Quote from Josep Maria Terricabras
European Citizens' Initiative reform
The European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs committee has today voted on the reform of the European Citizens' Initiative, with the majority blocking all meaningful improvements.
Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur Josep Maria Terricabras comments:
"Millions of Europeans have used their right to take part in a European Citizens' Initiative. But their calls have repeatedly been ignored, with the European Commission consistently failing to follow up with meaningful legislative proposals. It's clear that the European Citizens' Initiative needs to be changed if it is going to deliver on its promise of bringing democracy closer to the people.
"It is extremely frustrating that socialists, liberals and conservatives all refused to back our proposals to oblige the European institutions to provide legislative follow-up to citizens' proposals. Indeed, they could not even bring themselves to back our proposals to ensure a parliamentary debate is held on each successful initiative. When one million citizens come together to demand change, they deserve to be treated with more respect than this.
"We will challenge the mandate at the next plenary session in July."
