On 22 June the CIVEX commission held its meeting in Kolobrzeg, Poland. The members adopted the opinion on the review of the European Citizens initiative (ECI), a tool which provides citizens with an indirect right to legislate while enhancing their participation in shaping EU policies. The CIVEX commission members called for a greater involvement of all EU institutions, especially the CoR, and pointed out the conflict of interest of the European Commission that acts both as information provider and jury when deciding on the admissibility of the initiatives.  The CIVEX commission also underlined the importance of awareness raising activities and assistance to run ECI campaigns.

 

Moreover, the CIVEX commission held an exchange of views on the European Migration Agenda and the European Neighbourhood policy review.

 

The EA group president, Stanislaw Szwabski said that the EU should look both at the Southern and the Eastern borders where migratory pressures have also increased as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, especially in Poland. Migration and European neighbourhood policies are intertwined and require a more comprehensive approach, he added.