East Midlands MEP backs calls for the European Citizens Initiative

Emma McClarkin MEP today voted to create a European Citizens Initiative, which would allow European citizens to establish petitions to the European Commission. It is an opportunity to increase democratic participation, to strengthen the links between citizens and politicians, and to foster greater debate about the direction the EU is taking.

However, the original proposal called for signatories to provide their personal identification card numbers, jeopardising participation in the initiative. Miss McClarkin therefore tabled an amendment calling for this requirement to be dropped, which was adopted in the vote.

Miss McClarkin commented that:

“It’s about time the European Union began to properly acknowledge the views of European citizens. I am hopeful that this scheme will engender a greater sense of democratic accountability on the part of the European Commission and stoke discussion about the future course of the EU.”

“Nonetheless, we do not want to see the regulation being overburdened by forcing signatories to provide personal and confidential data. That is why I am glad the Culture Committee voted to support my amendment and drop this ludicrous requirement.”