Registration of a proposed citizens’ initiative

1. Prior to initiating the collection of statements of support from signatories for a proposed citizens’ initiative, the organisers shall be required to register it with the Commission, providing the information set out in Annex II, in particular on the subject matter and objectives of the proposed citizens’ initiative.

That information shall be provided in one of the official languages of the Union, in an online register made available for that purpose by the Commission (‘the register’).

The organisers shall provide, for the register and where appropriate on their website, regularly updated information on the sources of support and funding for the proposed citizens’ initiative.

After the registration is confirmed in accordance with paragraph 2, the organisers may provide the proposed citizens’ initiative in other official languages of the Union for inclusion in the register. The translation of the proposed citizens’ initiative into other official languages of the Union shall be the responsibility of the organisers.

The Commission shall establish a point of contact which provides information and assistance.

2. Within two months from the receipt of the information set out in Annex II, the Commission shall register a proposed citizens’ initiative under a unique registration number and send a confirmation to the organisers, provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:

the citizens’ committee has been formed and the contact persons have been designated in accordance with Article 3(2);

the proposed citizens’ initiative does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;

the proposed citizens’ initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious; and

the proposed citizens’ initiative is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 TEU.

3. The Commission shall refuse the registration if the conditions laid down in paragraph 2 are not met.

Where it refuses to register a proposed citizens’ initiative, the Commission shall inform the organisers of the reasons for such refusal and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them.

4. A proposed citizens’ initiative that has been registered shall be made public in the register. Without prejudice to their rights under Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, data subjects shall be entitled to request the removal of their personal data from the register after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of registration of a proposed citizens’ initiative.

5. At any time before the submission of statements of support in accordance with Article 8, the organisers may withdraw a proposed citizens’ initiative that has been registered. In that case, an indication to that effect shall be entered in the register.

REGULATION (EU) No 211/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 February 2011 on the citizens’ initiative ANNEX I ANNEX II ANNEX III ANNEX IV ANNEX V ANNEX VI ANNEX VII