Sittings · Document
OPINION (2025/2016(INI)) 2026-01-28
On monitoring the application of European Union law in 2023 and 2024
Committee on Petitions · Rapporteur: Sandra Gómez López
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Petitions submits the following to the Committee on Legal Affairs, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| B. whereas the Commission did not publish an annual report on monitoring the application of EU law for 2024, thereby breaking a practice that has been in place for over 40 years, since 1983; | B. whereas the Commission did not publish an annual report on monitoring the application of EU law for 2024, thereby breaking a practice that has been in place for over 40 years, since 1983; whereas this inaction is particularly harmful at a time when the EU faces increased instability and tension, in addition to being undermined by systemic challenges to judicial independence in several Member States, which calls for heightened vigilance and not a reduction in transparency; |
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ba. whereas the Committee on Petitions (PETI) plays an important role within the EU’s democratic framework by providing citizens with a direct channel to raise concerns about potential breaches and shortcomings in the application of EU law, thereby strengthening Parliament’s capacity to scrutinise compliance and ensure democratic accountability; whereas, through its continuous dialogue with citizens, civil society and EU institutions, PETI contributes to the early detection of implementation-related problems and helps bridge the communication gap between citizens and the institutions responsible for enforcing EU law; | |
| whereas the right to petition constitutes a key instrument enabling Parliament to respond to citizens’ concerns regarding fundamental rights and the correct application of EU law, and provides valuable insight into possible misapplication or breaches of EU law at national level; whereas petitions submitted to Parliament represent an important source of information on shortcomings and gaps in the implementation and transposition of EU law at national level across policy areas, and frequently highlight delays, deficiencies and failures in the application of EU law in several Member States; | |
| whereas a significant number of petitions concern the implementation of EU legislation across a wide range of policy areas affecting citizens’ daily lives, including environmental protection, the internal market, energy, transport, health, housing, public security matters related to migration and labour rights, including issues of remuneration and respect for trade-union rights, and such petitions demonstrate strong public interest in the enforcement of EU law and citizens’ rights; whereas petitions frequently raise concerns regarding the protection of fundamental rights and respect for the rule of law and democracy in several Member States; | |
| whereas, in accordance with Article 17 TEU, the Commission is responsible for ensuring the correct application of the Treaties and of measures adopted pursuant to them, and its strategic approach should ensure effective follow-up and guarantee the full and timely protection of citizens’ rights under EU law; |
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Bb. whereas a considerable number of petitions submitted to Parliament focus on the fundamental rights of EU citizens, in particular the rights of persons with disabilities; whereas an accessible EU is essential to ensure that all citizens can effectively exercise their rights under EU law; whereas petitions continue to highlight persistent barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing products, services and public administration, demonstrating shortcomings in the implementation of EU accessibility legislation and the need for strengthened monitoring and enforcement; whereas in 2023 and 2024 the Commission decided to send a reasoned opinion to several Member States for failing to transpose the EU rules on the accessibility of products and services for persons with disabilities under Directive (EU) 2019/8821a; -------------- 1a Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17⁰April⁰2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj). |
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Bc. whereas a growing number of petitions submitted to Parliament address the rights and safety of children and adolescents in digital environments, particularly the risks of sexual abuse and exploitation; whereas petitions concern shortcomings in child protection more broadly, including online safety and access to child-protection services; whereas petitioners frequently draw attention to persistent shortcomings and repeated breaches in the implementation of EU law by Member States in these areas, demonstrating the need for strengthened oversight and timely follow-up; |
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5a. Stresses that petitions received by Parliament constitute a vital instrument for identifying shortcomings in the implementation of EU law, including systemic or structural breaches thereof in Member States; underlines that PETI provides a direct channel for citizens and residents to report such issues and thereby contributes to Parliament’s political oversight of the application of EU law; urges the Commission, therefore, to systematically take into account information and evidence emerging from petitions and to strengthen cooperation with PETI to ensure transparent, consistent and timely follow-up; | |
| Highlights that petitions frequently point to failure to apply EU law in the areas of the rule of law and civil liberties affecting citizens, including discrimination, unequal access to justice and arbitrary administrative practices; calls on the Commission to treat such petitions as an early warning tool and priority alert requiring prompt assessment and action including own-initiative inquiries in situations where national authorities do not adequately address citizens’ complaints; | |
| Highlights, moreover, that petitions also frequently reveal obstacles to the functioning of the internal market, including cross-border barriers faced by consumers and businesses, and notes that lengthy pre-litigation phases in cases involving consumer-protection breaches often leave petitioners without effective remedies, undermining legal certainty and weakening trust in the internal market; underlines, in particular, the importance of the petitions addressing violations of citizens’ digital rights, such as through unfair platform practices and online cross-border fraud; calls, therefore, on the Commission, as regards petitions reporting breaches affecting the four fundamental freedoms or the proper functioning of the single market, to systematically analyse petition-derived evidence when monitoring the application of relevant rules, and to ensure rapid assessment and, where appropriate, swift follow-up through EU Pilot or infringement procedures in cases where petitions indicate systemic or recurring non-compliance; calls on the Commission to disclose in an anonymised and aggregated format the number of EU Pilot cases triggered by petitions concerning the internal market and consumer protection; expects the Commission to engage in structured dialogue with PETI on consumer-rights and internal-market petitions, in order to support early detection of structural problems, improve transparency and promote more consistent enforcement of EU law; |
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5b. Notes that a large number of petitions concern allegations of non-compliance with or breaches of EU law; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to enforce EU law, in particular by increasing the use of infringement actions where Member States are failing to implement EU law or to comply with judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU); underlines that effective enforcement requires reinforced and structured cooperation between the Commission, PETI and, where relevant, the European Ombudsman, in order to ensure timely, coherent and effective enforcement of EU law; stresses the need for the Commission to systematically exchange information with PETI and provide timely, detailed written follow-up on all cases of alleged non-compliance, incorrect transposition or non-application of EU law raised by citizens’ petitions, including explanations whenever it decides not to initiate EU Pilot procedures or infringement proceedings, so as to avoid duplication with other complaint channels and to promote consistency across enforcement processes; | |
| Recalls Parliament’s view that issues raised in individual petitions should receive appropriate attention under the Commission’s enforcement strategy; encourages the Commission, where relevant, to ensure that this strategy fully reflects the provisions of the Treaties on the right to petition and is regularly updated to respond to recurrent implementation challenges and to empower the full potential of the right to petition at EU level; | |
| Acknowledges that the Commission’s 2023 report on monitoring the application of EU law includes several references to petitions that have led to follow-up actions; urges the Commission, however, to demonstrate more clearly the impact of petitions on its enforcement actions across all policy areas, and to provide detailed statistical data on the number of petitions followed up on, including those that have led to further investigation through EU Pilot processes or infringement procedures; | |
| Calls on the Commission, given the persistent concerns raised in petitions regarding the implementation of EU law, and in line with the recommendations made by the European Court of Auditors in its special report ‘Enforcing EU law’, to guarantee high levels of transparency, efficacy and legal clarity on the criteria used to take formal action, as well as public access to documents and information throughout the pre-infringement and infringement procedures launched against Member States, including within the framework of EU Pilot and the reporting on the monitoring of the application of EU law, in order to ensure a full understanding of the actions taken by EU institutions and Member State authorities to address violations of EU law; underlines that such disclosure is not only essential to ensure accountability and public trust but also to allow proper examination and follow-up of petitions; calls on the Commission to make such information available in an clear format to facilitate meaningful comparison among Member States and to allow for deeper insights in parliamentary debates on petitions; | |
| Regrets that a significant number of infringement procedures, including those linked to issues raised in various petitions, remain in the pre-litigation phase for many years; highlights that ensuring an effective and timely response to EU law violations is essential to safeguard the integrity of EU law; stresses that this is particularly important in cases of persistent breaches of EU environmental legislation; | |
| Recalls, by way of example, that petitions received regarding the non-implementation of the Directive on adequate minimum wages1a, which Member States were required to transpose into national law by November 2024, illustrate the practical consequences of delayed transposition and the need for timely and effective enforcement; notes that the obligation for prompt implementation of the directive is confirmed by the CJEU judgment of 11 November 2025 in Case C-19/231b; -------------- 1a Directive (EU) 2022/2041 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on adequate minimum wages in the European Union (OJ L 275, 25.10.2022, p. 33,ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2041/oj) 1b Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 11 November 2025, Kingdom of Denmark v European Parliament and Council of the European Union, C-19/23, ECLI:EU:C:2025:865. |
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7a. Agrees with the Commission that equality and non-discrimination are foundational principles of the EU, particularly in the areas of employment, inclusion and equal access to products and services; underlines that persons with disabilities are among the citizens most affected by failures in the application of EU law and stresses the importance of drawing on information stemming from the numerous petitions addressed to Parliament in this regard in order to detect obstacles and improve the enforcement of EU rules; supports the Commission’s decision to launch infringement procedures against a large number of Member States in order to ensure the full transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility into national law; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to ensure the full and timely implementation of EU accessibility legislation; welcomes the establishment of the ‘AccessibleEU’ initiative as a support centre to assist Member States in implementing accessibility legislation and to promote consistent application across the EU; | |
| Stresses the importance of addressing issues raised by mobile EU citizens and workers who frequently report lack of accessibility, unfair treatment, delayed access to social rights or discriminatory administrative procedures; calls on the Commission to use petitions to identify structural discrimination and act accordingly; |
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7b. Notes that Parliament has received several petitions raising serious concerns about child sexual abuse, in particular online, and more broadly about repeated or systemic shortcomings in the implementation of EU law relating to child protection; highlights that, in 2023, the Commission initiated infringement procedures against 16 Member States for incorrect transposition of Directive 2011/93/EU1a on combating child sexual abuse, of which only two cases have been closed; calls on the Commission to prioritise enforcement in this area and to ensure swift and effective follow-up on petitions raising allegations of non-compliance, given the particular vulnerability of children; encourages the Commission, in this context, to use all available procedural and legal means to ensure the full and effective implementation of EU law aimed at preventing and combating child sexual abuse; -------------- 1a Directive 2011/93/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13⁰December⁰2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (OJ L 335, 17.12.2011, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/93/oj). |
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11a. Underlines the strategic relevance of addressing individual issues raised in petitions in order to detect early and prevent possible, serious systemic shortcomings from occurring, and considers that a more timely and proactive dialogue between the Commission and national authorities is essential for the correct enforcement of EU law and for tackling potential violations denounced by petitioners; encourages the Commission and the Member States to draw on information stemming from petitions to improve the implementation of EU law, identify recurring obstacles and inform future legislative revisions, thereby ensuring that citizens’ experiences contribute directly to better lawmaking; encourages Member States to make full use of the Commission’s Technical Support Instrument to address structural or persistent implementation challenges identified through recurrent petitions, including by strengthening administrative capacity, improving monitoring systems and enhancing the timely and correct application of EU law; |
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12a. Recalls, moreover, that the Commission’s stocktaking report on its working methods for monitoring the application of EU law recommended the establishment of an interactive portal providing real-time information on enforcement activities and that would also serve as an access point for complaints, including those raised through petitions; regrets that this has not been fully achieved; calls on the Commission to ensure that the Europa implementation platform provides, inter alia, clear, comparable and regularly updated information on the Member States’ application of key consumer-protection and internal market rules, and integrates evidence stemming from petitions, which often highlight recurring problems faced by consumers in cross-border situations; |
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12b. Acknowledges the Commission’s recent improvements to its infringement decisions web page, including links to Parliament’s Petitions Web Portal; calls on the Commission, however, to work closely with Parliament to strengthen the interoperability between Parliament’s Petitions Web Portal and the Commission’s enforcement databases, in order to ensure greater consistency, transparency and efficiency in the handling of and follow up on petitions; underlines that enhanced interoperability between these platforms would improve access to information for citizens and institutions alike and reinforce Parliament’s political oversight and scrutiny role in monitoring the application of EU law; | |
| Calls on the Commission to ensure that complaints it receives and petitions submitted to Parliament are treated as complementary information sources in its ongoing enforcement actions; calls on the Commission, moreover, to better integrate evidence from single market governance tools such as the Single Market Enforcement Taskforce , SOLVIT, the Internal Market Information System, Your Europe and Your Europe Advice into its follow- up to petitions, as these mechanisms often reveal structural, recurrent obstacles faced by citizens and businesses; further calls for the development of an automated notification system that alerts complainants or petitioners in real time to every significant stage in the handling of their file; | |
| Urges the Commission to ensure that petitions are systematically integrated into its enforcement processes, including, in line with the recommendations made by the European Court of Auditors in its special report on Enforcing EU law, through full interoperability between its petitions database and the Themis case-management system; calls for the strengthening of Themis to facilitate correspondence with complainants and to gather data from all relevant channels, in particular petitions, thereby enabling a statistical overview of the number of petitions that have led to the opening of own-initiative cases, EU Pilot inquiries or infringement procedures, as well as allowing the tracking of similar complaints; underlines that such interoperability would significantly improve the consistency and accountability of enforcement actions and reinforce public confidence in the application of EU law by Member States; | |
| Encourages the Commission to explore the responsible use of AI-based analysis with human oversight to cluster petitions, complaints and national alerts, enabling the early identification of systemic breaches and recurring patterns of non-compliance; |
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the recurrent issues and concerns identified by PETI through citizens’ petitions are duly incorporated into the work of the EU Law Network; encourages the EU Law Network to report back to Parliament on how this petition-based evidence has been reflected in its discussions and follow-up; |
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13b. Stresses that effective enforcement of EU law relies not only on robust institutional mechanisms, but also on active citizen participation; invites the Commission to include in future monitoring reports a dedicated section assessing the role of citizens’ petitions in enhancing compliance with EU law; |
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 14. Stresses that the simplification of EU law must not be conflated with deregulation; emphasises that streamlining legal texts and procedures can improve clarity, legal certainty, and administrative efficiency while preserving essential policy objectives and protections; | 14. Stresses that the simplification of EU law is an important tool when it comes to improving the competitiveness of businesses and the productive sectors of the European economy as a whole, while not lowering the EU’s level of ambition; emphasises that streamlining legal texts and procedures and doing away with unnecessary administrative burdens can improve clarity, legal certainty, and administrative efficiency while preserving essential policy objectives and protections; invites the Commission, when putting forward simplification proposals, to draw on citizens’ experiences expressed through petitions, which frequently highlight administrative burdens, unclear procedures or inconsistencies in national implementation; calls on the Commission to involve Parliament, including PETI, in any future simplification or ‘one-stop-shop’ initiatives; |
ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT
The rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
| Date adopted | 28.1.2026 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 17 4 6 |