How can we get people to care?
Union Jack and flag of the European Union hang alongside each other - Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
In the fortnight since opening the European Citizens' Initiative petition for UK citizens seeking permanent EU citizenship regardless of us leaving or staying in the EU, the UK has passed its target figure of 55,750 signatories.
However the next highest-supporting country is Romania with just under 10% of its threshold target so far. Most other countries are significantly lower.
Is this down to apathy, retribution for the trouble we've caused or is it simply ignorance of the actual existence of this petition? If it is just ignorance of the petition, what can be done to make the other EU countries aware of the petition and how can we encourage them to sign up and support the UK's application?
The problem is that at least seven other EU countries have to meet their individual threshold targets and there needs to be at least a million supporting votes in total for the petition to succeed. It seems there is much to be done to achieve a successful outcome to this petition and only one year to do it in.
Graeme Brown
You may also want to watch:
MORE: Read more about the petition and find out how to sign it here
Most Read
- 1 US election result could spark 'end of Brexit', claims peer
- 2 Brexiteer says EU 'spiteful' to end fast-track lanes for Brits after Brexit
- 3 'Assorted caviar' and 'board games' - Gifts confiscated from Boris Johnson due to anti-corruption laws
- 4 Farage says he can dodge US travel ban because he's a 'journalist'
- 5 Poll puts Labour on highest level of support since 2014
- 6 Question Time: Tory minister told 'diverse' cabinet doesn't erase race issues in party
- 7 Former Labour MP tells Jeremy Corbyn to retire after being suspended from party
- 8 Poll: Most Britons think Labour was right to suspend Jeremy Corbyn
- 9 Poll finds Boris Johnson key factor for Scots backing independence
- 10 Nigel Farage places £10,000 bet on Donald Trump to win second White House term
• Send your letters for publication in The New European to letters@theneweuropean.co.uk
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
