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European Parliament Committee on Petitions

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Committee on Petitions
AbbreviationPETI
TypeStanding committee
LegislatureEuropean Parliament
Parliamentary term10th European Parliament
ChairBogdan Rzońca
ECR, Poland
Vice-ChairsDolors Montserrat (EPP)
Fredis Beleris (EPP)
Nils Ušakovs (S&D)
Cristina Guarda (Greens/EFA)
Members34
Political compositionEPP: 9 · S&D: 6 · ECR: 5 · Renew: 2 · PfE: 3 · Greens/EFA: 2 · The Left: 2 · ESN: 2 · NI: 3
JurisdictionPetitions to the European Parliament, citizens' rights, implementation of EU law, relations with the European Ombudsman and participation in European Citizens' Initiative hearings
WebsiteOfficial website

The Committee on Petitions (PETI) is a standing committee of the European Parliament. It examines petitions submitted by European Union citizens and residents on matters falling within the Union's fields of activity and directly affecting them. The committee also monitors problems in the implementation of EU law, maintains relations with the European Ombudsman and participates in public hearings connected with successful European Citizens' Initiatives.[1]

The right to petition the European Parliament is guaranteed by Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 44 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. A petition may be submitted individually or jointly with others and may concern any matter within the Union's fields of activity that directly affects the petitioner.[2]

Responsibilities

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The committee is responsible for petitions addressed to Parliament and for relations with the European Ombudsman. It also contributes to the organisation of public hearings on European Citizens' Initiatives and considers issues relating to the practical exercise of citizens' rights under Union law.[3]

Its remit includes:

  • examining whether petitions are admissible under the Treaties and Parliament's Rules of Procedure;
  • requesting information from the European Commission, member states and other institutions;
  • referring petitions to other parliamentary committees for opinions or information;
  • organising hearings, fact-finding visits and exchanges of views with petitioners;
  • drawing Parliament's attention to alleged breaches or incorrect application of Union law;
  • preparing reports and resolutions arising from petitions;
  • relations with the European Ombudsman and consideration of the Ombudsman's annual report;
  • participation in hearings linked to successful European Citizens' Initiatives; and
  • safeguarding the practical exercise of the right to petition.[3][1]

Petition procedure

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Petitions may be submitted through Parliament's Petitions Web Portal or by post. They must identify the petitioner, state the subject clearly and concern an area within the European Union's competence that directly affects the petitioner. The committee first determines whether a petition is admissible.[4]

When a petition is declared admissible, PETI may ask the European Commission to investigate, request information from national or regional authorities, refer the issue to another parliamentary committee, hold a public debate, organise a fact-finding mission or recommend that Parliament adopt a resolution. Petitions may remain open while the committee monitors follow-up by the relevant authorities.[5]

The committee does not act as a court and cannot annul decisions taken by national authorities. Its work is instead political and supervisory, using Parliament's powers to bring citizens' concerns to the attention of EU institutions and member-state authorities.[1]

Role in participatory democracy

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PETI is one of Parliament's principal channels for direct public participation. Petitions can reveal gaps in legislation, failures in implementation or recurring problems affecting citizens in several member states. The committee may use this information when preparing reports or recommending legislative and administrative action.[1]

The committee is also involved in the European Citizens' Initiative procedure. When an initiative reaches the required number of signatures and is registered for follow-up, PETI is automatically associated with the committee responsible for organising the corresponding public hearing.[6]

Relations with the European Ombudsman

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PETI is responsible for Parliament's institutional relationship with the European Ombudsman. It examines the Ombudsman's annual report, prepares Parliament's response and follows issues of maladministration, transparency, access to documents and ethical standards in the EU institutions.[7]

Chairs

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The following table lists the chairs of the committee since 1987.

Name Political group Member state Took office Left office
Raphaël Chanterie EPP Belgium Belgium 1987 1989
Viviane Reding EPP Luxembourg Luxembourg 1989 1992
Rosy Bindi EPP Italy Italy 1992 1994
Edward Newman PES United Kingdom United Kingdom 1994 1997
Alessandro Fontana EPP Italy Italy 1997 1999
Vitaliano Gemelli EPP–ED Italy Italy 1999 2004
Marcin Libicki UEN Poland Poland 2004 2009
Erminia Mazzoni EPP Italy Italy 2009 2014
Cecilia Wikström ALDE Sweden Sweden 2014 2019
Dolors Montserrat EPP Spain Spain 2019 2024
Bogdan Rzońca ECR Poland Poland 2024 Incumbent[8]

Members

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10th Parliament, 2024–2029

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The committee currently has 34 full members. Its current composition is shown below, with the chair and vice-chairs indicated in italics.[8]

European People's Party Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats European Conservatives and Reformists Renew Europe
Patriots for Europe Greens–European Free Alliance The Left Europe of Sovereign Nations
Non-Inscrits

Substitute members

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Research support

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The committee is supported by the European Parliament's research services and policy departments. These services provide studies, briefings and analyses on citizens' rights, the application of EU law, petition systems, participatory democracy, the European Citizens' Initiative and the work of the European Ombudsman.[9]

Research and studies prepared for the committee are published through Parliament's supporting-analyses database and the European Parliament Think Tank.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "About the Committee on Petitions". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Right of petition". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Powers and responsibilities of the Committee on Petitions". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "How to submit a petition". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Petitions: frequently asked questions". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "European Citizens' Initiative". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "The European Ombudsman". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "Members – Committee on Petitions". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Supporting analyses – PETI". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Latest documents – Supporting analyses – PETI". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
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