What changed

From · Plenary report · 12 Oct 2020 A-9-2020-0187 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers

To · Adopted text · 17 Dec 2020 TA-9-2020-0364 Rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers ***I

The changes to the text itself, in document order. Cover page, citations (“having regard to …”), standard resolution paragraphs and punctuation-only edits are left out — they are in “Show every difference”.

Change #1

Recital 2: (2) Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 has, overall, proven to work effectively in practice and struck an appropriate institutional balance as regards the roles of the Commission and the other actors involved. The main elements of the system can therefore continue to function unchanged. However, the level of added-value provided by Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 as regards an appropriate decision-making process has not been entirely satisfactory. Certain targeted amendments concerning specific aspects of procedure at the level of the appeal committee seem, therefore, to be necessary. These amendments are intended to ensure wider political accountability and ownership of politically sensitive implementing acts without, however, modifying the legal and institutional responsibilities for implementing acts as organised by Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. An additional objective of this amending act is to improve Union citizens' awareness of procedures related to implementing acts. In order to increase trust in the Union’s institutions and bodies, it is essential not only to inform Union citizens about decision-making but also to explain the reasons behind the decisions of those institutions and bodies.

Recital 2: (2) Regulation (EC) No 182/2011has, overall, proven to work effectively in practice and struck an appropriate institutional balance as regards the roles of the Commission and the other actors involved. The main elements of the system can therefore continue to function unchanged. However, the level of added-value provided by Regulation (EC) No 182/2011 as regards an appropriate decision-making process has not been entirely satisfactory. Certain targeted amendments concerning specific aspects of procedure at the level of the appeal committee seem, therefore, to be necessary. These amendments are intended to ensure wider political accountability and ownership of politically sensitive implementing acts without, however, modifying the legal and institutional responsibilities for implementing acts as organised by Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. An additional objective of this amending act is to improve Union citizens' awareness of procedures related to implementing acts. In order to increase trust in the Union’s institutions and bodies, it is essential not only to inform Union citizens about decision-making but also to explain the reasons behind the decisions of those institutions and bodies.

Change #2

Considering the legal pressure that not authorising sensitive products might cause on the Commission, in case of no opinion the current rules of appeal committees are leaving the Commission with no real other choice than adopting the implementing acts. For important acts that can impact health or safety of humans or animals, the authorisation should be deemed adopted only if there is a strong majority by Member States to support it.