COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2021/1969

of 27 October 2021

on the request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Call to Action – Environmental protection in all policies’ pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(notified under document C(2021) 7742)

(Only the English text is authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative (1), and in particular Article 6(2) and (3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) A request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Call to Action – Environmental protection in all policies’ was submitted to the Commission on 11 July 2021.

(2) On 10 August 2021, in accordance with Article 6(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, the Commission informed the group of organisers of its assessment that the requirements for registration set out in Article 6(3), points (a), (d) and (e), of that Regulation were fulfilled and that the requirement set out in Article 6(3), point (b) was not applicable. However, the Commission also indicated that the text of the initiative as formulated in the request of 11 July 2021 did not allow it to conclude that it fulfilled, in its entirety, the requirement under Article 6(3), point (c). The Commission had been invited ‘to declare an environmental crisis, and in doing so encourage individuals to step out of their comfort bubble and push for policy changes, whereas the goal being to adapt individual policies with taking into account both environmental and social factors in a more holistic manner’, without specifying which legal acts of the Union the Commission was being asked to propose. The Commission invited the organisers to revise their initiative by indicating which legal act of the Union they invited the Commission to propose and by clarifying the content of such legal act(s).

(3) As a result, an amended version of the initiative was submitted to the Commission on 5 October 2021.

(4) The objectives of the amended initiative are expressed as follows: ‘The Commission has to safeguard and improve Europeans' quality of life, whilst protecting other species and the natural environment as a whole. Thereby, the Commission must propose a legal act- recommendation that leads to a better understanding and compliance with environmental protection measures in EU Member States. The objective of the initiative is for the Commission to propose a legal act that would assure Europeans that their national authorities are taking into account environmental considerations when introducing new or amending existing policies.’

(5) An annex provides further details on the subject matter, objectives and background to the initiative. The organisers have also provided further information on their initiative in an additional document.

(6) Insofar as the initiative invites the Commission to submit a proposal for a legal act with the aim of ensuring that Member States take into account environmental considerations when adopting national legislation and measures, the Commission has the power to do so on the basis of Article 192(1) of the Treaty.

(7) For these reasons, none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties as required by Article 6(3), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.

(8) This conclusion is without prejudice to the assessment of whether the concrete factual and substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including the compliance with the principle of proportionality, would be met in this case.

(9) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, and that it has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.

(10) The initiative is neither manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(11) In conclusion, the initiative entitled ‘Call to Action – Environmental protection in all policies’ meets all the requirements laid down in Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and should therefore be registered.

(12) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Call to Action – Environmental protection in all policies’ shall be registered.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Call to Action – Environmental protection in all policies’, represented by Mr Jure LEBEN and Mr Marko MAVER acting as contact persons.

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2021.

For the Commission

Věra JOUROVÁ

Vice-President

(1)  

OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55

.