MEP Simon Busuttil said that EU citizens should stand up for their rights. Those who did so would find Members of the European Parliament supporting them.

Dr Busuttil was addressing the plenary of the European Parliament which was debating the annual report of the Parliament’s Petitions Committee, prepared by Spanish MEP Carlos Iturgaiz Angulo.

He said that EU citizenship meant that the citizens of Europe could stand up for their rights and make their voice heard. They could do so regardless of whether they stood up against a company, a local or regional authority, a public agency or even their own national government.

He said that this right could best be exercised through the use of the petition to the European Parliament, which gave citizens a right to complain to this EU institution. This right is recognised as a basic right in the EU Treaty.

“Provided that complaints concern rights under EU law, people can rely on Europe to support them”, Dr Busuttil said.

He said that the right to petition was a great tribute to Europe and what it stands for. But it was also a great credit to Member States themselves because it is they who signed the Treaty which gave the right to petition, even if petitions could often be used against them.

“I strongly urge EU citizens to stand up for their rights; to use the petition as a tool to defend themselves on EU rights. Those who do so will find us standing right there behind them.” Dr Busuttil said.