Debašu stenogramma

Ceturtdiena, 2018. gada 5. jūlijs - Strasbūra

6.5. Eiropas pilsoņu iniciatīva (A8-0226/2018 - György Schöpflin) (balsošana)

– Before the vote:

  György Schöpflin, Rapporteur. – Mr President, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is an EU instrument intended to bring citizens closer to the European Union. If a million people sign an initiative then the Commission can be invited, I stress that word, to launch legislation. Parliament has an input into this process in that it holds hearings and – this is the point of contention – plenary debates. The Commission published a new draft regulation about a year ago and would like this to come on stream in 2020.

I prepared a thorough and cogent report. My grateful thanks to all who helped. I’ve had numerous discussions with the Commission and with stakeholders. The Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) voted for this text with a convincing majority. I am asking you today to give me a mandate to begin interinstitutional negotiations.

I would like to add here that the Council is well disposed towards these negotiations. It’s a significant window of opportunity.

You will all have received a massive input from a group of NGOs demanding that you deny me a mandate, basically because my text does not contain a commitment to holding a plenary debate. This demand is based on a serious error of understanding to the effect that a legislative text can change this House’s Rules of Procedure. No, this is a breach of our internal rule of law, our checks and balances. If I am denied a mandate, as the NGOs are demanding, the whole process will come to a halt and a favourable moment will have been lost.

So I am asking you to vote in favour of my mandate. If you do so, I shall initiate an amendment to the Rules of Procedure (under Rule 227) to amend Rule 211 so as to ensure that plenary debates are held on successful ECIs.

I’m delighted to say that I have the full support of the S&D Group, so please vote ‘yes’.