On amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the training on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace and on good office management

PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the training on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace and on good office management

(2024/2006(REG))

– having regard to Rules 236 and 237 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A9-0163/2024),

1. Decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as shown below;

2. Decides that the amendments shall enter into force on 16 July 2024;

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission, for information.

Amendment 1

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 10 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2

Present text

Amendment

Members may not be elected as office-holders of Parliament or one of its bodies, be appointed as rapporteur or participate in an official delegation or interinstitutional negotiations, if they have not signed the declaration relating to that Code.

Members may not be elected as office-holders of Parliament or one of its bodies, be appointed as rapporteur or participate in an official delegation or interinstitutional negotiations:

(a) if they have not signed the declaration confirming their commitment to complying with that Code, including completing the specialised training organised for them by the European Parliament on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace and on good office management; or

(b) if they have not completed the specialised training referred to in point (a) in breach of the deadline and conditions laid down in that Code.

Amendment 2

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 21 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

The Conference of Presidents may, acting by a majority of three-fifths of the votes cast, representing at least three political groups, propose to Parliament that it bring to an end the term of office of the President, a Vice-President, a Quaestor, a Chair or Vice-Chair of a committee, a Chair or Vice-Chair of an interparliamentary delegation, or of any other office holder elected within the Parliament, where it considers that the Member in question has been guilty of serious misconduct. Parliament shall take a decision on that proposal by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast, constituting a majority of its component Members.

The Conference of Presidents may, acting by a majority of three-fifths of the votes cast, representing at least three political groups, propose to Parliament that it bring to an end the term of office of the President, a Vice-President, a Quaestor, a Chair or Vice-Chair of a committee, a Chair or Vice-Chair of an interparliamentary delegation, or of any other office holder elected within the Parliament, where it considers:

(a) that the Member in question has been guilty of serious misconduct, or

(b) that the Member in question has not completed the specialised training organised for them by the European Parliament on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace and on good office management in breach of the deadline and conditions laid down in the Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties 12a.

Parliament shall take a decision on that proposal by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast, constituting a majority of its component Members.

___________________

12a See Annex II.

Amendment 3

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 21 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

Where a rapporteur breaches the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament regarding integrity and transparency13, the committee which appointed him or her may, at the initiative of the President and on a proposal by the Conference of Presidents, terminate the holding of that office. The majorities laid down in the first paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to each stage of this procedure.

Where a rapporteur has been guilty of serious misconduct or has not completed the specialised training referred to in the first paragraph, point (b), in breach of the deadline and conditions laid down in the Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties, the committee which appointed him or her may, at the initiative of the President and on a proposal by the Conference of Presidents, terminate the holding of that office. The majorities laid down in the first and second paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to each stage of this procedure.

Amendment 4

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 176 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

Present text

Amendment

In relation to Rule 10(6), the President may only adopt a reasoned decision under this Rule following the establishment of the occurrence of a harassment in accordance with the applicable internal administrative procedure on harassment and its prevention.

As regards the prohibition of any type of psychological or sexual harassment laid down in Rule 10(6), first subparagraph, the President may only adopt a reasoned decision under this Rule following the establishment of the occurrence of a harassment in accordance with the applicable internal administrative procedure on harassment and its prevention.

Amendment 5

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex II – point 5

Present text

Amendment

5. Where necessary, Members will cooperate promptly and fully with the procedures in place for managing situations of conflict or harassment (psychological or sexual), including responding promptly to any allegations of harassment. Members should take part in specialised training organised for them on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace and on good office management.

5. Where necessary, Members will cooperate fully, in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Bureau, with a view to managing situations of conflict or harassment (psychological or sexual), including by responding promptly to any allegations of harassment.

Members who have not already done so shall take part in specialised training organised for them by the European Parliament on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace and on good office management. That specialised training shall be completed within the first six months of the Member’s term of office save in duly substantiated exceptional cases. The Members’ certificates of completion of that specialised training will be published on Parliament’s website.

It is considered a serious breach of Rule 10(6) if a Member has not completed the specialised training in breach of the second subparagraph. That breach shall lead, pursuant to Rule 176, to the imposition of one or more penalties.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

3.4.2024

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

14

9

0

Members present for the final vote

Gabriele Bischoff, Leila Chaibi, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Ana Collado Jiménez, Daniel Freund, Charles Goerens, Sandro Gozi, Brice Hortefeux, Jaak Madison, Antonio Maria Rinaldi, Domènec Ruiz Devesa, Helmut Scholz, Pedro Silva Pereira, Sven Simon, Loránt Vincze, Rainer Wieland

Substitutes present for the final vote

Gilles Boyer, Mercedes Bresso, Christian Doleschal, Sophia in ‘t Veld, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Niklas Nienaß

Substitutes under Rule 209(7) present for the final vote

François Thiollet, Lucia Vuolo

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Key to symbols: