Pro-Life Group Sues European Commission Over Democratic Deficit

By Stefano Gennarini, J.D.
Center for Family and Human Rights

NEW YORK, June 2 (C-Fam) A pro-life group is suing the EU Commission at the European Court of Justice, claiming the Commission usurped the democratic prerogative of the people of Europe when it turned down a pro-life petition with nearly two million signatures.

The Commission “rejected out of hand” the petition collected through a procedure known as European Citizens’ Initiative, or ECI. The Commission found the petition “irritating,” according to British barrister Paul Diamond, who represented the One of Us petition before the European Court of Justice last month.

“What we are asking is for this tribunal to give real effect to the ECI by protecting it from arbitrary refusals. We want you to protect the ECI from bureaucratic discrimination,” Diamond implored the court during oral arguments.

The petition requested action to ensure respect for human life from conception in EU policy and to stop funding for embryo destructive research as well as groups that promote abortion with EU development assistance money.

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