PART I
TITLE VI - THE DEMOCRATIC LIFE OF THE UNION
ARTICLE I-45
The principle of democratic equality
In all its activities, the Union shall observe the principle of the equality
of its citizens, who shall receive equal attention from its institutions, bodies,
offices and agencies.
ARTICLE I-46
The principle of representative democracy
1. The functioning of the Union shall be founded on representative democracy.
2. Citizens are directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament.
Member States are represented in the European Council by their Heads of State or Government and in the Council by their governments, themselves democratically accountable either to their national Parliaments, or to their citizens.
3. Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen.
4. Political parties at European level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of citizens of the Union.
ARTICLE I-47
The principle of participatory democracy
1. The institutions shall, by appropriate means, give citizens and representative
associations the opportunity to make known and publicly exchange their views
in all areas of Union action.
2. The institutions shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society.
3. The Commission shall carry out broad consultations with parties concerned in order to ensure that the Union's actions are coherent and transparent.
4. Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may take the initiative of inviting the Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Constitution. European laws shall determine the provisions for the procedures and conditions required for such a citizens' initiative, including the minimum number of Member States from which such citizens must come.
ARTICLE I-48
The social partners and autonomous social dialogue
The Union recognises and promotes the role of the social partners at its level,
taking into account the diversity of national systems. It shall facilitate dialogue
between the social partners, respecting their autonomy.
The Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment shall contribute to social dialogue.
ARTICLE I-49
The European Ombudsman
A European Ombudsman elected by the European Parliament shall receive, examine and report on complaints about maladministration in the activities of the Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies, under the conditions laid down in the Constitution. The European Ombudsman shall be completely independent in the performance of his or her duties.
ARTICLE I-50
Transparency of the proceedings of Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies
1. In order to promote good governance and ensure the participation of civil
society, the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct
their work as openly as possible.
2. The European Parliament shall meet in public, as shall the Council when considering
and voting on a draft legislative act.
3. Any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having
its registered office in a Member State shall have, under the conditions laid
down in Part III, a right of access to documents of the Union institutions,
bodies, offices and agencies, whatever their medium. European laws shall lay
down the general principles and limits which, on grounds of public or private
interest, govern the right of access to such documents.
4. Each institution, body, office or agency shall determine in its own rules of procedure specific provisions regarding access to its documents, in accordance with the European laws referred to in paragraph 3.
ARTICLE I-51
Protection of personal data
1. Everyone has the right to the protection of personal data concerning him or her.
2. European laws or framework laws shall lay down the rules relating to the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by
Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, and by the Member States when
carrying out activities which fall within the scope of Union law, and the rules
relating to the free movement of such data. Compliance with these rules shall
be subject to the control of independent authorities.
ARTICLE I-52
Status of churches and non-confessional organisations
1. The Union respects and does not prejudice the status under national law of churches and religious associations or communities in the Member States.
2. The Union equally respects the status under national law of philosophical
and non-confessional organisations.
3. Recognising their identity and their specific contribution, the Union shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with these churches and organisations.