The petition at the dawn of the 21st century

The European Parliament adopted the resolution, without-debate, by Mr Roy James PERRY (EPP/ED, UK) and Mrs Margot Kessler (PES, D) on the institution of the petition at the dawn of the 21st century. The Parliament draws attention to the particular importance it attaches to the institution of the petition and to the role of the European Ombudsman, which enable it to remain attentive to European public opinion and its expectations and to deepen its parliamentary scrutiny of the shortcomings and inadequacies of existing regulations and discretionary measures taken without the slightest regard for the citizen. Moreover, the House takes the view that the exercise of the European citizen's right to petition Parliament and the Ombudsman constitutes an instrument with which to exercise control after the event over the application of Community law to specific cases, making it possible to condemn cases of failure to apply Community law, in particular violations of the principle of non-discrimination. The Council and the Commission are called upon to review the 1989 Interinstitutional Agreement linking them to the European Parliament in order to shorten the time taken to deal with petitions and define a binding, clear and coherent framework for the cooperation with Parliament which is essential in this area.�