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New citizens’ tool in EU decision-making

March 25, 2014

The first-ever European ‘citizens’ 'initiative’ has set in train a process that could lead to changes in EU legislation, which in turn would establish the initiative as a democratic tool in the EU’s legislative process. The ‘Right2Water’ initiative was signed by almost 1.7 million EU citizens and presented to the Commission. The commissioners have now responded by announcing a public consultation, which could lead to changes in the EU’s drinking water directive.

‘Water quality, infrastructure, sanitation and transparency will all benefit as a direct result of this first-ever exercise in pan-European, citizen-driven democracy,’ said the commissioner for inter-institutional relations, Maros Sefcovic. ‘The European citizens’ initiatives are a success and are now a permanent feature on the European political landscape.’

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