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05.02.2010
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Reaction to European Citizen’s Initiative Green Paper

One of the features of European Union’s newly ratified Lisbon Treaty is the possibility for a so-called citizens initiative. ESU sees such initiatives as an opportunity for the still fledgling pan-European civil society to take a more active part in shaping the future of the continent.

The Treaty says that “not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may take the initiative of inviting the Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties”. The European Commission has issued a Green Paper on the citizens’ initiative.

In ESU’s opinion it is very important that there are no limits on which individuals or groups can put forward initiatives.

ESU hopes that this new possibility will be used actively. ESU also thinks that the European Commission should put their full weight behind this and encourage the submission of initiatives by starting an awareness raising campaign on the possibility of putting forward initatives.

Read the full text of ESU’s reaction to the European Commission’s Green Paper here.

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