The European Commission proposed on Wednesday 20 May that certain deadlines for the collection, verification and examination of European citizens’ initiatives (ECIs) be adjusted.
These measures are temporary and are intended to compensate for the period during which, due to the epidemic, it has been virtually impossible for ECI organisers to conduct a campaign and collect statements of support on paper.
For all initiatives that were ongoing on 11 March – the date on which the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus epidemic a pandemic – the Commission proposes to extend the collection period by 6 months after 11 March.
ECIs whose collection of signatures started after 11 March or will start before 11 September will be eligible for a “proportionate extension”: the one-year collection period will only be counted from 11 September onwards, although it may start earlier.
The Commission could also introduce further extensions of the collection periods if Member States extend the application of measures in response to the current pandemic or a new pandemic.
The proposal also provides for possible extensions of up to 3 months for the audit of initiatives that have completed the collection process. The possibility of an extension will also exist for the review phase.
These measures must be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
See proposal: https://bit.ly/2TE6Yh1 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)