Activities of Niklas NIENASS related to 2020/2201(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on citizens’ dialogues and citizens’ participation in EU decision-making
Amendments (11)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that citizens’ understanding of and trust in the EU institutions isare fundamental for democracy, good governance and effective policy-making and that for this reason theall EU institutions must strive for the highest possible standards of transparency, accountability and integrity in all aspects of their work, especially with regards to holding meetings at highest levels publicly;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Underlines the importance of culture and education as the backbone of our society and stresses their crucial role in shaping the historical, political and societal consciousness of our citizens; believes, therefore, that civic education is a key to enabling citizens' participation in political processes;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Highlights the potential of culture, arts and creativity as tools for citizens to express their opinions on the future of Europe and therefore calls on the Commission to explore possibilities to make use of this potential in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe as well as in form of a continuous method of political participation in the long term;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Recalls the "Declaration on Promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non- discrimination through education" by the European education ministers from 17 March 2015, containing their demand to strengthen our actions in the field of education at European, national, regional and local levels in order to safeguard our pluralistic society;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that all democratic means of participation for citizens must entail an open and transparent process that takes an inclusive, participatory and well-balanced approach to citizens and stakeholders; believes that dialogue between decision- makers and civil society should be organised in such a way that the diversity of our societies is fully reflected in all Member States;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that established channels for citizens to give their input on the EU decision-making process, such as the European citizens’ initiative, the right of petition to the European Parliament, recourse to the European Ombudsman, public consultations and dialogues, lack visibility, accessibility and follow-up; and therefore deny citizens a true participation; believes that the Commission by refusing to propose a legal follow-up on almost all successful ECIs failed to ensure that this tool could genuinely achieve its goal aimed at enhancing the democratic functioning of the Union through the participation of citizens in its democratic and political life; warns that the Commission's approach results in undermining citizens' trust in the EU institutions; underlines, in this regard, that by means of a resolution adopted in plenary the Parliament asked the Commission to ensure a legal follow- up on the Minority Safepack Initiative;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of fostering civic engagement and active participation in a coordinated and coherent way at a local, regional, national and EU level; believes, in this connection, that the role and activities of European Commission Representations and European Parliament Liaison Offices (EPLOs) in the Member States should be strengthened, privileging the mainstreamed use of communication tools for the digital and physical participation of citizens, and the independence of their work safeguarded;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Asks the Commission to provide the necessary attention to the new programme "Rights and Values", in enhancing a true and long term dialogue with citizens through the chapter dedicated to "the promotion of citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the EU"; underlines the necessity to reinforce the dialogue with the citizens, in also taking into account the urgency to address common concerns and events, i.e. in raising for example awareness of a common European history;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that civic education and learning about the EU isas well as independent media are key to enabling EU citizens to make informed choices; calls on the Commission to develop a common curriculum on EU learning in order to foster objective and critical thinking on the benefits of the European Union;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines the right of all citizens to availability and accessibility of information in their mother tongue; warns that language barriers limit citizens' engagement and participation in the political process; considers that technology, especially language technology, can help overcome those language barriers and asks the EU institutions to make use of them so that no citizen is left behind;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the right of citizens to have access to reliable, independent and factual information on the European Union, its policies and decision-making processes; recognises the need to establish a neutral, independent and informative common European news centre, available in at least all of the EU’s official languages; calls for downstream feedback, fact-checking and moderation in relation to disinformation to be introduced into the functioning of online platforms.