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Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions 2019

TA-9-2020-0383 · P9_TA(2020)0383 · PE646.916

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution reviews the Committee on Petitions' work in 2019, when it received 1 357 petitions, and sets out how the petition process should be improved. It calls for better information to citizens about EU competences and the right to petition, and for more active press, communications and social media work. It asks the Commission for faster, more transparent answers, for a recast of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, and for action on rule of law and Charter of Fundamental Rights concerns. It highlights petitions on the environment, waste management, climate change, health, Brexit, disability, animal welfare and the European Citizens' Initiative, and calls for follow-up action. It calls on the Council to be more transparent, on the Commission and Council to act on FATCA, and on the Commission to respond to successful European Citizens' Initiatives with legislative proposals.

Key points

  1. The Committee on Petitions must defend citizens' rights, handle petitions in timely fashion and avoid biased or politicised responses.
  2. Parliament regrets that petitioners are not sufficiently informed why petitions are inadmissible and proposes information campaigns on EU competences.
  3. It calls for a more active press and communications service and social media presence, and for outreach events targeting journalists and the media.
  4. It calls for better cooperation with national parliaments, governments, institutions and ombudsmen so petitions reach the competent authorities.
  5. It asks the Commission for faster, accurate answers within the three-month deadline and for transparency on EU Pilot and infringement procedures.
  6. It says the Commission should check whether national authorities act on petitions and intervene if they do not.
  7. It calls on the Commission to propose a recast of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 to enhance transparency and accountability.
  8. It calls on the Commission to respect its rule of law commitments and to interpret the scope of Article 51 of the Charter as coherently and broadly as possible.
  9. It stresses cooperation with other parliamentary committees and the petitions network, including a mechanism for the Committee on Petitions to be involved in the legislative process.
  10. It highlights petitions on the environment, waste management, climate change, nuclear safety, endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic substances, and urges correct implementation of EU law.
  11. It draws attention to petitions on Brexit, disability rights, transparency and conflicts of interest, FATCA, and animal welfare, including wolf protection.
  12. It calls for more dissemination of the European Citizens' Initiative and for the Commission to propose legislation on any successful ECI supported by Parliament.

Who is affected

  • EU citizens and residents: the resolution seeks clearer information on the right to petition and on EU competences.
  • Petitioners: they should receive replies and information on admissibility and follow-up in their own language within a reasonable period.
  • The Commission: asked for faster answers, transparency and action on rule of law and environmental implementation.
  • The Council: invited to implement a policy of greater transparency in its discussions and meetings.
  • Persons with disabilities: the resolution calls for a more accessible Petitions Web Portal, including submission in national sign languages.

Figures and deadlines

  • 1 357 petitions received in 2019, an increase of 11,23 % on the 1 220 submitted in 2018.
  • 28 075 users supported one or more petitions on the Petitions Web Portal; 31 679 clicks in support.
  • Of the petitions submitted in 2019, 41 were co-signed by one or more citizens, 8 by more than 100 citizens and 3 by more than 10 000 citizens.
  • Of the 1 357 petitions submitted in 2019, 938 were declared admissible, 406 inadmissible and 13 withdrawn; 30 % were inadmissible.
  • In 2019 the Committee on Petitions held 9 ordinary committee meetings, where 250 petitions were discussed with 239 petitioners present and 126 petitioners took the floor.
  • 73,9 % of petitions received in 2019 (1 003 petitions) were submitted via the Petitions Web Portal, compared to 70,7 % (863 petitions) in 2018.
  • In 2019, 65 petitions were sent to other committees for opinion and 351 for information; 38 opinions and 9 acknowledgements were received.
  • In 2018, 47 petitions were sent to other committees for opinion and 660 for information; 30 opinions and 38 acknowledgements were received.

Legal basis: Articles 10 and 11 TEU; Articles 24 and 227 TFEU; Article 228 TFEU; Article 44 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights; Articles 258 and 260 TFEU.