Doc. 8677
21 March 2000

Popular initiatives

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Solonari and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

      The Assembly,

1.       having assertained that in some new democracies popular initiatives are used as a means of changing the Constitution, sometimes in a questionable manner;

2.       convinced that popular initiatives touch on the very essence of democracy, i.e. on how the people's will is being established and transposed in written legal and/or constitutional texts;

3.       considering that popular initiatives should be the subject of clear procedural rules and control of their regularity, otherwise they could easily be abused, for anti-democratic purposes;

4.       concerned that in some new democracies such rules are not established and applied;

5.       taking into account that different practices exist in the member states of the Council of Europe with regard to the implementation of the motion of "popular initiatives";

       declares itself eager to help the countries concerned to elaborate, adopt and apply the necessary legislation;

       invites the Venice Commission to make a study with the aim of elaborating guidelines on the matter.Si

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Cilevics, Latvia, SOC

Frunda, Romania, EPP/CD

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Jaskiernia, Poland, SOC

Marty, Switzerland, LDR

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

Nastase, Romania, SOC

Tallo, Estonia, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group