The European Citizens' Initiative is an 'innovation' of the Lisbon Treaty, and is laughably aimed at increasing democracy in the EU.
Currently in a consultation period regarding the implementation detail which is due to end on 31st January, the initiative seeks to enable EU citizens, to petition directly the European Commission to bring forward an initiative of interest to them in an area of EU competence (though the actual process is likely to be made as difficult as possible).
This possible example of people power (I use the term lightly) is making some MEPs rather nervous (my emphasis):
I mean how dare we? Fancy using a device intended to make the EU more open and democratic to tell the EU to be...er...more open and democratic!
Fine Gael Dublin MEP Gay Mitchell warned the Oireachtas European Affairs committee that there could be unintended consequences. “I could see a coalition of Youth Defence or whatever they’re calling themselves now, UKIP, [UK Independence Party], the communist left and the Dublin confederation of mothers of seven or whatever you want, getting together very easily,” he said.
They could be “putting together 0.2 per cent of the population across Europe and then saying what scoundrels the EU is for ignoring the wishes the people.”
What planet are these people on?