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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2084(INI))

On the implementation of the Treaty provisions on national parliaments

AFCO-PR-752837

Committee on Constitutional Affairs · Rapporteur: Paulo Rangel

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The draft report assesses how the Treaty of Lisbon provisions on national parliaments have been implemented 14 years on, and proposes improvements to bring them closer to the integration process. It says national parliaments should scrutinise their governments in the Council and European Council, and calls for public Council voting records and better access to information. It proposes a 'European Week' and proportional representation of political minorities in national parliamentary delegations to build a European public sphere. It backs reform of the Early Warning System, including a longer eight-week deadline in a future Treaty revision and a 'green card' procedure for one third of national parliaments to suggest proposals to the Commission. It recommends extending the right to information to regional parliaments with legislative powers, using the IPEX platform, and simplifying interparliamentary cooperation. It calls for national parliaments to be involved in security and defence policy and in the European Semester through a national period for budgetary dialogue.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament assess the implementation of the Treaty provisions on national parliaments, call for greater Council transparency, a European Week, reform of the Early Warning System including a longer deadline and a 'green card' procedure, and better interparliamentary cooperation.

Key points

  1. Considers that implementing the Lisbon Treaty rights and obligations has enhanced national parliaments' role, providing more pluralism, democratic legitimacy and better functioning of the Union.
  2. Calls on Member States to give national parliaments enough time, capacity and access to information to scrutinise their governments acting in the European Council and Council.
  3. Calls for the voting records of Member States in the Council to be made public, and for national parliaments to adapt their internal organisation, timetables and rules of procedure.
  4. States that aligning the European Semester with national parliaments' agendas could help coordinate economic policies, and calls for a national period for budgetary dialogue.
  5. Recommends that national parliamentary delegations reflect political diversity, and endorses letting political minorities add dissenting views to the annexes of opinions.
  6. Believes an annual European Week would let Members of the European Parliament, Commissioners and Council presidency ministers discuss the European agenda before national and regional parliamentary assemblies.
  7. Suggests all EU institutions and Member States agree on a common culture on subsidiarity and proportionality, based on the Protocol, Court of Justice case law and Commission practice.
  8. Acknowledges national parliaments' request to extend the eight-week period for reasoned opinions, notes the current Treaty does not allow it, and says it must be reconsidered in a future Treaty revision.
  9. Reiterates a 'green card' procedure whereby at least one third of national parliaments can submit constructive proposals to the Commission, which may take them on board or formally respond.
  10. Suggests the right to be informed be extended to regional parliaments with legislative powers, and recommends timely use of the IPEX platform for sharing information and flagging subsidiarity concerns.
  11. Calls for simplifying and harmonising relations between the Union and national parliaments, and for strengthening dialogue between parliamentary committees with possible additional resources and videoconferences.
  12. Recommends national parliaments be fully involved in developing the common security and defence policy, with joint interparliamentary meetings and political dialogue.

Who is affected

  • National parliaments: called on to scrutinise their governments in EU affairs, adapt procedures and use IPEX.
  • Member States: asked to ensure parliaments have time, capacity and information, and to make Council voting records public.
  • Regional parliaments with legislative powers: the right to be informed should be extended to them.
  • The Commission: could receive constructive proposals under a 'green card' procedure and respond formally if it declines.
  • The Council and European Council: their transparency and voting records are the focus of scrutiny demands.

Figures and deadlines

  • 14 years after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the report assesses implementation.
  • Reasoned opinions must be submitted within eight weeks from the Commission's legislative proposal.
  • From 2019, the Commission began excluding the end-of-year festive period when setting the eight-week period.
  • At least one third of national parliaments would be needed to trigger the 'green card' procedure.
  • The 'European Week' may take place simultaneously in the 27 national parliaments.

Legal basis: Article 5 TEU on conferral of competences and subsidiarity, Article 10 TEU on representative democracy, Article 12 TEU on the role of national parliaments, and Article 48(3) and 48(7) TEU.