Text tabled : A6-0043/2009

  Richard Corbett (PSE), in writing. − I and my Labour delegation colleagues support the introduction of the Citizens’ Initiative in the event of the successful ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. It would strengthen citizens’ rights of participation in the European political process and be additional to the valuable existing right to petition the Parliament.

However, I am concerned that Mrs Kaufman’s proposals would lead to the citizens’ initiative process becoming bogged down or hampered by onerous bureaucratic requirements (like Member States having to check every signature and pre-certification by the Commission that it is legal). To encourage more participation, we should follow the spirit of the Citizens’ Initiative – namely that it should be as accessible and easy to use as possible. Therefore, we had no alternative but to abstain on this report.