Aspekti Publìčnogo Upravlìnnâ (Aug 2015)
Citizens’ initiative mechanism in European Union: procedure and practical implementation experience
Abstract
The article deals with the mechanism of European citizens’ initiative which was determined by the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty and implemented in practice by a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council in April 2012. An author considers in detail the basic principles and main stages of the procedure of European citizens’ initiative mechanism, including their features, key players and timeframe. Much attention is paid to consideration of already existing experience of European citizens’ initiative mechanism practical implementation and outcomes of the first three initiatives that have successfully passed all stages of the procedure and examined by the Commission. The subject-matters and objectives of European citizens’ initiatives are also analyzed, including open and closed initiatives as well as obsolete ones (withdrawn by organizers, gained insufficient support by citizens) and initiatives which did not registered by the Commission. It is concluded that the future of a strong European democracy and the public’s acceptance of the EU depend very much on whether the European Citizens’ Initiative is politically taken seriously and undergoes meaningful reform.
