Petitions from Malta to the European Commission, under the so-called European Citizens’ Initiative, will have to contain a minimum of 3,750 signatures, according to new rules establishing each member state’s threshold.
The ECI was introduced in the Lisbon Treaty, giving more powers to citizens in the EU’s legislative process by allowing them to, for example, ask the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal.
Under the treaty, the signatories in favour of a given initiative must number at least one million and come from a “significant number” of member states. A proposed initiative must also fall within an area of EU competence and be in line with its values.
More specific rules agreed last week set the required “significant number” of member states at a minimum of a quarter of them. Also, the minimum number of signatures from each member state will have to amount to the number of MEPs elected in that state multiplied by 750.
Malta, with its five MEPs, will therefore have to present 3,750 signatures, the lowest number in the EU, while Germany will only qualify if it raises 74,250 signatures as it has 99 MEPs.
It was also decided that the new mechanism will only come into force in a year’s time. This has dismayed some NGOs that are eager to start using the tool to influence EU legislation, especially given the fact that the Lisbon Treaty has been in force for over a year.
Greenpeace has tried to take advantage of the ECI by raising one million signatures against a proposal by European Commissioner John Dalli to allow member states to make their own decision on GMOs in their territory.
The petition was duly presented to Mr Dalli but he told Greepeace that, although he would listen, the petition was not yet legally binding. Greenpeace is contesting the stand.
Signing the initiative into law, the president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek said the ECI would help civil society engage in truly European debates on how the EU can help improve their daily lives in practice.
“This legal instrument will establish another direct link between the citizens and the Union’s institutions, bridging the gap between them. The Citizens’ Initiative will constitute a unique exercise in democracy on an EU-wide scale,” he said.