The EU Parliament committee where citizens’ petitions go unheeded

The Petitions Committee (PETI) sees itself as a bridge between the EU and its citizens, drawing 35 MEPs from various political groups to review ordinary people’s petitions. If these pass muster, MEPs can forward them to European Commission to consider legislative action.

But a review of the committee’s activity from the previous legislative period raises questions. Over the last four years, Peti received only 6,991 petitions (1,357 in 2019 and 1,573 in 2022), a small number given the EU’s population of 450 million.

Compared to the millions of signatures on platforms like Change.org or widespread social media complaints, this figure seems insignificant. Although the committee report highlights the number of opinions, resolutions, hearings, and questions it generated, it doesn’t specify how many petitions resulted in concrete legislation.

Vice-chair Nils Ušakovs acknowledged operational issues when interviewed by Radio Schuman, noting that many of the petitions fail to address EU-related issues and that the European Commission often takes too long to respond. Ušakovs also admitted that the committee has limited influence, as it cannot compel the Commission to legislate.

Today, we also make a quick overview a meeting of EU ambassadors, set to discuss reforms of the European Peace Facility.

Lastly, Radio Schuman questions whether turning the clocks back twice a year might be damaging our health.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.