Debate regarding European citizens participation inititiatives

Romanian Group for the Defence of Human Rights participated Friday, February 27, 2015, to the debate on “European Citizens Participation Initiatives”. Hosted by the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest. The event aims to bring to public attention the importance of citizen initiative and petitioning activity the European institutions.

Every citizen, individually or in association with others can exercise anytime the right to petition the European Parliament, in accordance with Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Between 2009 and 2014, the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament received 10,000 complaints. About 60% of them were declared admissible, since they were in accordance with the European Union activity and competence. In 2013, the number of registered complaints reached the level of 3000, increasing by over 45% in 2012 and doubling compared to 2011.
Also, another provision that comes to support citizens’ initiative is one that allows a group of at least one million European citizens representing at least a quarter of the EU Member States to ask the European Commission to propose draft laws in areas which fall within the competence of the Commission. The Lisbon Treaty introduced in European political landscape this new form of public participation.

In Romania, petitioning activity, and requests for public information are regulated by:
– Government Ordinance no. 27/2002 on the resolution of petitions,
– Law no. 544 of 2001privind free access to public information

 

GRADO is actively involved in informing and supporting citizens to exercise these rights and lobbying state institutions for compliance with applicable legal provisions.