The European Citizens' Initiative online? Some European and national experiences

Selvitys 15-07-2010

The inclusion of the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) in the Lisbon Treaty is a recognition of earlier developments in many parts of the democratic world. The implementation of its practical parameters will be a crucial element for the acceptance of the ECI by EU citizens and will send an important message to other regions and countries. The purpose of this study is to provide background information on the present situation in the Member States of the EU, and on the European level, as far as the use of modern technical equipment such as online registration of popular initiatives, referendums or petitions is concerned. Since there is no direct equivalent to the new ECI at Member State level any comparisons are necessarily limited but nevertheless instructive.