Implementing Lisbon: a critical appraisal of the Citizens' Initiative

Janis A. Emmanouilidis and Corina Stratulat

EPC Policy Brief

Brussels 07/2010

The Lisbon Treaty has introduced the Citizens' Initiative, an instrument designed to increase democratic participation in the EU, by enabling more than a million EU citizens to submit a proposal to the European Commission to change EU regulations. But how exactly is it meant to operate, who is likely to use it and will it have the desired effect?

This Policy Brief by Janis A. Emmanouilidis and Corina Stratulat explains in detail how the Citizens' Initiative should work in practice, and discusses whether it will have the desired effect in bringing citizens closer to the workings of the EU.

The EPC Policy Brief was published on 28 June 2010 and can also be found on the EPC website. See here.

The EPC Policy Brief was launched at a meeting of the EU Politics and Governance Forum. For more information about the meeting see here.