The need to protect minorities and diversity as well as to support initiatives that bring Europe closer to citizens were the key issues raised by EPP-CoR members during a debate on the European Citizens' Initiative with Pedro Silva Pereira, Vice-President of the European Parliament in charge of European democracy and European citizens' initiative and Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee.
Arno Kompatscher, Governor of South Tyrol referred to the EU's motto ‘United in diversity. He said "The European Citizens' Initiative 'Minority Safepack', signed by more than 1 million European citizens, has precisely the aim to protect that diversity within national states, by setting minimum standards for the protection of ethno-linguistic minorities. I believe the European Committee of the Regions should promote the adoption by the European Commission of new legislative initiatives to safeguard minorities in Europe. Supporting the 'Minority Safepack' can prove to be a precious opportunity to underline that ours is a Union of values, that enhances diversity, and not a structure based on solely economic principles.” Kompatscher added that this is an opportunity to bring the EU closer to citizens.
Expressing support toward the 'Minority SafePack' Initiative Anna Magyar, Member of Csongrád Megye Council said "I am convinced that we have to address a definite message to the decision makers concerned at the Commission: the voice of more than 1 million citizens coming from 11 EU member states must be taken into account seriously. No excuses, no exemptions! Moreover, in the case of the 'Minority SafePack' Initiative, it is about approximately 50 million citizens, belonging to national or ethnic minorities. Minorities of the EU matter. We need to take it seriously!"
Franz Schausberger, Representative of Salzburg Province emphasis the need of collaboration including with civil society. He said “EESC President Christa Schweng has chosen the motto 'Together for the future of Europe'. In this time of greatest challenges since the end of World War II, there can be nothing else than this commonality of all groups and institutions in our society. To this end, the EESC and the CoR have recognized that civil society must be involved as closely as possible."
The European Citizens’ Initiative is an important instrument of participatory democracy in the EU, allowing one million citizens residing in one quarter of the Member States to invite the Commission to submit a proposal for a legal act to implement the EU Treaties. Since the application of a 2011 Regulation establishing detailed procedures for the ECI, six initiatives have been successfully submitted to the Commission. As of January 2020, new rules apply to make the ECI more accessible.