The European Union is to launch a citizens' initiative on April 1st to strengthen the bloc's participatory democracy, under which citizens may suggest legislative proposals if the population is no less than one million.

The one million, or one fiftieth of the total EU citizen, can make the Commission propose legislation in front of the Council and the Parliament starting from next month, according to the Danish presidency of the EU.

The citizens' initiative, as part of the Lisbon Treaty, aims to strengthen the openness and democracy in the EU via offering citizens another opportunity to influence the EU agenda.

"When one million citizens have spoken, it will be noticed... It is a new opportunity to set the agenda of the EU debate," said Danish minister for European affairs Nicolai Wammen here on Monday.

The initiative is set to be launched both in Copenhagen on Tuesday by the Danish presidency and in Brussels on Wednesday with the participation of European Parliament President Martin Schulz and other EU officials.

It remains uncertain how this initiative may work in practice and if all institutions are ready for it.