As a member of the Federation of Young European Greens’ (FYEG) working group on democracy, I have been lucky to get more information about the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). It will give us Europeans the power to take an initiative to the European Commission in order to bring forward proposals for legal acts. 1 million citizens from at least one quarter of the EU Member States are required so that an ECI can be done. The organizers have one year time to collect the names, and all of this will be possible starting on April 1st 2012.
I might not be totally lost by saying that the European Union has not actually been advertising for the ECI. In order to be able to start a proper ECI, e.g. the NGO’s should, nevertheless, be well prepared and informed about the initiative and its formal requirements. In this respect, the states and even local governments should take the responsibility in the realization process of the ECI. This was also something that The Green Youth and Students in Finland suggested (and I might have had something to do with writing the press release, hah).
The ECI is far from being perfect. Practically, it is only a suggestion from the signers to the European Commission. It is fully possible that, after several months of hard work and signature collection, nothing happens. Still, the ECI is the first transnational tool of ”direct democracy” (I wouldn’t actually call it direct democracy since it is possible that no power what so ever is included) in the world history. I would give it a try. That’s why everybody who cares for democracy should be informed about the ECI at the latest 1st April next year.
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