Exhibition
As an elected assembly, the European Parliament today represents the interests of nearly 450 million citizens. Since its creation, Parliament has had the authority to receive complaints and suggestions from citizens of the Member States and has established its own procedures for the submission and examination of petitions. MEPs thus see petitions as a key element of participatory democracy and a means of communicating with members of the public, bringing them closer to the EU and helping them to find solutions to problems they may be experiencing.
In the mid-1970s, Parliament proposed establishing a European Ombudsman to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. However, it took 20 years for Parliament to appoint the first European Ombudsman to deal with complaints from citizens about possible cases of maladministration by the EU institutions.
Parliament always helps ordinary citizens and voters to have their voices heard, in particular through its liaison offices in each of the 27 Member States. Every year, it receives thousands of questions and requests from citizens, who also express their views on the challenges facing the European Union, its activities and the way it works.
For over ten years, Parliament has been helping to make the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) a more accessible and citizen-focused tool for participatory democracy. With the aim of simplifying the procedures to take part in an ECI while at the same time increasing its impact, Parliament has in particular worked to ensure that all citizens and residents of the EU can sign a statement of support for an initiative.
