European Citizens’ Initiative: Commission registers ‘Voters Without Borders, Full Political Rights for EU Citizens’ initiative

Summary:

The European Commission decided on 4 March 2020 to register a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Voters Without Borders, Full Political Rights for EU Citizens'.

Further information:

The organisers of this ECI argue that there is an increasing number of EU citizens living and working in Member States other than that of their nationality. The initiative points at barriers and obstacles faced by citizens in exercising voting rights when residing in a different Member State. The aim of the Initiative is to:

• 'Remove barriers to registration of EU citizens to vote and stand in European and local elections either in their country of residence or origin;
• Reaffirm Universal Suffrage as a fundamental right and value. EU citizens should have the right to choose whether to vote in their country of residence or origin for all elections and referenda;
• Research the impact of such genuine Europeanisation of voting rights, the necessary safeguards, and how they could include third-country nationals.'

The Commission considered the initiative legally admissible, as it met the necessary conditions, and therefore decided to register it. The Commission had not yet analysed the substance of the initiative at this stage.

Official

EUR-Lex: C/2020/1298: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/396 on the proposed citizens’ initiative entitled 'Voters Without Borders, Full Political Rights for EU Citizens' http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2020/396/oj

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