Today, the European Commission has partially registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), entitled 'EU initiative to protect stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU/non-EU countries'.
The initiative invites the Commission to "strengthen the protection of stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU and to ensure that EU action in third countries does not contribute to animal suffering". The organisers call for further restrictions on "the use of dogs and cats for scientific purposes" and for "EU trade, association and financing instruments" to "be designed in such a way that EU funds, trade benefits or cooperation will only be granted if minimum standards for the protection of dogs and cats are respected". The organisers also consider that "sustainable, humane measures" should be promoted.
The Commission is only partially registering the initiative, as it can only do so in areas where the Commission has the power to propose new laws. This is the case for animal shelters, animal testing for scientific purposes, trade and cooperation with third countries and Union funding. Policies that have animal welfare as the stated objective are the exclusive competence of Member States. The Commission would not have the power to propose legislation with this stated objective and is therefore not in a position to register this part of the initiative.
The Commission considers the parts of the initiative that fulfil the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation legally admissible under the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation .
The Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals at this stage. The partial registration does not influence the Commission's final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will take a decision on the initiative only if the organisers collect at least one million signatures from EU citizens.
Next steps
Following today's registration, the organisers have six months to open the 12-month period of signature collection. If an ECI receives at least one million statements of support during that time, with minimum numbers reached in at least seven Member States, the Commission is required to react, and decide what, if any, action it will take in response to the initiative, justifying its decision.
Background
The ECI was introduced with the Lisbon Treaty as an agenda-setting tool for citizens. It was officially launched in April 2012. Once formally registered, a European Citizens' Initiative allows one million citizens from at least seven EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose legal acts in areas where it has the power to act. The conditions for admissibility are: (1) the proposed action does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission's powers to submit a legal proposal, (2) it is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious and (3) it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.
Since the beginning of the European Citizens' Initiative, the Commission has registered 127 initiatives.
The content of the initiatives only expresses the views of the organisers and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission.
