or for the abrogation or the amendment of any existing legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties, including with the view to their amendment, 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 32 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) 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 of the Union has the right to participate in the democratic ~~life~~decision-making process of the Union. The European citizens’ initiative is a Union instrument of participatory democracy which affords citizens of the Union the possibility of directly approaching the Commission with a request inviting it to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing 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 33 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) According to the Judgement of the General Court of the European Union of 10 May 2017 (case T-754/14), a citizens’ initiative may cover all legal acts, without being restricted to measures producing definitive effects, including the modification of a current legislative proposal and the abrogation of existing legal acts. The definition of legal act should not be restricted by narrow interpretations.

Amendment 34 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) Since Article 48(2) TEU confers to the Commission the right to submit to the Council proposals for the amendment of the Treaties, any such proposal should be regarded as a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

Amendment 35 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)

(1b) The European citizens’ initiative should be able to ask the Commission, in accordance with Article 48(2) TEU, to propose a revision of the Treaty of the European Union and of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, if such revision is requested by the citizens to implement the Treaties themselves and if this request is not in contradiction with the principles enshrined in the Articles 2 and 6 TEU and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 36 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) The European Parliament, in its resolution on the European citizens’ initiative of 28 October 201525 called on the Commission ~~to review~~comprehensively to review and to revise as soon as possible Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 and ~~Commission~~ Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1179/2011. _________________ 25 2014/2257 (INI). 2014/2257 (INI).

Amendment 37 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)

(4a) Pursuant to Article 11 TEU, the ECI is an integral part of the venues provided to the citizens of the Union allowing them to participate to its decision-making process by asking the Commission to submit a legislative proposal. Through the ECI, European citizens should be able to ensure that the Union’s actions are coherent, transparent and reflecting citizens’ priorities. The ECI is a mechanism imposing obligations on Union institutions in order to make the exercise of the participation right of the citizens of the Union as effective as possible, with due regard to the principles and rules governing the democratic functioning of the Union.

Amendment 38 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, ~~and to bring the Union closer to its citizen~~in order to encourage as many EU citizens as possible to play their part in shaping the ongoing European integration process.

Amendment 39 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative a~~s a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizen~~nd thus bolster the principle of democracy and the democratic functioning of the Union, giving every citizen a general right to participate in its democratic procedures.

Amendment 40 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation ~~at Union level~~to the decision-making process of the Union, and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 41 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome ~~and~~, easier to use for organisers and supporters, and strengthen its follow-up in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizens.

Amendment 42 #

Amendment 43 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) It is appropriate to set a minimum age for supporting an initiative. To achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as an instrument of participatory democracy and to foster citizen participation ~~at Union level~~to the decision-making process of the Union especially among young European citizens, that age should be set at 16 years.

Amendment 44 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)

(7a) In order to ensure an inclusive participation, Union citizens should have the possibility to use languages other than the official languages of the Institutions of the Union that are authorised by a Member State in accordance with the applicable national law.

Amendment 45 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)

(7a) Inclusion of people residing legally in an EU Member State in the European integration project should also be promoted, so that people with this status may support any European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 46 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) In accordance with Article 11(4) of the TEU an initiative inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate legislative proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required to implement the Treaties, is to be taken by not less than one million citizens of the Union who are nationals of a significant number of Member States.

Amendment 47 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)

(8a) A European citizens’ initiative in which the Commission is called upon to submit a proposal to amend the Treaties should be deemed admissible, given that Article 48 TEU confers upon the Commission the power to submit to the Council proposals to amend the Treaties.

Amendment 48 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) In order to ensure that an initiative is representative of a Union interest while ensuring that the instrument remains easy to use the minimum number of Member States from which citizens must come should be set at one quarter of Member States. This Regulation should also firmly establish the principle of material unity so that the intentions of those promoting it are not distorted.

Amendment 49 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

Amendment 50 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) Every citizen of the Union should have the right to support an initiative on paper or online, under similar conditions regardless of the Member State of nationality or residence. It should also be possible to register initiatives written in regional languages, as the Committee of the Regions has already proposed.

Amendment 51 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, past experience having revealed the organisational and technical difficulties inherent in getting a European citizens’ initiative off the ground, access to the rules should be made easier, and the Commission should provide information and assistance to organisers and make available an online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish one or more contact points in their respective territories to provide citizens with information and assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative. The technical advice provided should serve to reduce the high number of applications refused on procedural grounds so that the Commission is obliged to refrain from declaring inadmissible citizens’ initiatives that follow the recommendations given.

Amendment 52 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should ~~provide information and assistance to organisers and~~ make available an online independent collaborative platform toand provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. Independent organisations and external experts with proven experience in the organisation of European citizens’ initiatives should manage and update the platform in order to provide on a daily basis their valuable contribution to the discussion forum. The Commission should be involved in the collaborative platform in order to provide its opinion on specific cases. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish one or more contact points in their respective territories to provide citizens with information and assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 53 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should provide ~~information and~~clear, accurate and complete information and legal and practical assistance to organisers and make publicly available an online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish one or more contact points in their respective territories, accessible to people with disabilities, to provide citizens with information ands well as legal and practical assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 54 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible and to provide support to citizens and organisers, the Commission should provide information and assistance to organisers and, together with the relevant stakeholders, make available an open- source online collaborative platform to provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. To ensure proximity to citizens, Member States should establish one or more contact points in their respective territories to provide citizens with information and assistance regarding the European citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 55 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) A minimum organised structure is needed in order to launch and manage citizens’ initiatives successfully. That structure should take the form of a group of organisers, composed of natural persons resident in at least seven different Member States, in order to encourage the emergence of Union-wide issues and to foster reflection on those issues. For the sake of transparency and smooth and efficient communication, the group of organisers should designate a representative to liaise between the group of organisers and the institutions of the Union throughout the procedure. The group of organisers should have the possibility to create, in accordance with national law, a legal entity without a political character to manage an initiative. That legal entity should be considered as the group of organisers for the purposes of this Regulation.

Amendment 56 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)

(14a) In order to ensure full objectivity and transparency with regard to the registration of a European citizens’ initiative proposal, the Commission should appoint one or more hearing officers from among persons who are known to have a good command of the law of the European Union, and should also provide auxiliary support staff. The hearing officers should be given the role of independent arbiter to assess the necessary conditions for registering a proposal for a European citizens’ initiative. The hearing officers should be appointed in accordance with the rules laid down in the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union. Transparency and the absence of conflicts of interests should be ensured in the performance of their tasks. Sincere cooperation and political dialogue between the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council with regard to the appointment of a hearing officer should also be ensured.

Amendment 57 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)

(14a) The Commission should create a committee of independent experts that should decide on the admissibility of an initiative.

Amendment 58 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In order to ensure coherence and transparency in relation to initiatives and to avoid a situation where signatures are collected for an initiative which does not comply with the conditions laid down by the Treaties and this Regulation, the Commission should seek an opinion from the hearing officer referred to in this Regulation and, where that opinion is favourable, should register initiatives that comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation ~~should be registered by the Commission~~ before collecting statements of support from citizens. The Commission and the hearing officer should deal with registration in accordance with the general principles of good administration.

Amendment 59 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where ~~a substantial~~ part of the initiative~~, including its main objectives,~~ does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a new legal act or the abrogation or amendment of any existing legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties, including with the view to their amendment, and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 60 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, and taking into account that the procedures and conditions required for the European citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate, it is appropriate to partially register an initiative in cases where only part or parts of the initiative meet the requirements for registration under this Regulation. Initiatives should be partially registered where a ~~substantial~~ part of the initiative, including its main objectives, ~~does not manifestly fall outside~~targets an issue which falls in the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties and all the other registration requirements are met. Clarity and transparency should be ensured as regards the scope of the partial registration and potential signatories should be informed of the scope of the registration and of the fact that statements of support are collected only in relation to the scope of the registration of the initiative.

Amendment 61 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)

(16a) Following the Judgement of the General Court of the European Union of 10 May 10 2017 (case T-754/14), a part of the initiative, including its main objectives, may cover all legal acts, without being restricted to measures producing definitive effects, including the abrogation of any existing legal act and the modification of a current legislative proposal. The definition of legal act should not be restricted by narrow interpretations, provided it does not contradict the principles enshrined in Articles 2 and 6 TEU and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 62 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 b (new)

(16b) Where citizens consider it necessary to ask for an amendment of the Treaties in order to have them implemented, a part of the initiative may ask the Commission, in accordance with Article 48(2) TEU, to propose an amendment of the Treaty on the European Union and/or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union if that is in accordance with Articles 2 and 6 TEU and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 63 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

Amendment 64 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

Amendment 65 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18

(18) In order to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and citizens, the Commission should set-up and operate an open-source central system for the online collection of statements of support. That system should be made available free of charge to groups of organisers and should comprise the necessary technical features allowing online collection including the hosting and software as well as accessibility features ensuring that citizens with disabilities can provide support to the initiatives. That system should be set-up and maintained in accordance with Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/4626 . _________________ 26 Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017 on the security of communication and information systems in the European Commission (OJ L 6, 11.1.2017, p. 40–51).

Amendment 66 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20

(20) A group of organisers should have the possibility to set-up its own online collection systems for the collection of statements of support across the Union and to decide whether they wish to use the servers made available by the Commission for that purpose or, if they use their own servers, in which Member State the data collected for the initiative should be stored. The group of organisers should use a single individual online collection system for each initiative. Individual online collection systems set up and operated by a group of organisers should have adequate technical and security features in order to ensure that the data are securely collected, stored and transferred throughout the procedure. For that purpose, the Commission should set out detailed technical specifications for the individual online collection systems, in cooperation with the Member States. The Commission may seek advice of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) which assists the Union institutions in developing and implementing policies related to security of network and information systems.

Amendment 67 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 a (new)

(22a) In order to encourage participation and public debate on the issues raised by initiatives, once the first six months of a collection period have passed, the group of organisers should have the right to present its initiative and to request that a first public hearing be held at Union level. The hearing should be organised by the European Parliament within three months of the request submitted by the group of organisers.

Amendment 68 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) ~~In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, w~~Where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should, in addition, have the right to present that initiative at a second public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be ~~co-~~ organised by the ~~Commission and the~~ European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 69 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

Amendment 70 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The ~~public hearing should be co- organised by the Commission and~~Commission and the European Parliament should ensure that the public hearing is organised at the European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ~~ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as~~ the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union a~~s well as interested stakeholder~~nd, where relevant, representatives of national and regional parliaments should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing.

Amendment 71 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

Amendment 72 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)

(23a) Twelve months after the Commission has submitted the communication setting out its legal and political conclusions on an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation, the group of organisers should have the right to request that a third public hearing be held at EU level in order to allow clear, detailed and comprehensive analysis of the Commission position and ascertain that the Commission’s action is consistent with such commitments as it might have entered into. The hearing should be organised by the European Parliament within six months of the submission of the request by the group of organisers.

Amendment 73 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)

(23a) Citizens’ initiatives that meet the registration requirements should be forwarded to the European Parliament committee or committees competent in the matter for a debate with the involvement of the interested parties and, where applicable, to give an opinion, including the possibility of subsequently triggering the mechanism provided for in Article 225 of the TFEU if the Commission does not present a legislative proposal.

Amendment 74 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)

(23a) In order to assess the political support of an initiative, the European Parliament, which is the body that represents the citizens of the Union, should hold a debate on the submitted initiative during the plenary session following the public hearing. The debate should be concluded by the adoption of a motion for resolution including a European Parliament recommendation to the Commission on the actions needed as a follow-up to the citizens’ initiative.

Amendment 75 #

(23b) The European Parliament should ensure that public hearings are attended by experts who are known to have a good command of the subject with which the initiative is concerned, having first ascertained that there are no conflicts of interests involved. The Commission should ensure that hearings are attended by representatives of itself who are of an appropriate level. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, national parliaments, and relevant public stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in hearings.

Amendment 76 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 c (new)

(23c) The European Parliament should hold a wide-ranging plenary debate on valid initiatives.

Amendment 77 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine ~~a valid~~every initiative which has secured the requisite number of at least one million statements of support and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative, in particular whether it intends to put forward a legislative proposal. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should ~~likewise~~in particular give its reasons if it does not intend to take any action.

Amendment 78 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise give its reasons if it does not intend to take any action. A valid initiative should not affect the Commission’s right of initiative.

Amendment 79 #

Alain LAMASSOURE

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24

(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a valid initiative and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of ~~fiv~~three months from the receipt of the initiative. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewise give its reasons if it does not intend to take any action.

Amendment 80 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24 a (new)

(24a) Where the conclusions of the Commission and the recommendation of the European Parliament differ, the European Parliament should be able to exercise the right conferred on the European Parliament under Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Amendment 81 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated and detailed information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Those groups of organisers should report every trimester on all their sources of funding and the Commission should make those sources clearly apparent on the register. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency. In order to enhance the transparency of financing of ECI activities and the visibility of the ECI as a tool for the engagement of citizens, this regulation should be endowed with its own financial Programme. Such a financial Programme should contribute to the funding of the entities and organisations promoting the ECI and/or provide free technical or legal support to ECIs’ organisers. It should also fund eligible expenditure directly incurred in relation to the organisation of ECIs.

Amendment 82 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated and detailed information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Those groups of organisers should report on all of their sources of funding and the Commission should make those sources clearly apparent on the register. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency. In order to enhance the transparency of financing of ECI activities and the visibility of the ECI as a tool for the engagement of citizens, this regulation should be endowed with its own financial Programme.

Amendment 83 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) The support and funding for initiatives should be transparent. Therefore groups of organisers should provide updated information on the sources of support and funding for their initiatives between the date of registration and the date at which the initiative is submitted to the Commission. Entities, notably organisations which under the Treaties contribute to forming European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens of the Union, but excluding political parties and governmental institutions and authorities, should be able to promote and provide support and funding to initiatives, provided that they do so in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down by this Regulation and with full transparency.

Amendment 84 #

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32

(32) This Regulation respects ~~fundamental rights and observes the principles enshrined in~~ the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union~~, in particular Article 8 thereof~~.

Amendment 85 #

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Isabella ADINOLFI, Eleonora EVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

This Regulation establishes the procedures and conditions required for an initiative inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens of the Union consider that a new legal act or the abrogation or amendment of any existing legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties, including with the view to their amendment, (the ‘European citizens’ initiative’ or ‘initiative’).

Amendment 86 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

‘Legal act’ shall mean, inter alia, a proposal for a new legal act, an act repealing an existing legal act, an act amending an existing legal act, an act amending a proposal for a legal act1a or an act amending a Treaty as referred to in Article 48 TEU. _________________ 1aCf. also the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case T- 754/14.

Amendment 87 #

Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

A citizens’ initiative may cover all legal acts, without being restricted to measures producing definitive effects, including the amendment of an ongoing legislative proposal and the abrogation of existing legal acts. The definition of legal act shall not be restricted by narrow interpretations.

Amendment 88 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Where a European citizens’ initiative concerns the amendment of a legislative proposal under discussion, the Commission must automatically inform the group of organisers of the legislative calendar, notifying them that any citizens’ initiative dealing with a text under examination can only be considered at the end of the legislative procedure.

Amendment 89 #

Charles GOERENS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

(a) A citizens’ initiative may concern the amendment of the Treaties.

Amendment 90 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)

A citizens’ initiative may ask the Commission, in accordance with Article 48(2) TEU, to propose an amendment of the Treaty of the European Union and/or of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, if such revision is requested by the citizens in order to implement the Treaties themselves and if such request is not in contradiction with the principles enshrined in Articles 2 and 6 of TEU and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Amendment 91 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1

Every citizen of the Union who is ~~at least 16 years of age~~entitled to support a legislative initiative pursuant to the Constitution of the Member State of its citizenship has the right to support an initiative by signing a statement of support (‘the signatory’), in accordance with this Regulation.

Amendment 92 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1

Every citizen of the Union who is at least 16 years of age, including citizens with the status of a legal resident in an EU Member State, has the right to support an initiative by signing a statement of support (‘the signatory’), in accordance with this Regulation.

Amendment 93 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1

Every citizen of the Union who is ~~at least 16 years of age has the right to~~old enough to vote in the European elections may support an initiative by signing a statement of support (‘the signatory’), in accordance with this Regulation.

Amendment 94 #

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment 95 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall, upon request, provide information and appropriate expert and legal assistance about the European citizens’ initiative to citizens and groups of organisers.

Amendment 96 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall make available an online collaborative platform ~~providing citizens and groups of organisers with a discussion forum and information and advice~~, which will provide a dedicated discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative. Independent organisations and external experts with proven experience in the organisation of European Citizens’ Initiatives shall manage and update the platform in order to provide on a daily basis their valuable contribution to the discussion forum. The discussion forum shall disseminate information about organisations that are able to provide further technical and legal support and about sources of financial support for organising an ECI provided for by the Union budget, as well as about othe ~~European citizens’ initiative~~r forms of support available in the Member States. The Commission should be fully involved in the collaborative platform in order to convey its opinion on specific cases.

Amendment 97 #

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall make available an online collaborative platform providing citizens and groups of organisers with a discussion forum and information and advice about the European citizens’ initiative, including information about organisations that are able to provide further technical and legal support as well as about other forms of support available in the Member States.

Amendment 98 #