COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2024/1823

of 19 June 2024

on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Air-Quotas’

(notified under document C(2024) 3817)

(Only the French text is authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative (1), and in particular Article 6(2) and (3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Air-Quotas’ was submitted to the Commission on 26 April 2024.

(2) The aim of the initiative as expressed by the organisers is to call on the Commission ‘to set up a climate assembly leading to a citizens’ carbon quota mechanism in each country that will encourage businesses to decarbonise through consumer demand’. The organisers consider that the carbon quota mechanism should cover all purchases of goods and services and that it should start with air transport. They also mention an ‘Air-Quotas information campaign’ as a means ‘to understand the trade mechanism between carbon deficits and surpluses based on a fair distribution that decreases from year to year in line with the Paris Agreement and the EU’s announcement of a 55 % reduction’.

(3) An annex to the initiative provides further details on the subject matter, objectives and background to the initiative. It states that ‘the climate footprint of human action on the planet must be drastically reduced if the earth is to remain liveable’ and refers to different options for reducing the carbon footprint. The organisers consider that ‘a carbon account for aviation’ would be the most appropriate mechanism, starting with aircraft as ‘the most symbolic source of greenhouse gas’. An additional document providing background on carbon quotas has also been submitted by the group of organisers as part of their registration request.

(4) As regards the aim of the initiative, insofar as it points towards the creation of a mechanism of carbon quotas in each Member State that will encourage businesses to decarbonise through consumer demand, the Commission could adopt a proposal for a legal act on the basis of Articles 191 to 193 TFEU.

(5) For this reason, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

(6) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.

(7) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.

(8) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(9) The initiative entitled ‘Air-Quotas’ should therefore be registered.

(10) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Air-Quotas’ shall be registered.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Air-Quotas’, represented by Armel PRIEUR and Valérie COHEN acting as contact persons.

Done at Brussels, 19 June 2024.

For the Commission

Věra JOUROVÁ

Vice-President

(1)

OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/1823/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)