European Citizens' Initiative

The European Citizens’ Initiative is the expression of participatory democracy within the European Union, where one million citizens of it, who have their domicile in at least one quarter of the Member States, have the right to invite the Commission, to submit a proposal for a legal act in the application of treaties. The Citizens Initiative has its source in the concept of European Union Citizenship, first governed by the Treaty of Maastricht (Treaty on European Union/TEU). At present, the European Citizens’ Initiative has its legal basis in the TEU, TFEU, Regulation (EU) No. 211/2011 and in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament. Regulation (EU) No. 211/2011, establishes detailed procedures and conditions for the Commission to make such an initiative. Since the implementation of the EU Injunction, three initiatives have been submitted to the Commission, which have proved viable.