MEPs call for online petition portal

Members of the European Parliament have called for the creation of an online petitions portal so citizens can shape and even suggest draft legislation.

The portal, put forward by the Petitions Committee, would include the capability for citizens to register their support or opposition to other citizens' petitions and links to other means of redress at EU level, such as the European Ombudsman.

The initiative would enable citizens to ask the European Commission to table a draft law, provided it is supported by at least one million citizens from a third of the EU Member States. The proposal would ensure "enhanced transparency and accountability in the EU decision-making process," says the Petitions Committee chair Erminia Mazzoni.

However, MEPs have pointed out that citizens would need to be aware of the distinction between 'campaign' petitions – essentially grouses about injustices - and 'citizens' initiative' petitions, proposing new EU legislation.

Britain set up a petitions website in 2006, enabling citizens to moan directly to Number 10, but has rejected suggestions to add functionality allowing citizens to express opposition to a petition.

A notice on the site says “the new administration is currently assessing how best to proceed with the e-petitions service”.

There are currently 4690 live petitions, one of the most popular of which is Andrew Heaney of TalkTalk's appeal to the Prime Minister to reject the proposed three strikes law for alleged file-sharers. It currently has over 35,000 signatures and closes on 20 October this year.

In 2009, the European Parliament received 1,924 petitions, slightly up on the 1,849 received in 2008. However, less than half (46 per cent) were admissible; the remainder “fell outside the EU's area of competence,” said the Committee. The admissible petitions focused mainly on the environment (228), fundamental rights (164), justice (159) and the single market (142).