Bairbre de Brún encourages citizens to 'Take the Initiative' on petitions

SINN FÉIN MEP Bairbre de Brún will be taking part in the prestigious European Citizens Initiative opening session alongside the Vice President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič.

Bairbre has helped organise and will address a conference in the European Parliament on Wednesday, September 15th, to tease out the possibilities of how this initiative could be used to best effect.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Sinn Féin MEP said:

"The Lisbon Treaty introduces what is known as a Citizens' Initiative.

"If one million signatures are collected across the EU then the Commission will consider putting forward a proposal to give effect to the subject of the initiative.

"How this will proceed will be examined in the "Take the Initiative" conference which will involve a wide range of groups and speakers.

"Ultimately we would like to see the Citizens Initiative be applicable to as broad a range of subjects as possible and be developed in such a way as to encourage the maximum participation of people in the EU so as to utilise the initiative to best effect."

ENDS