Activities of Agnès EVREN related to 2020/2275(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative
Amendments (45)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
— having regard to Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union concerning the right to petition the European Parliament, to apply to the European Ombudsman, and to address the institutions and advisory bodies of the Union in any of the languages of the Treaties and to obtain a reply in the same language,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
— having regard to Regulation (EU) 2020/1042 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020 laying down temporary measures concerning the time limits for the collection, the verification and the examination stages provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European citizens’ initiative in view of the COVID-19 outbreak,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the right to petition the European Parliament is one of the fundamental rights of EU citizens enshrined in Article 44 of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the number of petitions submitted to the European Parliament peaked in 2013 and is now on the declinefalling; whereas a great many European citizens remain unaware of the right to petition;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions examines and processes each petition and is the only committee that maintains a daily dialogue with citizens;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European Citizens' Initiative, which entered into force on 1 January 2020, has made the ECI more accessible and easier to implement for organisers, in particular by means of the translation of initiatives into all official EU languages;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the Committee received 107 requests to launch a European Citizens' Initiative, of which 83 were deemed eligible and qualified for registration, and of which 6 were successful;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas Articles 20, 24 and 228 TFEU and Article 43 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union empower the European Ombudsman to receive complaints concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of the Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies, with the exception of the Court of Justice of the European Union acting in its judicial role;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas these participatory mechanisms need to be strengthened in order to enable citizens to have an effective influence on the European Union's decision-making process;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the right to petition is the oldest instrument involving the direct participation of citizens at EU level and that it is the easiest and most direct way for citizens to contact the EU institutions and express their views on the legislation adopted and the policy choices made at EU level; notes that, in this context, the Committee on Petitions has a wide range of instruments at its disposal with which to respond to citizens' concerns and to induce the European Parliament, the other European institutions and national authorities to take action, such as the drafting of reports and resolutions, public hearings, thematic workshops and fact- finding missions;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Takes the view that it is important to diversify the means of communication and to raise citizens' awareness, in close cooperation with national and local associations, by means of information campaigns and an ongoing public debate on the Union's policy areas; believes that interactive online forums should be developed where citizens can obtain information, exchange views and express themselves freely, particularly with a view to targeting young people;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out, with that in mind, that an overly narrow or inconsistent interpretation of Article 51 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union alienates citizens from the EU; asks the Commission to come forward with measures that will ensure a coherent and extensive application of the provisions of Article 51 andmay jeopardise citizens' trust in the EU; calls on the Conference on the Future of Europe to address this issue;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Observes that many petitions on COVID-19 have been dealt with by the Committee on Petitions, chiefly under the urgent procedure; congratulates the Committee on Petitions on its rapid and effective handling of petitions in times of major crisis, which is a prerequisite for citizens’ trust in the EU institutions;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Council and the Member States to show more interest in participatingcontinue to express their interest in discussions on petitions and to provide responses to questions raised by petitioners at EU level, in particular by sending the petitions to the relevant and competent authorities, ensuring adequate follow-up and participating in parliamentary debates;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on civil society as a whole to tap the full potential of the right to petition when it comes to effecting policy and legislative changes at EU level; calls on civil society organisations to make better use of petitions as instruments of direct democracyEncourages civil society to make better use of the right of petition;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Takes the view that the petitions network is a necessary tool in facilitating the follow-up of petitions as part of parliamentary and legislative business, as well as in promoting the exchange of information and best practices among its members, at both technical and political level; believes that this network should enhance dialogue and cooperation with the Commission and other EU institutions;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for a Eurobarometer survey to be carried out to gauge how much EU citizens know about the right to petition the European Parliament, with the aim of collecting data to use as a basis for a strong awareness-raising campaign; takes the view that regular EU-wide surveys, based on cross-border polls, help raise the European institutions' awareness of citizens' concerns;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the Petitions Web Portal to be improved to make it more user- friendly, easier to navigate and accessible to all citizens, especially to persons with disabilities; calls for the possibility of co- signing theis of the opinion that a simplified process for citizens to support a petitions submitted via the Petitions Web Portal to be streamlined and acceleratedonline portal would enable better use to be made of their right to petition;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for more information to be made public and availableObserves that petitioners do not have real-time access to information on the status onf the Pir petitions Web Portal, including, for example, the progress of the petition and inquiries launched with other ins; calls, therefore, for more information to be made public and available on the Petitutions Web Portal; in this regard, calls for more synergy between the portal and Parliament’s internal database;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Recalls that the European Ombudsman is empowered to make recommendations, proposals for solutions and suggestions for improvement with a view to solving a problem relating to various cases of maladministration; observes that where a complaint falls outside the Ombudsman's mandate, the Ombudsman may advise the complainant to refer it to another authority or to the Committee on Petitions; notes that in 2020 the Ombudsman received more than 1 400 complaints which did not fall within her mandate, mainly because they did not concern activities related to administration at EU level;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recalls that relations with the European Ombudsman are one of the responsibilities conferred by the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure on the Committee on Petitions;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the recent changes made to the Statute of the European Ombudsman, which bring the exercise of the Ombudsman's functions into line with the Lisbon Treaty and will further enhance the right of EU citizens and residents to complain about maladministration, in particular in the areas of whistle-blower protection, harassment and conflicts of interest at the EU's institutions, bodies or agencies; recalls that the Ombudsman's new Statute also clarifies the conditions under which the Ombudsman may conduct own-initiative enquiries, reiterating that the Ombudsman may cooperate with the authorities of the Member States and with EU institutions, bodies and agencies;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls that EU citizens have the right to access the EU institutions' documents; Congratulates the Ombudsman on the work she has done on the accessibility of documents held by EU institutions, in particular the application of the fast-track procedure to deal with such requests; calls on the Ombudsman to continue her efforts in this direction, because timely access to documents in the EU's 24 official languages is essential to ensure proper engagement of citizens and civil society in the decision- making process;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Ombudsman to further strengthen the European Network of Ombudsmen in order to promote the right to refer matters to an Ombudsman at both national and European level and in order to remain connected with and keep abreast of the national realities of citizens; believes it necessary to step up interactions and exchanges of best practices between national and regional ombudsmen with the European Ombudsman to ensure that citizens are better informed about their rights and have better guidance when making complaints;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to inform the public about the EU’s competences to make sure that ECIs concern subjects and issues that fall within the EU’s remit; emphasises that the recent ECIs have called for the EU to take more action, more quickly, iconcern the fight against climate change, consumer rights and health;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Applauds the Commission on having held information seminars and having established a European Citizens' Initiative Week in 2020, which brought together representatives of institutions, members of civil society and organisers of past and current initiatives, with the aim of reflecting on how to improve this instrument; considers, however, that the European Citizens' Initiative remains little known; calls on the Commission, therefore, to increase the media visibility of this participatory tool, in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2019/788;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Highlights the need to establish a proper follow-up mechanism for unsuccessful ECIs in order to take citizens’ input seriously, including redirecting citizens to the Committee on Petitions, as the lack of impact could lead to disengagement; underlines the role that the Committee on Petitions must play throughout hearing processes; calls on the Commission to collaborate in a timely manner with Parliament after an ECI is deemed successful, to enable Parliament to make full use of the three-month period for the organisation of hearings by the relevant committees;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level; takes the view that such a one-stop platform would not only provide citizens with greater visibility of their rights, but also promote complementarity between these different instruments;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Stresses that regular information gathering on topics of interest to citizens and recurring issues which are raised in petitions, the European Ombudsman's enquiries and ECIs, would help to find solutions more quickly, while ensuring the coherence of the EU's policies for its citizens;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Stresses the importance of providing citizens with assistance, both at European and local level, through the Europe Direct information centres and Houses of Europe, in submitting petitions and ECIs and complaints to the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Member States to make it mandatory forUnderlines the crucial educational role that academic stakeholders must play in dispensing European civic education; invites the Member States to teach pupils in schools to be taughtand universities about the EU’s three participatory instruments; asks the Commission to strengthen the Erasmus+ programme's targets on young people's active participation in democratic life, particularly by means of learning activities to develop civic skills and an understanding of European policies; points out that civic engagement among young people is vital for the future of all democracies;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Recalls that the EU’s multilingual communication policy and the publication of information and documents in all the official languages of the EU is a crucial element in communicating with and engaging citizens from all Member States; highlights its importance in all communication channels, including social media, in order to better connect with citizens; welcomes the guidelines published by the Ombudsman instructing the institutions on how to develop their language policy in the most citizen-friendly manner;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. With a view to improving public participation, emphasises the need for citizens to have clear guidance to help them choose the most appropriate participatory tool; takes the view that there is a need to understand and overcome the obstacles peoplecitizens, particularly Europeans with disabilities, encounter when they are drawing up petitions to Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and initiatives for the Commission;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to inform the public about the EU’s competences to make sure that ECIs concern subjects and issues that fall within the EU’s remit; emphasises that the recent ECIs have called for the EU to take more action, more quickly, iconcern the fight against climate change, consumer rights and health;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Applauds the Commission on having held information seminars and having established a European Citizens' Initiative Week in 2020, which brought together representatives of institutions, members of civil society and organisers of past and current initiatives, with the aim of reflecting on how to improve this instrument; considers, however, that the European Citizens' Initiative remains little known; calls on the Commission, therefore, to increase the media visibility of this participatory tool, in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2019/788;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Highlights the need to establish a proper follow-up mechanism for unsuccessful ECIs in order to take citizens’ input seriously, including redirecting citizens to the Committee on Petitions, as the lack of impact could lead to disengagement; underlines the role that the Committee on Petitions must play throughout hearing processes; calls on the Commission to collaborate in a timely manner with Parliament after an ECI is deemed successful, to enable Parliament to make full use of the three-month period for the organisation of hearings by the relevant committees;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Stresses that regular information gathering on topics of interest to citizens and recurring issues which are raised in petitions, the European Ombudsman's enquiries and ECIs, would help to find solutions more quickly, while ensuring the coherence of the EU's policies for its citizens;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level; takes the view that such a one-stop platform would not only provide citizens with greater visibility of their rights, but also promote complementarity between these different instruments;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. Stresses the importance of providing citizens with assistance, both at European and local level, through the Europe Direct information centres and Houses of Europe, in submitting petitions and ECIs and complaints to the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Member States to make it mandatory forUnderlines the crucial educational role that academic stakeholders must play in dispensing European civic education; invites the Member States to teach pupils in schools to be taughtand universities about the EU’s three participatory instruments; asks the Commission to strengthen the Erasmus+ programme's targets on young people's active participation in democratic life, particularly by means of learning activities to develop civic skills and an understanding of European policies; points out that civic engagement among young people is vital for the future of all democracies;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Recalls that the EU’s multilingual communication policy and the publication of information and documents in all the official languages of the EU is a crucial element in communicating with and engaging citizens from all Member States; highlights its importance in all communication channels, including social media, in order to better connect with citizens; welcomes the guidelines published by the Ombudsman instructing the institutions on how to develop their language policy in the most citizen-friendly manner;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. With a view to improving public participation, emphasises the need for citizens to have clear guidance to help them choose the most appropriate participatory tool; takes the view that there is a need to understand and overcome the obstacles peoplecitizens, particularly Europeans with disabilities, encounter when they are drawing up petitions to Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and initiatives for the Commission;