New Study examines reform proposals regarding the ECI
In the framework of its priority “A Union of Democratic Change”, the European Commission announced a profound reform of regulation (EU) 211/2011 on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) in May 2017. The ongoing review shall contribute to increase public awareness of the transnational democratic instrument and to render it more user-friendly. Out of 66 ECIs registered since April 2012, only three succeeded in meeting the formal requirement of collecting at least one million statements of support (Right2Water, One of Us, Stop Vivisection). This observation reveals prevailing deficits of the current ECI-procedure and its shortcomings in serving as an instrument for civic participation and European democracy. NGOs, ECI-organisers, EU actors and researchers therefore published various reform proposals in the past. In the light of the ongoing review process, the European Parliament will discuss an own-initiative report by rapporteur György Schöpflin for the European Commission in autumn. The Institut für Europäische Politik will accompany the parliamentary discussion process by an extensive analysis of the ECI’s European added value.
On behalf of the European Parliamentary Research Service, the Institut für Europäische Politik examines existing reform proposals regarding the ECI and publishes policy recommendations in order to exploit more efficiently its potential as a transnational democratic instrument.
Detailed Objectives of the Study:
- Analysing the European added value of the ECI and assessing to what extent different reform proposals actually exploit its theoretical potential;
- Demonstrating the need to undertake fundamental reforms of the ECI and justifying a revision of its legal basis;
- Presenting concrete policy recommendations for a revision of the ECI-regulation in order to fully take advantage of its European added value, to render its procedures more coherent for both organisers and signatories and to strengthen European democracy in general.
Project Timeline
July to October 2017
Project Team
Julian Plottka, IEP
Julia Klein, IEP
Carmen Gerstenmeyer, IEP
Amelie Tittel, IEP
