78
T. Venables
of ECAS projects, it was argued that many European citizens would consider using an EU card which would – among other uses to facilitate free
movement – allow them to vote in specific elections. This proposition of
course raises many issues of data protection but shows that there is a strong
desire to counter these practical difficulties.
3. Concerns around timing have been expressed, namely that it may be
too early to implement such a change and that it would be rather more beneficial to concentrate on improving the implementation and exercise of
existing rights. This is often a very valid argument as civil society organisations, politicians and the EU Institutions tend to create new rights and legislation for their own credit rather than enforcing present ones. Such
considerations, however, do not apply here. Launching this debate for the
individuals who have no right to vote in their host country will also draw
attention to the fact that they have an underused right – that is the right to
vote in local and EU elections. It is increasingly apparent that those who
have no say at national level lose their interest in political involvement, as
they feel sidelined. Indeed, it is perhaps too easily forgotten that an ECI such
as this one must be seen, first and foremost, from the very basic perspective
of the citizen entitled to sign it. Their lack of participation in European elections in particular has a detrimental effect on citizenship, which is not to be
ignored at a time when citizens’ attachment to the EU is in decline. According
to Eurobarometer, the past couple of years have seen a noticeable 5 per cent
decline of citizens who believe that membership of their country in the EU
is a ‘good thing’. An incremental approach to European citizenship can
work, for example in the case of social rights and entitlements, but it is certainly more questionable in the area of political rights where the contradictions are too apparent and become disincentives.
4. The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) has been much involved
in supporting ECIs having set up several support systems, organised many
awareness raising events and disseminated information to ECI initiators and
organisers. Presently it is also working on setting up an Online Signature
Collection system, which will meet the specified requirements of the
European Commission and provide organisers with a secure server. Philippe
Cayla has accepted a real challenge, as any ECI which deals with citizenship
will by its very nature encounter many difficulties. Indeed, as this debate has
shown, intra-EU migration is extremely complex both legislatively and
pragmatically. One key obstacle will also arise during signature collection
due to the scattered geographical distribution of those most likely to sign it.
Increasing evidence here at ECAS has also shown that social media offer no
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents