Rule 222 : Public hearings and debates on citizens’ initiatives

1.   When the Commission has published the notice on a citizens’ initiative in the relevant register pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), the President of the European Parliament, on a proposal from the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs:

(a)   shall task the committee responsible for the subject-matter according to Annex VI with organising the public hearing provided for in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788; the committee responsible for petitions shall be automatically associated under Rule 57;

(b)   may, where two or more citizens’ initiatives for which the notices have been published in the relevant register pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 have a similar subject-matter, decide, after consulting the organisers, that a joint public hearing is to be organised at which all of the citizens’ initiatives involved shall be dealt with on an equal footing.

2.   The committee responsible for the subject-matter:

(a)   shall ascertain whether the Commission has received the group of organisers at an appropriate level in accordance with Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788;

(b)   shall ensure, if necessary with the support of the Conference of Committee Chairs, that the Commission is properly involved in organising the public hearing and that it is represented at an appropriate level at the hearing.

3.   The Chair of the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall convene the public hearing at an appropriate date within three months of the submission of the initiative to the Commission pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.

4.   The committee responsible for the subject matter shall organise the public hearing at Parliament, if appropriate together with such other institutions and bodies of the Union that wish to participate. It may invite other stakeholders to attend.

The committee responsible for the subject matter shall invite a representative group of organisers, including at least one of the contact persons referred to in Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, to present the initiative at the hearing.

5.   The Bureau shall, in accordance with the arrangements agreed with the Commission, adopt rules concerning the reimbursement of incurred costs.

6.   The President of Parliament and the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs may delegate their powers under this Rule to a Vice-President and another committee Chair respectively.

7.   If the conditions laid down in Rule 57 or Rule 58 are met, those provisions shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to other committees. Rules 210 and 211 shall also apply.

Rule 25(9) shall not apply to public hearings on citizens’ initiatives.

8.   Parliament shall hold a debate on a citizens’ initiative for which a notice has been published in the relevant register pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, at a part-session following the public hearing and shall, when placing the debate on its agenda, decide whether or not to wind up the debate with a resolution. It shall not wind up the debate with a resolution if a report on an identical or similar subject matter is scheduled for the same or the next part-session, unless the President, for exceptional reasons, proposes otherwise. If Parliament decides to wind up a debate with a resolution, the committee responsible for the subject matter or a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold may table a motion for a resolution. Rule 132(3) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

9.   Following the Commission’s communication setting out its legal and political conclusions on a specific citizens’ initiative, Parliament shall assess the actions taken by the Commission as a result of such communication. In the event that the Commission fails to submit an appropriate proposal on a citizens’ initiative, the committee responsible for the subject matter may organise a hearing in consultation with the citizens’ initiative organisers. Furthermore, Parliament may decide whether to hold a plenary debate and whether to wind up this debate with a resolution. The procedure set out in paragraph 8 shall apply mutatis mutandis. Parliament may also decide to exercise the right conferred on it by Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, thereby activating the procedure laid down in Rule 47.