What are we to make of the citizens initiative

摘要: The citizens' initiative is a novel instrument for direct democratic participation in the functioning of European Union which was introduced by Treaty Lisbon and given effect through adoption Regulation 211/2011. This article examines background, context content Citizens' Initiative, before turning to consider two main sets legal issues: who precisely may claim represent; what realistically seek achieve. It argued that (on paper at least) Treaties 211/2011 have together created relatively weak instrument: one likely be activated only organised civil society; any event appears heavily dependent upon mediation institutions. But whatever its fate as tool participatory democracy, engages new potentially fruitful ways with various broader issues law: example, prospects building truly borderless citizenship; place third country nationals within political dimension integration; complex task interpreting reconciling Union's core values objectives.