Verbal reasoning
The European Citizens' Initiative allows citizens to ask the European Commission to propose new legislation. To be valid, an initiative must collect at least one million signatures from nationals of at least a quarter of the Member States, with a minimum number of signatories in each of those countries. Once an initiative succeeds, the Commission has six months to respond, explaining whether it intends to act and why. It is not, however, obliged to propose legislation, and several successful initiatives have led to no new law.
Which of the following statements is correct?
- A.A successful initiative obliges the Commission to propose a new law.
- B.One million signatures collected in a single Member State make an initiative valid.
- C.The Commission must explain its position on a successful initiative.
- D.Most successful initiatives have led to new legislation.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. The passage says the Commission must respond and explain whether it intends to act and why. A is contradicted ("not obliged"), B ignores the quarter-of-Member-States rule, and D cannot be deduced: the passage only says that several initiatives led to no law.