BETA


2020/2275(INI) Engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead PETI VEDRENNE Marie-Pierre (icon: Renew Renew) EVREN Agnès (icon: EPP EPP), MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO Cristina (icon: S&D S&D), EVI Eleonora (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), GANCIA Gianna (icon: ID ID), TERHEŞ Cristian (icon: ECR ECR), PELLETIER Anne-Sophie (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion AFCO SCHOLZ Helmut (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL) François ALFONSI (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), Pascal DURAND (icon: RE RE), Domènec RUIZ DEVESA (icon: S&D S&D)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54, RoP 57

Events

2022/07/14
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2022/03/09
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 417 votes to 40, with 237 abstentions, a resolution on citizens' participation: on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative.

The right of petition

Parliament stressed that the right of petition is the oldest instrument of direct citizen participation at EU level and that it is the most direct way for citizens to contact the EU institutions, to express their views on legislation and policy choices adopted at EU level and to lodge complaints about poor implementation. The number of petitions received in relation to the EU population remains modest and there are significant differences between Member States, regions and languages in the exercise of the right of petition. Members called for targeted information campaigns and civic education on EU citizenship rights.

Deploring the Commission's refusal to take action on individual petitions, Members called on the Commission to review its strategic approach to handling petitions, as it does not address, inter alia, issues relating to serious violations of EU law detrimental to the protection of citizens’ rights.

Stressing that the right to petition is an essential element of participatory democracy, Members urged Parliament and the Commission to adopt a binding inter-institutional agreement on the handling of petitions. They also called on the EU institutions to provide citizens with clear information on the right of petition and to systematically promote the use of this instrument.

Parliament called on the EU institutions and Parliament's committees, as well as Member States, to cooperate better with the Petitions Committee in order to respond effectively to petitioners and meet their demands. They also asked that the Petitions Web Portal be improved to make it more visible to the public, more user-friendly, easier and more intuitive and accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities.

The role of the European Ombudsman

Recalling that the right to complain to the Ombudsman strengthens citizens' commitment to and trust in the EU institutions, Members called on the Ombudsman to look more closely at how EU funds and the budget are spent and whether the Union's interests are not undermined by breaches of the rule of law or disrespect for the Union's principles and values, corruption or conflicts of interest, especially in the context of the European recovery plan, Next Generation EU. They also believe that the Ombudsman should be given a bigger budget.

Parliament congratulated the Ombudsman on the work done to promote a policy of multilingualism and called on her to continue her efforts in this direction, as timely access to documents in all 24 official EU languages is essential to ensure proper participation of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process.

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)

The resolution emphasised that the initiative represents an exceptional opportunity for the citizens of the Union to identify and to put the issues or matters that they are concerned by onto the European political agenda, to articulate their aspirations and to call for the EU to act and legislate, and that its use must be encouraged and supported by all available means.

Recalling that only a handful of successful ECIs have been properly followed up by the Commission, Members called on the Commission to carry out a thorough assessment of the proposals made by each valid ECI and to comply fully with its legal obligation to set out in a clear, understandable and detailed manner its reasons for taking or not taking action.

The resolution called for Parliament’s role to be further enhanced and for its links with civil society organisations to be enhanced with regard to specific valid ECIs and their implementation by the Commission.

Members believe that in the specific cases in which the Commission fails to publish its intentions within the given deadline or set outs in a communication that it intends not to take action on an ECI which has met the procedural requirements, Parliament could decide to follow up on the ECI with a legislative own-initiative report (INL). The Commission should commit to submitting a legislative proposal following Parliament’s adoption of any such INL.

Conclusions

The resolution made the following conclusions regarding the three participatory instruments:

- the establishment and promotion of a large-scale, one-stop, accessible interinstitutional EU citizens’ website (and application, which should be easy to use) to provide information on all the rights and democratic instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level is called for;

- regular collection of information on topics of interest to citizens and on recurrent issues;

- raising public awareness of these instruments, especially among young people, so that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation

- the importance of teaching primary and secondary school pupils and university students about the three participatory instruments of the Union so that they are informed about the Union's decision-making process;

- the need to address the shortcomings of the EU petitions system, taking into account the special needs of people with disabilities and the difficulties faced by under-represented vulnerable groups;

- measures to ensure full transparency in the process of dealing with complaints and citizens' initiatives, as well as granting citizens access to all documents of the European institutions.

Documents
2022/03/08
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2022/03/07
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2022/02/03
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Petitions adopted an own-initiative report by Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE (Renew Europe, FR) on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative.

The right to petition

The report pointed out that the right to petition is the oldest instrument involving the direct participation of citizens at EU level and that it is the easiest and most direct way for citizens to contact the EU institutions. It recalled that the number of received petitions vis-à-vis the EU population remains modest and that significant differences exist between Member States, regions and languages when it comes to exercising the right to petition.

Regretting that the Commission refusing to take action on issues raised in individual petitions constitutes a breach of the current EU Treaties’ provisions, Members called on the Commission to revise its current strategic approach in handling petitions in a timely manner, as it results in leaving untreated, inter alia, issues concerning serious violations of EU law detrimental to the protection of citizens’ rights.

They urged Parliament and the Commission to adopt a binding interinstitutional agreement on the handling of petitions in order to ensure a clear, predictable and transparent legal framework aimed at consistently implementing the right to petition established in the EU Treaties and effectively protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.

More information should be provided to citizens on the right to petition and EU institutions should provide clear information regarding the right to petition and to systematically encourage recourse to this instrument.

The report suggested that the position of the Committee on Petitions should be strengthened within Parliament and in its interinstitutional relations, as it is the only committee that communicates directly with citizens. Members called for more staff and resources to be allocated to the Committee on Petitions, given the extent of its work.

Members also called for the Petitions Web Portal to be improved to make it more visible to the public, more user-friendly, easier and more intuitive to navigate and accessible to all citizens, especially to persons with disabilities.

The function of the European Ombudsman

The report stressed that citizens’ complaints to the Ombudsman represent an essential element of participatory democracy and of the legitimacy of the Union’s decision-making process. Members specifically called on the Ombudsman to look more closely at the manner in which EU funds and the EU budget are spent. They also strongly believe that the Ombudsman should be allocated an increased budget, providing her with the necessary resources to effectively handle the increased workload and to continue to work competently at the service of European citizens.

The report congratulated the Ombudsman on the remarkable work she has done on the accessibility of EU documents and called on her to continue her efforts in this direction because timely access to documents in the EU’s 24 official languages is essential to ensure the proper engagement of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process.

The European Citizens’ Initiative

The report emphasised that the initiative represents an exceptional opportunity for the citizens of the Union to identify and to put the issues or matters that they are concerned by onto the European political agenda, to articulate their aspirations and to call for the EU to act and legislate, and that its use must be encouraged and supported by all available means.

Members called on the Commission to:

- show genuine consideration and commitment to meeting citizens’ expectations in relation to valid ECIs;

- carry out a thorough assessment of the proposals of each valid ECI, and to comply fully with its legal obligation to set out its reasons for taking or not taking action, which it should do in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner.

The report recalled Parliament’s obligation to assess each valid ECI and called for its role to be further enhanced and for its links with civil society organisations to be enhanced with regard to specific valid ECIs and their implementation by the Commission.

Members believe that in the specific cases in which the Commission fails to publish its intentions within the given deadline or set outs in a communication that it intends not to take action on an ECI which has met the procedural requirements, Parliament could decide to follow up on the ECI with a legislative own-initiative report (INL). The Commission should commit to submitting a legislative proposal following Parliament’s adoption of any such INL.

Conclusions

The report made the following conclusions regarding the three participatory instruments:

- the establishment and promotion of a large-scale, one-stop, accessible interinstitutional EU citizens’ website (and application, which should be easy to use) to provide information on all the rights and democratic instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level is called for;

- public awareness of the instruments should be raised, particularly among young people , to ensure that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation;

- all the European institutions should maximise their communication efforts at local, regional and national level to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about and are encouraged to participate and be engaged in the three instruments.

Documents
2022/01/27
   EP - Vote in committee
2021/11/11
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2021/09/27
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2021/07/16
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2021/02/22
   EP - VEDRENNE Marie-Pierre (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in PETI
2021/01/27
   EP - SCHOLZ Helmut (GUE/NGL) appointed as rapporteur in AFCO
2021/01/21
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2021/01/21
   EP - Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament

Documents

Votes

Participation des citoyens: le droit de pétition, le droit de saisir le Médiateur européen et l’initiative citoyenne européenne - Engaging with citizens: the right to petition and refer to the European Ombudsman, the European Citizens’ Initiative - Einbindung der Bürger: das Petitionsrecht, das Recht, sich an den Europäischen Bürgerbeauftragten zu wenden, und die Europäische Bürgerinitiative - A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 3 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 397, -: 212, 0: 86
FR DE ES IT BE NL DK FI IE PT SE AT EE RO SK HR MT EL LT LU LV CY CZ SI BG HU PL
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79
96
58
75
19
29
13
13
13
20
21
19
7
33
13
12
5
21
11
6
8
6
20
8
17
21
52
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icon: Renew Renew
100

Italy Renew

3

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3

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2
3

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1

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3

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1
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72

Spain Verts/ALE

3

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2

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3

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A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 5/1 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 684, 0: 6, -: 5
DE FR IT ES PL RO NL SE HU PT BE AT CZ BG EL FI DK IE LT HR SK LV SI EE CY LU MT
Total
96
79
75
58
52
33
29
21
21
20
19
19
20
17
21
13
13
13
11
12
13
8
8
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6
5
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A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 5/2 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 405, -: 272, 0: 18
DE ES FR IE NL DK BE FI IT SE PT RO LV EE SK LT MT HR LU CY CZ SI BG AT EL HU PL
Total
96
58
79
13
29
13
19
13
75
21
20
33
8
7
13
11
5
12
6
6
20
8
17
19
21
21
52
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A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 38/1 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 396, -: 287, 0: 12
DE ES FR IE NL DK PT BE SE FI SK CY EE RO MT LU LT LV CZ HR SI BG AT EL HU IT PL
Total
96
58
79
13
29
13
20
19
21
13
13
6
7
33
5
6
11
8
20
12
8
17
19
21
21
75
52
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A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 38/2 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 549, -: 128, 0: 18
DE ES FR RO NL CZ SE PT EL BE BG AT IE DK FI IT LT SK SI HR CY LU MT EE LV PL HU
Total
96
58
79
33
29
20
21
20
21
19
17
19
13
13
13
75
11
13
8
12
6
6
5
7
8
52
21
icon: PPE PPE
172

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
2

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2

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1

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1

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2

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1
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icon: Renew Renew
100
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Austria Renew

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1

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2

Finland Renew

3

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64

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Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: ID ID
63

Netherlands ID

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 41 - Am 2 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: -: 447, +: 245, 0: 2
PL HU BG EL CZ SI HR LT LV CY LU SK MT IE EE RO AT BE FI PT SE NL DK DE ES IT FR
Total
52
21
17
21
20
8
12
11
8
6
6
13
5
13
7
33
19
19
13
20
21
29
13
96
58
74
79
icon: PPE PPE
172

Hungary PPE

1

Latvia PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Bulgaria ECR

2

Greece ECR

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1
3

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
41

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania NI

1

Slovakia NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2
3
icon: The Left The Left
39

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Ireland The Left

4

Belgium The Left

Against (1)

1

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

Against (1)

1

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
63

Czechia ID

For (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Finland ID

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ID

1

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

3
icon: Renew Renew
100

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Ireland Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Sweden Renew

3

Italy Renew

3
icon: S&D S&D
143

Greece S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Belgium S&D

3

Finland S&D

2

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 44 - Am 3 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: -: 395, +: 243, 0: 56
PL BG LT EL SI HR LV CZ CY LU SE SK MT IE RO EE HU AT FI BE PT NL DK FR DE IT ES
Total
52
17
11
21
8
12
8
20
6
6
21
13
5
13
32
7
21
19
13
19
20
29
13
79
96
75
58
icon: PPE PPE
172

Latvia PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Hungary PPE

1

Belgium PPE

Against (1)

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Bulgaria ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Greece ECR

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
63

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Abstain (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Finland ID

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ID

1

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
41

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

2
3
icon: The Left The Left
39

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Belgium The Left

Against (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

Against (1)

1

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

3
icon: Renew Renew
99

Poland Renew

1

Bulgaria Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Italy Renew

3
icon: S&D S&D
144

Lithuania S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Latvia S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Belgium S&D

3
6

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 50/1 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 630, 0: 38, -: 27
DE FR PL IT ES RO NL HU PT BG EL AT IE SK LT FI DK HR BE CZ LV SI SE CY LU MT EE
Total
96
79
52
75
58
33
29
21
20
17
21
19
13
13
11
13
13
12
19
20
8
8
21
6
6
5
7
icon: PPE PPE
172

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
144

Greece S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
100

Poland Renew

1

Italy Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Finland Renew

3

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2
3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
39

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2
3
icon: NI NI
41

Slovakia NI

2

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2
icon: ID ID
63

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Finland ID

Against (1)

1

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 50/2 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 413, -: 243, 0: 39
FR DE ES BE IT DK IE FI PT AT EE SK RO NL SE MT LU CY LT CZ HR SI LV EL BG HU PL
Total
79
96
58
19
75
13
13
13
20
19
7
13
33
29
21
5
6
6
11
20
12
8
8
21
17
21
52
icon: S&D S&D
144

Estonia S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Greece S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
100

Italy Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3
3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Poland Renew

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
39

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Portugal The Left

4

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Czechia The Left

1
icon: ID ID
63

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

1
3

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
41

Germany NI

Against (1)

3

Slovakia NI

2

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1
3

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Greece ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2
icon: PPE PPE
172

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Finland PPE

3

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Slovakia PPE

For (1)

4

Malta PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Latvia PPE

2

Hungary PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 70/1 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 638, 0: 43, -: 14
DE IT PL FR ES RO NL HU PT SE BG EL AT SK BE IE FI DK LT HR CZ LV SI CY LU EE MT
Total
96
75
52
79
58
33
29
21
20
21
17
21
19
13
19
13
13
13
11
12
20
8
8
6
6
7
5
icon: PPE PPE
172

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
144

Greece S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
100

Italy Renew

3

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

2
3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
39

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Czechia The Left

1

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

1
3

Bulgaria ECR

2

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: ID ID
63

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Finland ID

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
41

Slovakia NI

2

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - § 70/2 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 455, -: 215, 0: 25
IT DE ES PL FR IE DK NL PT BE FI RO LV EE BG LT MT EL HR AT LU CY SK CZ SI SE HU
Total
75
96
58
52
79
13
13
29
20
19
13
33
8
7
17
11
5
21
12
19
6
6
13
20
8
21
21
icon: S&D S&D
144

Latvia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
100

Italy Renew

3

Poland Renew

1

Ireland Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Sweden Renew

Against (1)

3

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3
icon: The Left The Left
39

Denmark The Left

1

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Czechia The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Greece ECR

1

Croatia ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1
3
icon: ID ID
63

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia ID

Abstain (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
41

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: PPE PPE
172

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Belgium PPE

3

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Hungary PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - Considérant S - Am 1 #

2022/03/08 Outcome: +: 560, -: 114, 0: 21
IT PL ES FR DE RO NL HU BG EL CZ BE SK AT HR PT SE SI LT DK LV FI EE MT LU CY IE
Total
75
52
58
79
96
33
29
21
17
21
20
19
13
19
12
20
21
8
11
13
8
13
7
5
6
6
13
icon: PPE PPE
172

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2
2
icon: S&D S&D
144

Greece S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
100

Italy Renew

3

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1
3

Slovenia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Estonia Renew

Against (1)

3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Ireland Renew

2
icon: ID ID
63

Netherlands ID

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

1
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

1

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Greece ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

1
3

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: NI NI
41

Germany NI

For (1)

3

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania NI

1
icon: The Left The Left
39

Netherlands The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Belgium The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Ireland The Left

4
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Participation des citoyens: le droit de pétition, le droit de saisir le Médiateur européen et l’initiative citoyenne européenne - Engaging with citizens: the right to petition and refer to the European Ombudsman, the European Citizens’ Initiative - Einbindung der Bürger: das Petitionsrecht, das Recht, sich an den Europäischen Bürgerbeauftragten zu wenden, und die Europäische Bürgerinitiative - A9-0018/2022 - Marie-Pierre Vedrenne - Proposition de résolution (ensemble du texte) #

2022/03/09 Outcome: +: 417, 0: 237, -: 40
IT DE FR ES RO NL BE IE AT DK SE FI PT HU SK CZ HR EE EL BG LT LU SI LV MT CY PL
Total
75
95
79
58
32
28
20
13
19
13
21
13
20
21
13
21
12
7
21
17
11
6
8
8
5
6
52
icon: S&D S&D
143

Slovakia S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
101

Italy Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1
3

Finland Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Poland Renew

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
38

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Portugal The Left

For (1)

3

Czechia The Left

1

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: ID ID
64

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
41

Germany NI

Abstain (1)

3

Slovakia NI

2

Lithuania NI

1
icon: PPE PPE
172

Denmark PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Finland PPE

3

Hungary PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

2
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Romania ECR

Abstain (1)

1
3

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2
AmendmentsDossier
211 2020/2275(INI)
2021/09/16 PETI 44 amendments...
source: 697.540
2021/09/27 PETI 149 amendments...
source: 697.540
2021/10/21 AFCO 18 amendments...
source: 699.084

History

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

docs/3
date
2022-07-14T00:00:00
docs
url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=57779&j=0&l=en title: SP(2022)271
type
Commission response to text adopted in plenary
body
EC
docs/3
date
2022-03-09T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0066_EN.html title: T9-0066/2022
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/5
date
2022-03-09T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0066_EN.html title: T9-0066/2022
events/5
date
2022-03-08T00:00:00
type
Results of vote in Parliament
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EP
docs
url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=57779&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
events/6
date
2022-03-09T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0066_EN.html title: T9-0066/2022
events/6/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted by 417 votes to 40, with 237 abstentions, a resolution on citizens' participation: on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative.
  • The right of petition
  • Parliament stressed that the right of petition is the oldest instrument of direct citizen participation at EU level and that it is the most direct way for citizens to contact the EU institutions, to express their views on legislation and policy choices adopted at EU level and to lodge complaints about poor implementation. The number of petitions received in relation to the EU population remains modest and there are significant differences between Member States, regions and languages in the exercise of the right of petition. Members called for targeted information campaigns and civic education on EU citizenship rights.
  • Deploring the Commission's refusal to take action on individual petitions, Members called on the Commission to review its strategic approach to handling petitions, as it does not address, inter alia, issues relating to serious violations of EU law detrimental to the protection of citizens’ rights.
  • Stressing that the right to petition is an essential element of participatory democracy, Members urged Parliament and the Commission to adopt a binding inter-institutional agreement on the handling of petitions. They also called on the EU institutions to provide citizens with clear information on the right of petition and to systematically promote the use of this instrument.
  • Parliament called on the EU institutions and Parliament's committees, as well as Member States, to cooperate better with the Petitions Committee in order to respond effectively to petitioners and meet their demands. They also asked that the Petitions Web Portal be improved to make it more visible to the public, more user-friendly, easier and more intuitive and accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities.
  • The role of the European Ombudsman
  • Recalling that the right to complain to the Ombudsman strengthens citizens' commitment to and trust in the EU institutions, Members called on the Ombudsman to look more closely at how EU funds and the budget are spent and whether the Union's interests are not undermined by breaches of the rule of law or disrespect for the Union's principles and values, corruption or conflicts of interest, especially in the context of the European recovery plan, Next Generation EU. They also believe that the Ombudsman should be given a bigger budget.
  • Parliament congratulated the Ombudsman on the work done to promote a policy of multilingualism and called on her to continue her efforts in this direction, as timely access to documents in all 24 official EU languages is essential to ensure proper participation of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process.
  • The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)
  • The resolution emphasised that the initiative represents an exceptional opportunity for the citizens of the Union to identify and to put the issues or matters that they are concerned by onto the European political agenda, to articulate their aspirations and to call for the EU to act and legislate, and that its use must be encouraged and supported by all available means.
  • Recalling that only a handful of successful ECIs have been properly followed up by the Commission, Members called on the Commission to carry out a thorough assessment of the proposals made by each valid ECI and to comply fully with its legal obligation to set out in a clear, understandable and detailed manner its reasons for taking or not taking action.
  • The resolution called for Parliament’s role to be further enhanced and for its links with civil society organisations to be enhanced with regard to specific valid ECIs and their implementation by the Commission.
  • Members believe that in the specific cases in which the Commission fails to publish its intentions within the given deadline or set outs in a communication that it intends not to take action on an ECI which has met the procedural requirements, Parliament could decide to follow up on the ECI with a legislative own-initiative report (INL). The Commission should commit to submitting a legislative proposal following Parliament’s adoption of any such INL.
  • Conclusions
  • The resolution made the following conclusions regarding the three participatory instruments:
  • - the establishment and promotion of a large-scale, one-stop, accessible interinstitutional EU citizens’ website (and application, which should be easy to use) to provide information on all the rights and democratic instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level is called for;
  • - regular collection of information on topics of interest to citizens and on recurrent issues;
  • - raising public awareness of these instruments, especially among young people, so that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation
  • - the importance of teaching primary and secondary school pupils and university students about the three participatory instruments of the Union so that they are informed about the Union's decision-making process;
  • - the need to address the shortcomings of the EU petitions system, taking into account the special needs of people with disabilities and the difficulties faced by under-represented vulnerable groups;
  • - measures to ensure full transparency in the process of dealing with complaints and citizens' initiatives, as well as granting citizens access to all documents of the European institutions.
docs/3
date
2022-03-09T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0066_EN.html title: T9-0066/2022
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/4
date
2022-03-07T00:00:00
type
Debate in Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2022-03-07-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
events/5
date
2022-03-09T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0066_EN.html title: T9-0066/2022
forecasts
  • date: 2022-03-08T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament's vote
New
Procedure completed
forecasts/0
date
2022-03-07T00:00:00
title
Debate in plenary scheduled
forecasts/1
date
2022-03-08T00:00:00
title
Vote in plenary scheduled
docs/3
date
2022-02-03T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0018_EN.html title: A9-0018/2022
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
events/3/summary
  • The Committee on Petitions adopted an own-initiative report by Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE (Renew Europe, FR) on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative.
  • The right to petition
  • The report pointed out that the right to petition is the oldest instrument involving the direct participation of citizens at EU level and that it is the easiest and most direct way for citizens to contact the EU institutions. It recalled that the number of received petitions vis-à-vis the EU population remains modest and that significant differences exist between Member States, regions and languages when it comes to exercising the right to petition.
  • Regretting that the Commission refusing to take action on issues raised in individual petitions constitutes a breach of the current EU Treaties’ provisions, Members called on the Commission to revise its current strategic approach in handling petitions in a timely manner, as it results in leaving untreated, inter alia, issues concerning serious violations of EU law detrimental to the protection of citizens’ rights.
  • They urged Parliament and the Commission to adopt a binding interinstitutional agreement on the handling of petitions in order to ensure a clear, predictable and transparent legal framework aimed at consistently implementing the right to petition established in the EU Treaties and effectively protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.
  • More information should be provided to citizens on the right to petition and EU institutions should provide clear information regarding the right to petition and to systematically encourage recourse to this instrument.
  • The report suggested that the position of the Committee on Petitions should be strengthened within Parliament and in its interinstitutional relations, as it is the only committee that communicates directly with citizens. Members called for more staff and resources to be allocated to the Committee on Petitions, given the extent of its work.
  • Members also called for the Petitions Web Portal to be improved to make it more visible to the public, more user-friendly, easier and more intuitive to navigate and accessible to all citizens, especially to persons with disabilities.
  • The function of the European Ombudsman
  • The report stressed that citizens’ complaints to the Ombudsman represent an essential element of participatory democracy and of the legitimacy of the Union’s decision-making process. Members specifically called on the Ombudsman to look more closely at the manner in which EU funds and the EU budget are spent. They also strongly believe that the Ombudsman should be allocated an increased budget, providing her with the necessary resources to effectively handle the increased workload and to continue to work competently at the service of European citizens.
  • The report congratulated the Ombudsman on the remarkable work she has done on the accessibility of EU documents and called on her to continue her efforts in this direction because timely access to documents in the EU’s 24 official languages is essential to ensure the proper engagement of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process.
  • The European Citizens’ Initiative
  • The report emphasised that the initiative represents an exceptional opportunity for the citizens of the Union to identify and to put the issues or matters that they are concerned by onto the European political agenda, to articulate their aspirations and to call for the EU to act and legislate, and that its use must be encouraged and supported by all available means.
  • Members called on the Commission to:
  • - show genuine consideration and commitment to meeting citizens’ expectations in relation to valid ECIs;
  • - carry out a thorough assessment of the proposals of each valid ECI, and to comply fully with its legal obligation to set out its reasons for taking or not taking action, which it should do in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner.
  • The report recalled Parliament’s obligation to assess each valid ECI and called for its role to be further enhanced and for its links with civil society organisations to be enhanced with regard to specific valid ECIs and their implementation by the Commission.
  • Members believe that in the specific cases in which the Commission fails to publish its intentions within the given deadline or set outs in a communication that it intends not to take action on an ECI which has met the procedural requirements, Parliament could decide to follow up on the ECI with a legislative own-initiative report (INL). The Commission should commit to submitting a legislative proposal following Parliament’s adoption of any such INL.
  • Conclusions
  • The report made the following conclusions regarding the three participatory instruments:
  • - the establishment and promotion of a large-scale, one-stop, accessible interinstitutional EU citizens’ website (and application, which should be easy to use) to provide information on all the rights and democratic instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level is called for;
  • - public awareness of the instruments should be raised, particularly among young people , to ensure that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation;
  • - all the European institutions should maximise their communication efforts at local, regional and national level to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about and are encouraged to participate and be engaged in the three instruments.
docs/3
date
2022-02-03T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0018_EN.html title: A9-0018/2022
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
events/3/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0018_EN.html title: A9-0018/2022
forecasts/0/title
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date
New
Debate in plenary scheduled
events/3
date
2022-02-03T00:00:00
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Committee report tabled for plenary
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procedure/stage_reached
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Awaiting committee decision
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Awaiting Parliament's vote
events/2
date
2022-01-27T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee
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EP
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
forecasts
  • date: 2022-03-07T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFCO-AD-697604_EN.html
docs/2/date
Old
2021-11-10T00:00:00
New
2021-11-11T00:00:00
docs/2
date
2021-11-10T00:00:00
docs
title: PE697.604
committee
AFCO
type
Committee opinion
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docs/1/date
Old
2021-09-24T00:00:00
New
2021-09-27T00:00:00
docs/1/date
Old
2021-09-16T00:00:00
New
2021-09-24T00:00:00
docs/1/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PETI-AM-697540_EN.html
committees/1/rapporteur
  • name: SCHOLZ Helmut date: 2021-01-27T00:00:00 group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
docs/1/date
Old
2021-09-15T00:00:00
New
2021-09-16T00:00:00
docs/1
date
2021-09-15T00:00:00
docs
title: PE697.540
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Amendments tabled in committee
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EP
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  • date: 2021-07-16T00:00:00 docs: title: PE695.340 type: Committee draft report body: EP
commission/0/commissioner
Old
JOHANSSON Ylva
New
ŠEFČOVIČ Maroš
events/0/body
EP
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2021-01-21T00:00:00
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Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/0
date
2021-01-21T00:00:00
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Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
committees/0/shadows
  • name: EVREN Agnès group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
  • name: MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO Cristina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
  • name: GANCIA Gianna group: Identity and Democracy abbr: ID
  • name: EVI Eleonora group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
  • name: TERHEŞ Cristian group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR
  • name: PELLETIER Anne-Sophie group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
committees/0/rapporteur
  • name: VEDRENNE Marie-Pierre date: 2021-02-22T00:00:00 group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew