Today, the European Commission decided to register a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled “Saving the planet by shifting taxation from labor to greenhouse gas emissions”.

The organizers of the initiative call on the Commission to strengthen the 55% adjustment package and the EU’s carbon pricing system by phasing out free allowances faster and allowing carbon pricing without a cap in order to achieve the emission reduction targets. They also call for redistributing a significant portion of carbon pricing revenue to low-income households, bolstering the EU’s Social Climate Fund and promoting the creation of a “Climate Club” in which participating countries adopt robust carbon pricing. carbon, taking due account of the redistribution of carbon pricing revenues to low-income households.

The registration decision is of a legal nature and does not prejudge the Commission’s final legal and political conclusions regarding the initiative in question and any actions it could take should the initiative gather the necessary support.

Given that the European Citizens’ Initiative in question meets the formal requirements set out in the relevant legislation, the Commission considers it legally admissible. The Commission has not examined the substance of the proposals at this stage.

Next steps

After today’s registration, organizers have six months to start collecting signatures. If, within a year, a European Citizens’ Initiative collects one million statements of support with minimum numbers in at least seven different Member States, the Commission is required to take a position. The Commission will have to decide whether or not to take action in response to the request, and will have to give reasons for its reasoning.

Record

The European Citizens’ Initiative was established by the Treaty of Lisbon as a means by which citizens can contribute to shaping the EU’s agenda. It became officially implemented in April 2012. Once officially registered, the European Citizens’ Initiative enables one million citizens from at least seven member states to ask the European Commission to submit a proposal for a legal act in areas of its competence. The conditions for admissibility are as follows: 1) the proposed action is not manifestly outside the scope of the Commission’s powers to propose a legal act, 2) it is not grossly abusive, frivolous or malicious and 3) it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.

Since the launch of the European Citizens’ Initiative, the Commission has registered 112 initiatives.

Athena Papakosta