- Europe, like you've never read before -
Monday, 28 July 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • it ITA
  • en ENG
Eunews
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • News
  • Defence
  • Net & Tech
  • Agrifood
  • Other sections
    • Culture
    • Diritti
    • Energy
    • Green Economy
    • Finance & Insurance
    • Industry & Markets
    • Media
    • Mobility & Logistics
    • Sports
  • Newsletter
  • European 2024
    Eunews
    • Politics
    • World
    • Business
    • News
    • Defence
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Other sections
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • Sports
    No Result
    View All Result
    Eunews
    No Result
    View All Result

    Home » General News » With the citizens’ initiative, Europeans can propose laws to the EU Commission, but they don’t know it

    With the citizens’ initiative, Europeans can propose laws to the EU Commission, but they don’t know it

    Eurobarometer points out the disconnect between democracy and participation. Six out of ten people in the EU don't know they have a recognized right since 2012

    Emanuele Bonini</a> <a class="social twitter" href="https://twitter.com/emanuelebonini" target="_blank">emanuelebonini</a> by Emanuele Bonini emanuelebonini
    15 October 2024
    in General News

    Brussels – The European citizens’ initiative exists, but not for citizens, who are not aware of it. Within the 27 member states, few know that the possibility of proposing citizens’ initiative laws exists, and even fewer know what specifically this right is proper for the integration project. The latest Eurobarometer survey designed to determine when Europeans pay attention to the rule of law instead reveals an unawareness of existing but untapped rights. 

    Yet the citizens’ initiative is already “of age”, having come into force in 2012 after the introduction of the Lisbon Treaty. Eunews, with its glossary on the European Union, also helps to orient about this institution of democratic participation. The citizens’ initiative allows one million people from at least one quarter of the EU member states to ask the European Commission to propose legislation in one of its areas of responsibility. The initiative’s initiators have one year to collect the one million signatures, and the relevant authorities must authenticate the signatures in each member state. Once the citizens’ initiative is completed, the Commission has three months to examine it and decide how to act. The initiative can be accepted or rejected, but the active engagement of a largely passive populace remains
    firm.

    Eurobarometer asked European citizens whether they knew they had this right of legislative initiative, and the response is “no”. In the EU, only 18 per cent of respondents know that this institution exists and how it works, while 23 per cent have heard about it but could not explain what it is. Result: the majority of Europeans (59 per cent) do not know that there is a citizens’ initiative to produce the regulations that will then govern everyday life.  

    This is a situation to which not even Italy, a founding country of the European Union, is an exception. In Italy, an absolute majority (53 per cent) of people are unaware that they can stimulate the EU executive to intervene where they feel it is necessary (and where a request for regulatory action can be made). 

    European Union and democratic participation, there is a cleavage between civil society and politics in the EU. Above all, however, in light of the survey conducted between March 3 and April 6, 2024, once again, a European citizenry emerges unaware of the reality in which it lives and what the European Union means. In this regard, an example is the unawareness of being able to move freely between member states.

    English version by the Translation Service of Withub
    Tags: democracyeurobarometereuropean citizens initiativeparticipation

    Related Posts

    下班采购的OL
    General News

    Stop fake-food, EU registers European Citizens’ Initiative for reliable food labels

    24 July 2024
    map visualization
    Flourish logoA Flourish map
    Donald Trump Keir Starmer

    Trump promises new humanitarian aid for Gaza. And returns to threaten Putin with a new ultimatum

    by Francesco Bortoletto bortoletto_f
    28 July 2025

    Speaking alongside the British prime minister, the US president has his say on the trade agreement with the EU, the...

    Gaza, EU suspends Israel’s participation from the Horizon research programme

    by Emanuele Bonini emanuelebonini
    28 July 2025

    The European Commission finally proceeds with the amendment of the Association Agreement. No funds for innovative companies. Cooperation with universities...

    Maros Sefcovic

    Tariffs, Šefčovič defends von der Leyen’s agreement with the US. Discontent among the Twenty-Seven

    by Francesco Bortoletto bortoletto_f
    28 July 2025

    For the EU Trade Commissioner, the agreement reached yesterday in Scotland is "the best possible," which avoids much worse scenarios....

    EU finds Temu in breach of Digital Services Act

    by Renato Giannetti
    28 July 2025

    The Commission's checks confirm the risks already identified in October: there is a 'high probability' of finding illegal goods on...

    • Director’s Point of View
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Opinions
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie policy

    Eunews is a registered newspaper
    Press Register of the Court of Turin n° 27


     

    Copyright © 2025 - WITHUB S.p.a., Via Rubens 19 - 20148 Milan
    VAT number: 10067080969 - ROC registration number n.30628
    Fully paid-up share capital 50.000,00€

     

    No Result
    View All Result
    • it ITA
    • en ENG
    • Newsletter
    • Politics
    • World politics
    • Business
    • General News
    • Defence & Security
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Altre sezioni
      • European Agenda
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Gallery
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • News
      • Opinions
      • Sports
    • Director's Point of View
    • L’Europa come non l’avete mai ascoltata
    • Draghi Report
    • Eventi
    • Eunews Newsletter

    No Result
    View All Result
    • it ITA
    • en ENG
    • Newsletter
    • Politics
    • World politics
    • Business
    • General News
    • Defence & Security
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Altre sezioni
      • European Agenda
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Gallery
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • News
      • Opinions
      • Sports
    • Director's Point of View
    • L’Europa come non l’avete mai ascoltata
    • Draghi Report
    • Eventi
    • Eunews Newsletter

    Attention

    We value your privacy
    We and our 1508 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development. With your permission we and our 1508 partners may use precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our 1508 partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may access more detailed information and change your preferences before consenting or to refuse consenting. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by returning to this site and clicking the privacy policy button at the bottom of the webpage.