Burgerbeteiligung gegen die Krise? Moglichkeiten und Grenzen der Europaischen Burgerinitiative

In: Forschungsjournal Soziale Bewegungen: Analysen zu Demokratie und Zivilgesellschaft, Issue 4

Abstract

The Lisbon Treaty envisages the introduction of a European citizens' initiative. Implementation of this instrument took some time, as concrete regulations needed to be set and adopted by EU institutions and member states. The article outlines the concrete arrangement of the European Citizens' Initiative and discusses its potentials and limits. It might contribute to strengthen European public, and especially Europe as a location of discourse, reduce the EU's democratic deficit and allow more actors to access European politics. The relationship of citizens to the EU may also be strengthened. But a success of the European citizens' initiative depends largely on how EU institutions deal with concrete initiatives. Initial initiatives document a significant interest in this form of participation, as well as technical and practical difficulties. Adapted from the source document