Forum on the Citizens' Initiative

EU Politics and Governance Forum

29.06.2010

Meeting of the EU Politics and Governance Forum on the Citizens' Initiative – a major innovation of the Lisbon Treaty –, which encourages one million people from across Europe to mobilise in order to push the EU's 'legislative button'.

The ground rules and procedures for the implementation of this new instrument were fleshed out by the European Commission in March 2010. During the Forum meeting participants discussed the Commission's proposals and the overall implications – both positive and negative – of the new instrument for the EU and its public.

The introductory panel included Zita Gurmai, Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur on the citizens’ initiative, Gerald Häfner, Member of the European Parliament and active campaigner for the new instrument, Mario Tenreiro, Head of Unit on institutional affairs in the European Commission, and Janis A. Emmanouilidis, EPC Senior Policy Analyst. The presentations were followed by a Q&A session. The event was chaired by John Wyles, EPC Chief Strategy Coordinator.

The Forum meeting was also used to launch an EPC Policy Brief on the Citizens' Initiative written by Janis A. Emmanouilidis and Corina Stratulat. For more information about this paper see here.

For more information about the EU Politics and Governance Forum see here.