The European Commission has announced the registration of a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) titled ‘Taxing great wealth to finance the ecological and social transition.’ The organisers of the initiative are calling on the Commission to establish a European tax on great wealth, with the aim of financing the ecological and social transition and addressing climate change and inequality within the European Union. The initiative seeks to ensure that European citizens contribute their fair share towards achieving these objectives.
It is important to note that the decision to register the initiative is of a legal nature and does not pre-determine the final legal and political conclusions of the Commission regarding the initiative. The Commission will carefully consider the initiative and the action it may take if the necessary support is obtained.
As the European Citizens’ Initiative meets the formal conditions outlined in the relevant legislation, the Commission deems it legally admissible. However, the substance of the proposal has not been analyzed at this stage.
The next steps involve the organisers having six months to collect signatures in support of the initiative. If the European Citizens’ Initiative receives one million statements of support from at least seven different EU Member States within one year, the Commission will be obliged to respond. The Commission may decide to advance the request or not, and it will provide an explanation for its decision.
The European Citizens’ Initiative was introduced as an instrument for citizens to shape the EU’s agenda with the Lisbon Treaty in 2012. Once formally registered, it allows one million citizens from at least seven EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose legal acts in areas where the Commission holds the power to act. The conditions for admissibility include that the proposed action falls within the Commission’s powers, is not manifestly abusive, frivolous, or vexatious, and is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.
Since the establishment of the European Citizens’ Initiative, the Commission has received 127 requests to launch an initiative, with 102 being deemed admissible and registered. Last week, the Commission responded to the eighth successful European Citizens’ Initiative.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_3741