European citizens’ initiative: temporary measures concerning the time limits for the collection, verification and examination stages in view of the COVID-19 outbreak

The European Parliament adopted amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down temporary measures concerning the time limits for the collection, verification and examination stages provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European citizens' initiative in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

The proposal lays down temporary measures concerning the time limits for the collection, verification and examination stages provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European citizens' initiative in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The main amendments adopted in plenary concern the following points:

Extension of the deadlines for the collection of statements of support

The Commission shall inform the organisers and Member States of the extension granted for each initiative concerned and publish its decision in the online register referred to in the ECI Regulation. It shall publish the list of all such initiatives and the new collection period for each initiative in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Commission may adopt implementing acts to extend the maximum duration of the collection periods for ECIs where at least one quarter of the Member States or a number of Member States representing more than 35 % of the population of the Union continue to apply measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic after 11 September 2020.

The Commission may adopt implementing acts to prolong the maximum collection period of initiatives for which the collection is ongoing at the moment of a new COVID-19 outbreak where at least a quarter of Member States or a number of Member States representing more than 35 % of the Union population apply measures that affect organisers of those initiatives to the same extent.

Implementing acts shall identify the initiatives in respect of which the collection period is prolonged along with the new end date of their collection period and the results of the assessment.

Hearings and meetings with organisers

In the event of difficulties in arranging a meeting or hearing with the organisers due to measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by a Member State, hearings or meetings shall be organised as soon as the public health situation in the Member State concerned makes it possible to do so, or, in the event that the organisers agree to participate remotely in the hearing or meeting, as soon as they are able to agree with the institutions on a date for it.