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The European
Parliament adopted by 603 votes to 17, with 25 abstentions, a resolution on
the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions during the parliamentary year
2007. The own initiative report had been tabled in plenary by David HAMMERSTEIN (Greens/EFA, ES) on behalf of the
Committee on Petitions. Reinforcing investigation methods: while welcoming the close collaboration
between the Committee on Petitions and the services of the Commission and the
Ombudsman, MEPs are, nevertheless, convinced that the Committee on Petitions
itself should be offered the possibility to further enhance its own
independent investigatory facilities, notably through the reinforcement of
its secretariat and its legal expertise. Improve the examination procedure: Parliament considers
that the current procedure for registration of petitions unduly delays their
examination and it is concerned that this may be
perceived as displaying a certain lack of sensitivity towards petitioners. It calls for the initiation of negotiations between
Parliament and the Commission with a view to better coordinating their work
on complaints in a way that facilitates, simplifies and streamlines the
complaint procedures and makes them more transparent and expeditious. MEPs support
the formalisation of a procedure whereby petitions in the field of the
internal market are transferred to the SOLVIT network with a view to
significantly shortening the petitions process in the field of internal
market issues (such as car taxes, recognition of professional qualifications,
residence permits, border controls and access to education). Increase visibility: Parliament reiterates its requests to its
Secretary-General to conduct an urgent review of the "Citizens
Portal" on Parliament's website with the objective of enhancing the
visibility of the portal as regards the right of petition and to ensure that
citizens are provided with the means to append their signatures
electronically in support of petitions. It urges that the Citizen's Portal
must ensure web-browsing software interoperability in order to provide
citizens with equal rights of access in this respect. In the context of
development of the e-Petition system, the introduction of an IT facility for
online tracking aimed at petitioners would help to create a more transparent
and efficient process by means of, inter alia , regular status updates and
calls for additional information; notes that such a measure would better meet
the expectations of EU citizens while also fostering improved performance of
the institutional responsibilities incumbent on Parliament and on its
Committee on Petitions. Infringement procedures: in general, the Parliament expresses
concern about the excessive length of time taken to conclude infringement
cases by the Commission services and the Court of Justice. It therefore calls
for the introduction of more stringent timescales. It also expresses its
doubts about the efficiency of the so-called 'horizontal infringement
procedures', which take longer to conclude and calls for a review of the
infringement procedure aimed at ensuring greater respect for the application
of EU legislative acts. The Commission is invited to take full account of the recommendations of the Committee on Petitions
when reaching decisions regarding the initiation of infringement proceedings
against Member States, and reiterates its demand that the Committee on
Petitions be directly and officially notified by the Commission when an
infringement procedure is launched which is related to a petition under
consideration by the Committee. Respect for
environmental legislation: the Commission is
called upon, when dealing with petitions and complaints related to
environmental policy – which is one of the predominant concerns of
petitioners in the EU –, to be more ready to act to prevent breaches of
Community law. Parliament notes also the criticisms raised by the Committee
on Petitions following its fact-finding visit to the Loiret, in France, in
2007, and in particular requests the French authorities to act decisively to
ensure compliance with EU directives which risk being infringed should
certain planned projects for the construction of bridges over the River Loire
be allowed to go ahead. It also notes the report on the fact-finding visit to
Poland which made recommendations concerning the protection of the Rospuda Valley and the last primeval forest in Europe. MEPs express their ongoing concern about
the lack of implementation of the provisions of the Drinking Water Directive
in Ireland. Fundamental
Rights: the resolution notes that a growing
number of petitions received, notably from citizens from the new Member
States, concern the question of the restitution of property, even though this
subject remains essentially one of national competence. MEPs urge the Member
States involved to ensure that their laws concerning property rights
resulting from regime change are fully in accordance with Treaty requirements
and the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. Parliament
reaffirms its commitment to uphold the recognition of rights of EU citizens
to their private property which has been legally obtained, and condemns all
attempts to divest families of their property without due process, proper
compensation or respect for their personal integrity. MEPs note the growing
number of petitions and letters received by the Committee on Petitions
concerning the most sensitive matter of child custody, on which it is
extremely difficult to take action. Parliament expresses its concern and
dismay at reports by petitioners that, even when they have obtained the
support of the Committee on Petitions on the substance of their petition,
they too often experience great difficulty in obtaining any compensation from
the authorities and national courts involved. It believes that such systemic
weaknesses need to be further investigated, notably in so far as they apply
to the financial services sector. A single
seat for the European Parliament: among the
petitions considered by the Committee on Petitions in 2007 included – the
so-called "One Seat" petition, which was supported by 1.25 million
EU citizens and which called for a single seat for the European Parliament,
to be located in Brussels. In October 2007 the President referred the
petition back to the committee, which subsequently called for Parliament to
give its opinion on this question, bearing in mind that the seat of the institution
is governed by the provisions of the Treaty and that the Member States have
the responsibility for taking a decision on this matter. Lastly, MEPs
resolve to review the name of the Committee on Petitions for the next
legislative term, so as to underline the element of participatory democracy
in the right of petition. They suggest that the term "Committee on
Citizens' Petitions" may be more easily understandable.
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