Fundamental rights and health the main concerns of citizens

In a report adopted with 28 votes in favour, 0 against and 3 abstaining, MEPs detail the main activities of the Committee on Petitions in 2021. Some of the main subjects of petitions in 2021 were fundamental rights and health, environmental issues, the rights of minorities, education, and employment.

Pandemic raises concerns of health and fundamental rights

In a year marked by the pandemic, fundamental rights were a major concern for petitioners. These petitions concerned in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on access to education, on the freedom of movement, and on the right to work. Some petitioners also raised the differences in status between the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated. The Petitions Committee and Committee on Transport also organised public hearing on improving air passenger rights during the COVID-19 crisis.

Health was another often-raised topic, including for example the public health crisis, the protection of citizens’ health (including vaccination policy), and the use, implementation and application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the Member States.

Citizens highlights environmental issues and discrimination of minorities

The environment was also a major concern for petitioners, concerning for example mining activities, illegal logging, illicit waste disposal, nuclear safety, air pollution and the deterioration of natural ecosystems. On 2 December 2021, the committee organised a hearing on the environmental and social impacts of mining activity in the EU, and it also adopted a motion for a resolution on chemical residues in the Baltic Sea.

Several petitions related to minority rights and discrimination, including the rights of national or linguistic minorities, their right to education in their mother tongue, and other linguistic rights. On the rights of LGBTI+ families in the EU, the committee organised a workshop on 22 March 2021 and tabled a motion for a resolution on LGBTIQ rights in the EU. Also, the committee continued its work on upholding the rights of persons with disabilities, for example holding a workshop and proposing a resolution on the protection of persons with disabilities.

In 2021, the committee also organised one fact-finding mission. MEPs travelled to the Basque Country in Spain to investigate 379 cases of unsolved murders perpetrated by ETA.

Going forward, MEPs would like to see more efforts to raise awareness about the right to petition, particularly in EU member states where fewer people send in petitions. To boost inter-institutional cooperation with the European Commission, MEPs propose setting up an IT tool containing all available information on follow-up action taken on petitions (for example legislative proposals and infringement procedures). Overall, they would like to see the Commission follow up on petitions more actively.