The European Commission has proposed a targeted technical amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European citizens' initiative, changing the delegation of power to adopt delegated acts from a fixed five-year term to an indeterminate duration. The proposal, published on 2 July 2026 as COM(2026)348, aims to restore the Commission's ability to update Annex I of the regulation, which sets the minimum number of signatories required per Member State. The previous empowerment expired on 6 June 2024, leaving the Commission without a legal basis to adjust these thresholds to reflect changes in the European Parliament's composition following each European Council decision under Article 14(2) TEU.
The amendment is purely procedural and does not alter the substance of the citizens' initiative mechanism or impose new obligations on citizens, Member States, or EU institutions. It also has no budgetary impact. The Commission argues that the fixed five-year term for delegated powers is impractical for a regulation that requires periodic updates tied to the European Parliament's composition, which changes at irregular intervals. By shifting to an indeterminate duration, the Commission would be able to adopt delegated acts whenever necessary, subject to the same scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council.
The proposal now passes to the European Parliament and the Council for adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure. Given its technical nature and lack of controversy, swift approval is expected. The change would ensure that the citizens' initiative remains administratively functional, allowing the Commission to keep the signatory thresholds proportionate to the size of each Member State's electorate.
The amendment primarily affects EU regulatory bodies, as it streamlines the Commission's ability to maintain the regulation without periodic legislative renewals. For citizens and civil society organisations that use the European citizens' initiative, the change has no direct impact on the rules or thresholds themselves, but it ensures that future updates can be made efficiently. National authorities responsible for verifying signatures will benefit from clearer, up-to-date thresholds. The European Parliament and Council retain their scrutiny role over any delegated acts adopted under the new arrangement.