The European Citizens’ Initiative: A Victory for Democracy or a Marketing Trick?

Abstract

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) was presented as a direct opportunity for the voices of European citizens to be heard in the EU institutions. There have been, however, reservations about implementing this tool to facilitate direct democracy; these reservations have contributed to the vague criteria outlined in the Lisbon Treaty for this initiative. There is the danger that citizens will see the ECI as an instrument to bypass the normal legislative process. Instead of bringing the EU closer to its citizens, the ECI might serve to increase frustrations and the feeling that the EU does not ‘listen to the people’. Furthermore, the impact of this initiative on the legitimacy of the EU institutions cannot be predicted.