On amendments to the Rules of Procedure in order to ensure the functioning of Parliament in extraordinary circumstances
A-9-2020-0194
Committee on Constitutional Affairs · Rapporteur: Gabriele Bischoff
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The Committee on Constitutional Affairs proposes amendments to Parliament's Rules of Procedure to ensure Parliament can keep working in extraordinary circumstances. It adds a new Title XIIIa with Rules 237a to 237d on extraordinary measures, disturbance of political balance, remote participation and plenary sessions in separate rooms.¶¶¶ The report says the Covid-19 pandemic showed the Rules need more developed procedures, and that temporary measures taken by the President and governing bodies were justified and ensured the validity of votes taken.¶¶¶ It calls for reasonable accommodation for Members with disabilities and their staff during extraordinary circumstances, and says the amendments should enter into force on the first day after adoption.¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Constitutional Affairs proposes that Parliament amend its Rules of Procedure by adding a new Title XIIIa with Rules 237a to 237d on extraordinary circumstances, and that the amendments enter into force on the first day after adoption.¶¶¶
Key points
- Parliament decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as set out in the report.¶
- It stresses that the Covid-19 pandemic showed the Rules need more developed procedures for the unlimited functioning of Parliament in different types of extraordinary circumstances.¶
- It underlines that temporary measures adopted by the President and governing bodies were justified, had no alternatives, and allowed Parliament to carry out its legislative, budgetary and political control functions.¶
- It stresses that those temporary measures ensured the validity of all votes taken during their period of application.¶
- It recalls the importance of reasonable accommodation for Members with disabilities and their staff while Parliament operates under extraordinary circumstances.¶
- It considers the amendments should be adopted in accordance with standard procedures and enter into force on the first day following their adoption.¶¶
- A new Rule 237a lets the President, with approval of the Conference of Presidents, apply extraordinary measures where exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances make it impossible or dangerous for Parliament to convene; a decision taken without the Conference lapses five days after adoption unless approved.¶
- A new Rule 237b lets the President, with approval of the Conference of Presidents, adopt measures to facilitate participation of Members or a political group where the political balance is severely impaired, aiming only at remote participation.¶
- A new Rule 237c sets a remote participation regime ensuring Members can exercise their mandate, votes are cast individually and in person, ordinary, roll call and secret ballots are possible, a uniform voting system applies, and secure electronic means are managed by Parliament's services.¶
- A new Rule 237d allows a plenary session to be held in more than one meeting room, with those rooms collectively constituting the Chamber and the President determining their use to respect physical distancing.¶
Who is affected
- Members of the European Parliament, who may participate remotely or in separate meeting rooms under the new rules.¶¶¶
- Members with disabilities and their staff, for whom reasonable accommodation is to be ensured.¶
- The President and the Conference of Presidents, who may decide on extraordinary measures.¶¶
- Political groups, whose members may benefit from measures if the group requests them.
Figures and deadlines
- five days after its adoption, the period after which a decision taken without the Conference of Presidents lapses unless approved.¶