Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2024
The European Parliament adopted by 535 votes to 25, with 55 abstentions, a resolution on the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2024.
Parliament recalled the key role played by the Committee on Petitions in defending and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents. It stressed that it must ensure that petitioners' concerns and complaints are addressed within a reasonable timeframe and in an efficient, accessible and appropriate manner, and that petitioners are duly informed of the action taken and progress made on their petitions.
Key areas of concern in 2024
Parliament noted that the environment remained the main concern of petitioners in 2024 (more than 20% of petitions), with a significant number of petitions denouncing violations of EU environmental legislation in several Member States. Other topics addressed included the protection of children's rights, including online safety, improving animal welfare, violations of passengers’ rights, the enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation, the housing crisis, the responsibilities of fossil fuel companies in the cost of living crisis, concerns about rail safety, culture, and national heritage.
The Committee on Petitions received a large number of petitions on the rule of law in the Member States, the reception conditions for migrants and asylum seekers in the Member States, and petitions alleging cases of discrimination. Members highlighted the important contribution of the Committee on Petitions to defending the rights of persons with disabilities, in particular the petition concerning the possibility of submitting petitions in national sign languages. They highlighted the protective role that the Committee on Petitions has played within the Union in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Parliament also noted the growing number of petitions relating to education policy, in particular the recognition of teaching qualifications across Member States.
Communication, cooperation, transparency
Parliament reiterated its call for broader awareness-raising campaigns, particularly in remote areas and among under-represented groups of citizens, to ensure that citizens are better aware of their right to petition.
Members stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between EU institutions and national, regional, and local authorities in the Member States on inquiries into the application and implementation of EU legislation. In particular, constructive cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission, through prompt and detailed replies from the Commission, is essential to ensure the proper handling of petitions. More active cooperation between Member States and the Committee on Petitions can also be useful in unblocking certain petitions.
Parliament welcomed the creation of a new Commission web page on infringement cases, the transposition of directives and the EU Pilot dialogue. However, it reiterated its call on the Commission to regularly update the Committee on Petitions on developments in infringement proceedings. It recalled the need to improve the transparency of infringement procedures as well as communication with petitioners on the state of play of such procedures. It also called for an independent and periodic evaluation of the quality and clarity of Commission responses to petitions.
Stressing that the e-Petition database plays a key role in communicating with petitioners, Members called for continued modernisation of the Committee on Petitions' digital tools and suggested that a responsible and human-guided use of artificial intelligence be explored to further improve the treatment of petitions.