2020/2275(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28 a. Regrets that the lack of a legislative follow-up by the Commission on the largest part of successful ECIs undermined the goal of enhancing the democratic legitimacy of the Union through enhanced participation of citizens in its democratic and political life;

Amendment 152 #

Cristian TERHEŞ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the Commission to inform the public about the EU’s competences to make sure that ECIs concern subjects and issues that fall within the EU’s remit; ~~emphasises that recent ECIs have called for the EU to take more action, more quickly, in the fight against climate change;~~

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the Commission to inform the public about the EU’s competences to make sure that ECIs concern subjects and issues that fall within the EU’s remit; emphasises that the recent ECIs ~~have called for the EU to take more action, more quickly, i~~concern the fight against climate change, consumer rights and health;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the Commission to inform the public about the EU’s competences to make sure that ECIs concern subjects and issues that fall within the EU’s remit; emphasises that recent ECIs have called, inter alia, for the EU to take more action, more quickly, in the fight against climate change and in protecting indigenous national minorities and language communities;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Applauds the Commission on having held information seminars and having established a European Citizens' Initiative Week in 2020, which brought together representatives of institutions, members of civil society and organisers of past and current initiatives, with the aim of reflecting on how to improve this instrument; considers, however, that the European Citizens' Initiative remains little known; calls on the Commission, therefore, to increase the media visibility of this participatory tool, in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2019/788;

Amendment 156 #

Cristian TERHEŞ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Calls on the Commission to improve the ECI tool to make citizens’ participation more accessible~~, given the low number of ECIs that have ultimately been successful~~;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. CStresses the need for a revision of the EU Treaties' provisions on the ECI to greatly improve rules on the legislative follow-up to be given to successful ECIs; urges the Commission, under the current Treaties, to commit itself to submitting a legislative proposal following Parliament’s adoption of a legislative own-initiative report (INL) based on a successful ECI which initially had no legislative follow-up by the Commission; calls on the Commission to improve the ECI tool to make citizens’ participation more accessible, given the low number of ECIs that have ultimately been successful;

Amendment 158 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Calls on the Commission to improve the ECI tool to make citizens’ participation more accessible, given the low number of ECIs that have ultimately been successful; regrets that so far the majority of successful ECIs did not end with a legislative proposal by the Commission; therefore calls on the Commission to initiate a legislative proposal on the basis of any successful ECI that was supported by the European Parliament;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Calls on the Commission to study the necessary mechanisms to improve the ECI tool and implement them to make citizens’ participation more accessible, given the low number of ECIs that have ultimately been successful;

Amendment 160 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Ulrike MÜLLER, Jordi CAÑAS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Is of the opinion that the way in which official replies by the Commission to successful citizens' initiatives are formulated may significantly influence how the instrument is evaluated by citizens and that greater effort and more prudent examination is required in the case of each successful initiative to ensure the Commission gives adequate thought to citizens' propositions;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Highlights the need to establish a proper follow-up mechanism for unsuccessful ECIs in order to take citizens’ input seriously, including redirecting citizens to the Committee on Petitions, as the lack of impact could lead to disengagement; underlines the role that the Committee on Petitions must play throughout hearing processes; calls on the Commission to collaborate in a timely manner with Parliament after an ECI is deemed successful, to enable Parliament to make full use of the three-month period for the organisation of hearingsnd with a view to avoiding their disengagement;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Highlights the need to establish a proper follow-up mechanism for unsuccessful ECIs in order to take citizens’ input seriously, including redirecting citizens to the Committee on Petitions, as the lack of impact could lead to disengagement; underlines the role that the Committee on Petitions must play throughout hearing processes; calls on the Commission to collaborate in a timely manner with Parliament after an ECI is deemed successful, to enable Parliament to make full use of the three-month period ~~for the organisation of hearings~~, and to organise the public hearing and prepare the plenary debate as part of its ECI assessment;

Amendment 163 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Jordi CAÑAS, Ulrike MÜLLER, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32 a. Underlines the role that the Committee on Petitions must play throughout hearing processes; calls on the Commission to collaborate in a timely manner with Parliament after an ECI is deemed successful, to enable Parliament to make full use of the three-month period for the organisation of hearings;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional ~~website~~EUcitizens’ website (and application, which is easily accessible for everyone, also taking as example the so-called Citizens’App of the Parliament) to provide information on all the rights and instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU achieving a concrete direct impact on the EU political agenda and on the EU decision- making processes; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level;

Amendment 167 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Stresses that regular information gathering on topics of interest to citizens and recurring issues which are raised in petitions, the European Ombudsman's enquiries and ECIs, would help to find solutions more quickly, while ensuring the coherence of the EU's policies for its citizens;

Amendment 170 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level; takes the view that such a one-stop platform would not only provide citizens with greater visibility of their rights, but also promote complementarity between these different instruments;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Considers essential to analyse the communication problems between European institutions and citizens that cause citizen participation mechanisms to be underused by Europeans; calls for the necessary resources be put in place to disseminate information about the existence and functioning of this tools among the general public;

Amendment 172 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Jordi CAÑAS, Vlad GHEORGHE, Ulrike MÜLLER, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Calls for public awareness of these three participatory instruments to be raised to ensure that they become effective tools for democratic participation; emphasises that all the European institutions should maximise their efforts at communication ~~efforts~~, which should be accessible and available in as many languages as possible, to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about, and are encouraged to participate in, the instruments;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Calls for public awareness, particularly among young people, of these three participatory instruments to be raised to ensure that they become effective tools for democratic participation; emphasises that all the European institutions should maximise their communication efforts to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about, and are encouraged to participate in, the instruments;

Amendment 174 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Calls for public awareness of these three participatory instruments to be raised to ensure that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation; emphasises that all the European institutions should maximise their communication efforts to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about, and are encouraged to participate in, the instruments;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36 a. Believes that the EU institutions should develop an awareness-raising strategy to promote EU instruments as ECI, Complaints to European Ombudsman and right to petition at a local, regional and national level, in order to improve citizens’ knowledge, participation and engagement;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36 a. Stresses the importance of providing citizens with assistance, both at European and local level, through the Europe Direct information centres and Houses of Europe, in submitting petitions and ECIs and complaints to the European Ombudsman;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. ~~Calls on the Member States to make it mandatory for~~Underlines the crucial educational role that academic stakeholders must play in dispensing European civic education; invites the Member States to teach pupils in schools ~~to be taught~~and universities about the EU’s three participatory instruments; asks the Commission to strengthen the Erasmus+ programme's targets on young people's active participation in democratic life, particularly by means of learning activities to develop civic skills and an understanding of European policies; points out that civic engagement among young people is vital for the future of all democracies;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. ~~Calls on~~Recommends the Member States to ~~make it mandatory for pupils in schools to be taught about the EU’s three participatory instruments~~allow students in high schools to be taught a general knowledge of the European Union law, the European Institutions work and the three participatory instruments, in order for them to be conscient of the EU decision making process and to know how to participate actively; points out that civic engagement among young people is vital for the future of all democracies;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Calls on the Member States to make it ~~mandatory~~available and highly recommended for pupils in schools to be taught about the EU’s three participatory instruments; points out that civic engagement among young people is vital for the future of all democracies;

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37 a. Underlines the importance of giving full access to persons with disabilities to all the different instruments that the EU provides to citizens, particularly through systematic interpretation and translation into Sign language and Easy-to-Read language;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 b (new)

37 b. Calls on the EU institutions to address the challenges faced by the vulnerable groups of people who are underrepresented and unable to have their issues addressed and to involve them in decision-making;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38 a. Recalls the need to systematically hold consultations with NGOs and civil society organisations to open up the lines of communication between the institutions and the citizens, in order to improve citizens’ knowledge of EU instruments and participative democracy;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Recalls that the EU’s multilingual communication policy and the publication of information and documents in all the official languages of the EU is a crucial element in communicating with and engaging citizens from all Member States; highlights its importance in all communication channels, including social media, in order to better connect with citizens; welcomes the guidelines published by the Ombudsman instructing the institutions on how to develop their language policy in the most citizen-friendly manner;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Recalls that the EU’s multilingual communication policy is a crucial element in communicating with and engaging citizens from all Member States, with particular regard to the special needs of persons with disabilities (sign language, Braille); highlights its importance in all communication channels, including social media, in order to better connect with citizens; welcomes the guidelines published by the Ombudsman instructing the institutions on how to develop their language policy in the most citizen-friendly manner;

Amendment 185 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Recalls that the EU’s multilingual communication policy is a crucial element in communicating with and engaging citizens from all Member States, which needs to be strengthened; highlights its importance in all communication channels, including social media, in order to better connect with citizens; welcomes the guidelines published by the Ombudsman instructing the institutions on how to develop their language policy in the most citizen-friendly manner;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39 a. Insists on the need to discuss the role and the dimension of the Committee on Petitions by the Parliament; points out that more consideration to citizen’s demands can be given only if a competent body makes the follow-up; highlights that currently the Committee on Petitions does not have the proper dimension and powers in order to satisfy citizen’s demand;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Stresses the need to address the shortcomings of the EU petition system, taking into consideration the special needs of persons with disabilities, in order to ensure its full democratic potential and agenda-setting role; calls on the EU institutions to use their resources to increase the attractiveness of this tool and promote citizens’ participation in EU law- making; in this regard, stresses the need for more EU funding to be allocated to the promotion of the participatory mechanisms;

Amendment 188 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. With a view to improving public participation, emphasises the need for citizens to have clear guidance to help them choose the most appropriate participatory tool; takes the view that there is a need to understand and overcome the obstacles ~~people~~citizens, particularly Europeans with disabilities, encounter when they are drawing up petitions to Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and initiatives for the Commission;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. With a view to improving public participation, emphasises the need for citizens to have clear guidance to help them choose the most appropriate participatory tool to respond to their concerns; takes the view that there is a need to understand and overcome the obstacles people encounter when they are drawing up petitions to Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and initiatives for the Commission;

Amendment 190 #

Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Alex AGIUS SALIBA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Emphasises, furthermore, that where ECIs and petitions have an impact – especially involving mass media coverage or consideration by the Commission or Parliament – they should be examined to pinpoint successful strategies and best practices that could be used as learning in the future;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Emphasises how important transparency is in the process of dealing with citizens’ initiatives and complaints; calls on the Commission to take the necessary steps to guarantee full transparency; expresses its support for the European Ombudsman’s efforts to make all the EU institutions and bodies much more transparent and accountable to EU citizens;

Amendment 192 #