1. 1 Institutions and democratic principles in EU  The functioning of the EU is founded on representative democracy.  Member States are represented in the European Council by their Heads of State or Government and in the Council by their governments, themselves democratically accountable either to their national Parliaments, or to their citizens.  Citizens are directly represented at EU level in the European Parliament.

2. 2  The EU does observe the principle of the equality of its citizens. Every national of a Member State is a citizen of the EU. Citizenship of the EU is additional to national citizenship and can not replace it.  Every citizen has the right to participate in the democratic life on the EU. Decisions are to be taken as openly as possible to the citizen.  The European Commission has to carry out broad consultations with parties concerned in order to ensure that the EU’s actions are coherent and transparent.

3. 3 Towards a European referendum Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may take the initiative of inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the EU is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

4. 4 The European Parliament  The EP does, jointly with the Council, exercise legislative and budgetary functions. It shall exercise functions of political control and consultation. It shall elect the President of the Commission.  The EP is composed of representatives of the EU’s citizens. They shall not exceed seven hundred and fifty in number, plus the President. Representation of citizens shall be degressively

5. 5 proportional, with a minimum threshold of six members per Member State. No Member State shall be allocated more than ninety-six seats.  The EP may, acting by a majority of its component Members, request the Commission to submit any appropriate proposal on matters on which it considers that a EU act is required for the implementing the Treaties. If the Commission does not submit a proposal, it shall inform the EP of the reasons.

6. 6  In the course of its duties, the EP may, at the request of a quarter of its component Members, set up a 6 to investigate alleged contraventions or maladministration in the implementation of the EU law, except where the alleged facts are being examined before a court and while the case is still subject to legal proceedings.  Any citizen of the EU has the right to address a petition to the European parliament on a matter which comes within the EU’ fields of activity and when affects him, her or it directly.

7. 7  A European Ombudsman, elected by the European Parliament, shall be empowered to receive complaints from any citizen concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of the EU institutions, with the exception of the Court of Justice of the EU acting in its judicial role.  If a motion of censure on the activities of the Commission is tabled before it, the EP shall vote openly. If this motion is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component Members of the EP, the members of the Commission shall resign as a body.

8. 8 National Parliaments National Parliaments contribute actively to the good functioning of the EU, by assuming various tasks. They control the respect of the Principle of subsidiarity. The participate in the legislative procedure of the EU, in accordance with the Protocol on the role of national parliaments.