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European Citizens' Initiative: EC registers initiative on 'Permanent European Union Citizenship'
The College of Commissioners yesterday decided to register a European Citizens' Initiative entitled 'Permanent European Union Citizenship'.
The main objective of the proposed initiative is to guarantee that European citizenship and its associated rights cannot be lost once they have been attained. The organisers cite in particular the context of Brexit and the future loss of EU citizenship and rights of UK citizens.
The Commission's decision to register the Initiative concerns only the legal admissibility of the proposal. The Commission has not analysed the substance at this stage.
The registration of this Initiative will take place on 23 July 2018, starting a one-year process of collection of signatures of support by its organisers. Should the initiative receive one million statements of support within one year, from at least seven different Member States, the Commission will have to react within three months. The Commission can decide either to follow the request or not, and in both instances would be required to explain its reasoning.
Background
European Citizens' Initiatives were introduced with the Lisbon Treaty and launched as an agenda-setting tool in the hands of citizens in April 2012, upon the entry into force of the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation which implements the Treaty provisions.
Once formally registered, a European Citizens' Initiative allows one million citizens from at least one quarter of EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose a legal act in areas where the Commission has the power to do so.
The conditions for admissibility, as foreseen by the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation, are that the proposed action does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission's powers to submit a proposal for a legal act, that it is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious and that it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.
For more information
Full text of the proposed 'Permanent European Union Citizenship' European Citizens Initiative
Other European Citizens' Initiatives currently collecting signatures
European Citizens' Initiative website
European Citizens' Initiative Regulation
European Citizens' Initiative Forum
Press contacts:
- Natasha BERTAUD (+32 2 296 74 56)
- Tim McPHIE (+ 32 2 295 86 02)
General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
