The European Commission has today registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) 'European Free Movement Instrument' inviting the Commission to guarantee the right of free movement for "Europeans of good standing" within the EU through a 'Universal Instrument'.
The ECI calls on the Commission to identify an appropriate method of granting such an instrument, suggesting a unified laissez-passer document as an option.
The College of Commissioners discussed the legal admissibility of the proposed ECI and agreed that it meets all the conditions necessary for registration under the ECI Regulation. This registration starts a one-year process of collection of signatures in support of the proposed ECI by its organisers.
The Commission's decision to register concerns only the legal admissibility of the proposal. The substance of the initiative has not been discussed or assessed. The conditions for admissibility, as foreseen by the ECI Regulation, are that the proposed action does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission's powers to submit a proposal for a legal act, that it is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious and that it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.