Initiative for the European Citizens' Initiative
Compromise ECI regulation requires mandatory public hearings…but allows collection of ID numbers.
Referendum campaign leaves muddied waters
The Irishmen "would be the first victims" if they voted "no" on Thursday, in the referendum on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. This would cause a "gigantic incomprehension" said the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner today at radio RTL. [The Irish] "benefited from...
Video: EU Parliament dicusses Ireland Vote
A group of parliamentarians voiced their protest during the debate about the Irish Referendum: They demanded the acceptance of the vote. Proponents and opponents of the treaty get their say in a video.
The excerpts were taken between July 16 and 18 2008.
The day before the vote
Today it is the last day on which newspapers are allowed to report on the referendum campaign. So it was interesting to see, what were their last messages. I counted the articles and photos in the Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Independent which give the stage to the yes...
ERC Video Competition
Andi Häusler from Bavaria has won the ERC Video competition with his entry called Decicions. In his video he reminds us how more and more decisions are taken away from us. A cleverly done criticism of the EU reform process that's worth watching for everyone.
EU Reform Treaty vs. EU Constitution - same or not the same..
In 2004 the EU-leaders decided to establish a new EU Treaty. They intended to give the EU a constitution. But in 2005 the French and the Dutch population rejected this idea and voted "NO".
The Irish Lisbon Referendum
Of all the 27 countries of the European Union, Ireland is the only one which grants its citizens the right to decide upon the acceptance or rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. This gives the Irish voters a very special role which could be seen as a boon or a bane. On the one hand it...
Hamburg (Germany) Struggle for binding referendums
No one in Hamburg can avoid to mention the coming referendum initiated by a broad alliance led by our network partner Mehr Demokratie (More Democracy): 3.800 posters are put up all over the city. They invite citizens to take part in the ballot hold on 14 October.
New Book on Direct Democracy
A new handbook informs about the chances and limits of the European Citizens Initiative (ECI). The ECI found its way into the EU Constitution due to the work of Democracy International, the IRI Europe and others.
Greenpeace action proofs: Europeans need the initiative now
The citizens living in the European Union must get a say in political affairs on the EU level.