Strengthening the Idea of "By Citizens, for Citizens" in the Context of the European Citizens' Initiative Brief Analysis of Initiatives

Regulation (EU) No. 211 of 16 February 2011 on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), as one of the major innovations of the Treaty of Lisbon, represents the first supranational instrument of direct democracy that took effect on April 1, 2012, creating the direct legal link between the European Union citizens and the European institutions. Within the present paper we will give a general overview of the European Citizens' Initiative instrument, trying also to analyse briefly certain citizens' initiatives that have been already registered on the European Commission's website where the online collection of a million signatures is still running, bearing in mind the important role of the citizens as "co-authors" of the law within the European decision-making process. From our point of view this participation will increase the responsibility of the citizens to be more active and to use their new right in the best conditions and without any obstacles.