Sittings · Document

DRAFT REPORT (2024/2000(REG)) 2024-02-02

On amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure implementing the parliamentary reform “Parliament 2024”

Committee on Constitutional Affairs · Rapporteur: Salvatore De Meo

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PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure implementing the parliamentary reform “Parliament 2024”

(2024/0000(REG))

– having regard to the letter from its President of 31 January 2024,

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

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A90000/2024),

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

2. Decides that the amendments shall enter into force on 16 July 2024; decides that the amendments empowering the Conference of Presidents and the Bureau to adopt implementing measures shall however apply from the date that this decision is adopted;

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

Amendment 1

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 25 – paragraph 9

Present text

Amendment

9. The Bureau shall be the authority responsible for authorising meetings or missions of committees away from the usual places of work, hearings as well as study and fact-finding journeys by rapporteurs.

9. The Bureau shall be the authority responsible for authorising expenditure for hearings.

Where such meetings or missions are authorised, the language arrangements shall be determined on the basis of the Code of Conduct on multilingualism adopted by the Bureau. The same rule shall apply to delegations.

Or. en

Amendment 2

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 27 – paragraph 7

Present text

Amendment

7. The Conference of Presidents shall make proposals to Parliament concerning the composition and competence of committees, committees of inquiry, joint parliamentary committees and standing delegations. The Conference of Presidents shall be responsible for authorising ad hoc delegations.

7. The Conference of Presidents shall make proposals to Parliament concerning the composition and competence of committees, special committees, committees of inquiry, joint parliamentary committees and standing interparliamentary delegations. The Conference of Presidents shall be the authority responsible for proposing to Parliament the setting up of ad hoc temporary committees with legislative competences in accordance with Rule 207a.

Or. en

Amendment 3

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 27 – paragraph 7 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

7a. The Conference of Presidents shall be the authority responsible for authorising missions away from the usual places of work and interparliamentary meetings.

Or. en

Amendment 4

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 42

Present text

Amendment

Rule 42

deleted

Verification of financial compatibility

1. Where a proposal for a legally binding act has financial implications, Parliament shall establish whether sufficient financial resources are provided.

2. The committee responsible for the subject-matter shall check that any proposal for a legally binding act is financially compatible with the multiannual financial framework regulation.

3. When the committee responsible for the subject-matter amends the financial endowment of the act it is considering, it shall request the opinion of the committee responsible for budgetary issues.

4. In addition, the committee responsible for budgetary issues may, on its own initiative, take up questions concerning the financial compatibility of proposals for legally binding acts. In such cases, it shall duly inform the committee responsible for the subject-matter.

5. If the committee responsible for budgetary issues decides to dispute the financial compatibility of the proposal, it shall report its conclusions to Parliament before Parliament votes on the proposal.

Or. en

Amendment 5

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. Parliament may request the Commission, pursuant to Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to submit any appropriate proposal to it for the adoption of a new act or the amendment of an existing act. Parliament shall do so by adopting a resolution on the basis of an own-initiative report drawn up by the committee responsible in accordance with Rule 54. The resolution shall be adopted by a majority of the component Members of Parliament in the final vote. Parliament may, at the same time, set a deadline for the submission of such a proposal.

Parliament's resolution shall indicate the appropriate legal basis.

Parliament shall consider the financial implications of any proposal made.

Or. en

Amendment 6

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

Present text

Amendment

The proposal shall be submitted to the President, who shall verify whether the legal requirements are fulfilled. The President may refer the proposal for an opinion on the appropriateness of the legal basis to the committee responsible for such verification. If the President declares the proposal to be admissible, he or she shall announce it in plenary and refer it to the committee responsible for the subject matter.

The proposal shall be submitted to the President, who shall verify whether the legal requirements are fulfilled. The President may refer the proposal to the committee responsible for legal affairs for an opinion on the appropriateness of the legal basis. If the President declares the proposal to be admissible, he or she shall announce it in plenary and refer it to the committee responsible for the subject matter.

Or. en

Amendment 7

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. Parliament's resolution shall indicate the appropriate legal basis and shall be accompanied by recommendations concerning the content of the required proposal.

3. Where the President has not referred the proposal to the committee responsible for legal affairs for an opinion on the appropriateness of the legal basis, the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall request such an opinion from that committee.

Or. en

Amendment 8

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. Where a proposal has financial implications, Parliament shall indicate how sufficient financial resources can be provided.

4. The committee responsible for budgetary issues may provide an opinion on the potential financial implications of the proposal. It shall provide such an opinion if so requested by the committee responsible for the subject-matter.

Or. en

Amendment 9

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

4a. Parliament’s resolution shall be accompanied by recommendations concerning the content of the requested proposal.

Or. en

Amendment 10

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 4 b (new)

Present text

Amendment

4b. Parliament’s resolution shall be brought to the attention of the Council and the Commission with a view to its possible inclusion in the joint declaration on annual interinstitutional programming referred to in Rule 38(2).

Or. en

Amendment 11

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. The committee responsible for the subject matter shall monitor the progress of preparation of any proposed Union legal act drawn up following a particular request by Parliament.

At the expiry of the deadline of three months provided for in paragraph 16, third subparagraph, of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission and in paragraph 10 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, the Commission may be asked to make a statement in plenary, pursuant to Rule 132 in order to inform Parliament about the follow-up actions it intends to take.

If such a statement is not placed on the agenda of the first or second part-session following the expiry of the deadline referred to in the second subparagraph, the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall invite the Commissioner responsible to provide the information referred to in the second subparagraph at one of its forthcoming meetings.

Or. en

Amendment 12

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 47 – paragraph 6

Present text

Amendment

6. The Conference of Committee Chairs shall regularly monitor whether the Commission is complying with paragraph 10 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, according to which the Commission is to reply to requests for the submission of proposals within three months by adopting a specific communication stating the intended follow-up actions to be taken. The Conference of Committee Chairs shall regularly report on the results of such monitoring to the Conference of Presidents.

6. The Conference of Committee Chairs shall regularly monitor and report to the Conference of Presidents on whether the Commission is complying with paragraph 16, third subparagraph, of the Framework Agreement as well as with paragraph 10 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, according to which the Commission is to reply to requests for the submission of proposals within three months by adopting a specific communication stating the intended follow-up actions to be taken.

Or. en

Amendment 13

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – title

Present text

Amendment

Consideration of legally binding acts

Consideration of legally binding acts and questions of competence

Or. en

Amendment 14

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. The President shall refer proposals for legally binding acts received from other institutions or Member States to the committee responsible, for consideration. The other committees shall be informed of the referral at the same time.

1. The President shall refer proposals for legally binding acts received from other institutions or Member States to the committee responsible or to two or more committees responsible pursuant to Rule 58 for consideration. The President may at the same time refer proposals to one or more committees for them to draft an opinion pursuant to Rule 56. The other committees and political groups shall be informed of the referral at the same time.

Or. en

Amendment 15

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

1a. Within one week of the referral, a committee or a political group may challenge the President’s referral to the committee responsible. In such a case, that committee or group shall provide a detailed written justification and a substantiated alternative based on Annex VI at least one week before the next meeting of the Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents may decide to request a recommendation on the matter from the Conference of Committee Chairs. The Conference of Committee Chairs or its Chair shall adopt a recommendation at its next meeting. The Conference of Presidents shall take a decision on the final referral within one week from the transmission by the Conference of Committee Chairs of its recommendation.

If no committee or political group challenges the President’s referral to the committee responsible within the deadline laid down in the first subparagraph, the President’s referral shall be considered to be final.

Or. en

Amendment 16

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. In cases of doubt, the President may, before the announcement in Parliament of a referral to the committee responsible, submit a question concerning competence to the Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents shall adopt its decision on the basis of a recommendation from the Conference of Committee Chairs, or the chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, in accordance with Rule 211(2).

2. In cases of doubt, the President may, before the referral provided for in paragraph 1, decide to request a recommendation on the question of competence from the Conference of Committee Chairs. The Conference of Committee Chairs or its Chair shall adopt that recommendation at its next meeting. After receiving the recommendation, the President shall make the referral. Political groups shall be informed of the referral at the same time. Within one week of the referral, a political group may challenge the President’s referral to a committee responsible. In such a case, that group shall provide a detailed written justification and a substantiated alternative based on Annex VI at least one week before the next meeting of the Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents shall take a decision on the referral at that same meeting.

If no political group challenges the President’s referral to the committee responsible within the deadline laid down in the first subparagraph, the President’s referral shall be considered to be final.

Or. en

Amendment 17

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

2a. A committee to which the President has not referred the proposal for an opinion pursuant to paragraph 1 may request, in time before the referral of that proposal is announced in plenary, an authorisation from the Conference of Committee Chairs to draw up an opinion. That request shall be based on a written statement of reasons justifying the committee’s substantial competence for the subject matter of the proposal. The Conference of Committee Chairs shall take a decision at its next meeting and inform the President thereof.

Or. en

Amendment 18

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. The President shall announce the referral in Parliament after receiving the proposal in all official languages of the European Union and, except in cases of requests for the application of the urgent procedure pursuant to Rule 163, after, where relevant, any conflict of competence between committees has been settled in accordance with Rule 211(2). Once it has been announced in Parliament, the referral shall be made public on Parliament’s website.

3. The President shall announce the referral in Parliament after receiving the proposal in all official languages of the European Union and, except in cases of requests for the application of the urgent procedure pursuant to Rule 163, after, where relevant, any question of competence between committees has been settled. Once it has been announced in Parliament, the referral shall be made public on Parliament’s website.

Or. en

Amendment 19

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. The committee responsible may, at any time, decide to appoint a rapporteur to follow the preparatory phase of a proposal. It shall give particular consideration to doing so where the proposal is listed in the Commission Work Programme.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 20

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 48 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. In the event of a conflict between a provision of the Rules of Procedure relating to the second and third readings and any other provision of the Rules, the provision relating to the second and third readings shall take precedence.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 21

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 49 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Accelerated legislative procedures shall be carried out on the basis of a report from the committee or committees responsible. To this end, questions to be dealt with in accordance with accelerated legislative procedures may be given priority over other items on the committee agenda.

Or. en

Amendment 22

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 51 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. After taking a decision on the procedure to be followed, and if the simplified procedure under Rule 52 does not apply, the committee shall appoint a rapporteur on the proposal for a legally binding act from among its members or permanent substitutes if it has not yet done so on the basis of Rule 48(4).

2. After taking a decision on the procedure to be followed, and provided that the simplified procedure under Rule 52 does not apply, the committee shall appoint a rapporteur on the proposal for a legally binding act from among its members or permanent substitutes.

The committee responsible may also decide to appoint a rapporteur to follow the preparatory phase of a proposal. It shall particularly consider doing so where the proposal is listed in the Commission Work Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 23

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 52 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. Alternatively, the Chair may propose that a set of amendments be drafted by the Chair or by the rapporteur reflecting the committee's discussion. Unless members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee object, the proposed procedure shall be deemed to have been approved and the amendments shall be sent to the members of the committee.

2. Alternatively, the Chair may propose setting a deadline for tabling amendments without a draft report having first been drawn up. Unless members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee object, the proposed procedure shall be deemed to have been approved.

Unless members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee object to the amendments within a set time limit, which shall not be less than 10 working days from the date of dispatch, the report shall be deemed to have been adopted by the committee. In this case, the draft legislative resolution and the amendments shall be submitted to Parliament without debate pursuant to the second subparagraph of Rule 159(1) and Rule 159(2) and (4).

The amendments tabled shall be put to the vote at the earliest possible meeting of the committee after the deadline for the amendments has passed, following which a draft legislative resolution and amendments shall be submitted to Parliament.

If members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee object to the amendments, they shall be put to the vote at the next meeting of the committee.

Or. en

Amendment 24

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 53 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 53a

Co-rapporteurship

1. Exceptionally, without prejudice to Rule 51(2) and at the request of the committee responsible, the Conference of Presidents may authorise the appointment of maximum three co-rapporteurs.

2. The appointment of co-rapporteurs shall not be authorised under paragraph 1 for reports drawn up by committees jointly under Rule 58, for opinions pursuant to Rule 56 or for own-initiative reports, except for those of a budgetary or institutional nature.

Or. en

Amendment 25

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 54 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. Motions for resolutions submitted to Parliament shall be examined under the short presentation procedure set out in Rule 160. Amendments to such motions for resolutions and requests for split votes or separate votes shall only be admissible for consideration in plenary if they are tabled either by the rapporteur, in order to take account of new information, or by at least one-tenth of the Members. Political groups may table alternative motions for resolutions in accordance with Rule 181(3). Rule 190 shall apply to the committee’s motion for a resolution and amendments thereto. Rule 190 shall also apply to the single vote on alternative motions for resolutions.

4. Motions for resolutions submitted to Parliament shall be examined under the short presentation procedure set out in Rule 160 or submitted directly for a vote in plenary. Amendments to such motions for resolutions and requests for split votes or separate votes shall only be admissible for consideration in plenary if they are tabled either by the rapporteur, in order to take account of new information, or by at least one-tenth of the Members. Political groups may table alternative motions for resolutions in accordance with Rule 181(3). Rule 190 shall apply to the committee’s motion for a resolution and amendments thereto. Rule 190 shall also apply to the single vote on alternative motions for resolutions.

Or. en

Amendment 26

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 54 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. Paragraph 4 shall not apply where the subject of the report qualifies for a key debate in plenary, where the report is drawn up pursuant to the right of initiative referred to in Rule 46 or 47, where the report has been authorised as a strategic report or as an implementation report or for annual activity and monitoring reports listed in the implementing provisions laid down by the Conference of Presidents.

__________

18 See the relevant decision of the Conference of Presidents.

Or. en

Amendment 27

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 54 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

5a. The committee Chairs may enter into agreements with other committee Chairs concerning the allocation of an own-initiative report or a non-legislative report to a particular committee. If a question of competence arises among two or more standing committees, the matter shall be examined by the Conference of Committee Chairs, which shall issue a recommendation. The Conference of Presidents shall take a decision on the basis of that recommendation within six weeks after its transmission. If the Conference of Presidents fails to take a decision within that period, the recommendation shall be deemed to have been approved.

Or. en

Amendment 28

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. If the committee to which a matter was first referred wishes to hear the views of another committee, or if another committee wishes to make known its views to the committee to which a matter was first referred, such committees may ask the President in accordance with Rule 210(2) for one committee to be named as the committee responsible and the other as the opinion-giving committee.

1. Committees may be authorised to draw up an opinion pursuant to Rule 48 if a matter falls to a substantial extent within their competence pursuant to Annex VI18a.

__________

18a The other provisions of these Rules of Procedure relating to opinions and assessments on horizontal matters as well as to opinions on budgetary and discharge matters continue to apply.

Or. en

Amendment 29

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

1a. The Chairs and rapporteurs of the committee responsible and of any opinion-giving committee are bound by the principle of good and sincere cooperation. The rapporteurs of those committees shall keep each other informed and shall endeavour to agree on the texts that they decide to propose to their committees and on their positions with regard to amendments.

Or. en

Amendment 30

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. Where the opinion concerns a proposal for a legally binding act, it shall consist of amendments to the text referred to the committee, accompanied, where appropriate, by short justifications. Such justifications shall be the responsibility of their author and shall not be put to the vote. If necessary, the opinion-giving committee may submit a short written justification for the opinion as a whole. That short written justification shall be the responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

2. Where an opinion concerns a proposal for a legally binding act, it shall consist of amendments to the text referred to the committee, accompanied, where appropriate, by short justifications. Such justifications shall be the responsibility of their author and shall not be put to the vote. If necessary, the opinion-giving committee may submit a short written justification for the opinion as a whole. That short written justification shall be the responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

The committee responsible shall set a deadline by which the opinion-giving committee must deliver its opinion if it is to be taken into account by the committee responsible. Any changes to the announced timetable shall be immediately communicated by the committee responsible to the opinion-giving committee or opinion-giving committees. The committee responsible shall not reach its final conclusions before that deadline has expired.

Where the opinion does not concern a proposal for a legally binding act, it shall consist of suggestions for parts of the motion for a resolution submitted by the committee responsible.

2a. Where the opinion does not concern a proposal for a legally binding act, it shall consist of amendments to the draft report of the committee responsible. The timetable set by the committee responsible shall allow opinion-giving committees sufficient time to set a specific deadline to provide their amendments and to complete their work.

The committee responsible shall put these amendments or suggestions to the vote.

2b. The committee responsible shall put the amendments of the opinion-giving committees to the vote. Amendments from an opinion-giving committee which are not adopted by the committee responsible may be tabled by that opinion-giving committee directly for consideration by Parliament, except for opinions pursuant to Rule 93, Rule 118 and Annex V.

The opinions shall deal solely with those matters that fall within the areas of responsibility of the opinion-giving committee.

2c. The opinions shall deal solely with those matters that fall within the areas of responsibility of the opinion-giving committee. Amendments falling outside the areas of responsibility of that opinion-giving committee shall not be admissible.

Or. en

Amendment 31

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. The committee responsible shall set a deadline within which the opinion-giving committee must deliver its opinion if it is to be taken into account by the committee responsible. Any changes to the announced timetable shall be immediately communicated by the committee responsible to the opinion-giving committee or opinion giving committees. The committee responsible shall not reach its final conclusions before that time-limit has expired.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 32

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. Alternatively, the opinion-giving committee may decide to present its position in the form of amendments to be tabled directly in the committee responsible following their adoption. These amendments shall be tabled by the Chair or the rapporteur on behalf of the opinion-giving committee.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 33

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. The opinion-giving committee shall table the amendments referred to in paragraph 4 within the deadline for amendments set by the committee responsible.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 34

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 6

Present text

Amendment

6. All opinions and amendments adopted by the opinion-giving committee shall be annexed to the report of the committee responsible.

6. All opinions adopted by the opinion-giving committee shall be annexed to the report of the committee responsible.

Or. en

Amendment 35

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 7

Present text

Amendment

7. Opinion-giving committees within the meaning of this Rule cannot table amendments for consideration by Parliament.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 36

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 – paragraph 8

Present text

Amendment

8. The Chair and rapporteur of the opinion-giving committee shall be invited to take part in an advisory capacity in meetings of the committee responsible, insofar as these relate to the matter of common concern.

8. The Chair and rapporteur of the opinion-giving committee shall be invited to take part in an advisory capacity in meetings of the committee responsible. The rapporteur shall also be invited in an advisory capacity to shadows meetings and preparatory meetings taking place within the framework of interinstitutional negotiations. As regards the ordinary legislative procedure, this paragraph shall only apply to the first-reading stage.

Or. en

Amendment 37

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 56 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 56a

Budgetary assessment on proposals for legally binding acts with budgetary implications

1. Without prejudice to the application of Rule 48, where a proposal for a legally binding act has implications for the Union budget, that proposal shall be referred by the President to the committee responsible for budgetary issues,. That committee shall then issue a budgetary assessment of the proposal if it deems it appropriate or if so requested by the committee responsible for the subject-matter. This paragraph is without prejudice to the possibility for the committee responsible for budgetary issues to be authorised to submit opinions pursuant to Rule 56 or to act jointly with one or more committees pursuant to Rule 58.

2. The committee responsible for the subject-matter shall set a deadline within which the budgetary assessment is to be provided. Any changes to the announced timetable shall be immediately communicated to the committee responsible for budgetary issues. The committee responsible for the subject-matter shall not adopt its report before that deadline has expired.

3. In the budgetary assessment, the committee responsible for budgetary issues shall examine whether the proposal for a legally binding act provides for sufficient financial resources, and evaluate the potential impact of the financing proposed on other Union programmes or policies. It shall also determine whether the proposal is compatible with the multiannual financial framework, the system of own resources and the corresponding interinstitutional agreement. Where applicable, the committee responsible for budgetary issues shall also determine whether the proposal is compatible with Parliament’s position on any proposal to amend or replace that framework, that system or that agreement.

4. The budgetary assessment shall consist of an evaluation of the issues of the proposal for a legally-binding act referred to in paragraph 3. The budgetary assessment may, where appropriate, also contain amendments to that proposal covering exclusively those issues referred to in paragraph 3. Amendments on those issues by the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall be inadmissible. The budgetary assessment, including the amendments, shall be integrated into the report as such.

5. Where a budgetary assessment is provided, the committee responsible for the subject-matter and the committee responsible for budgetary issues shall cooperate throughout the procedure to ensure full consistency between policy and budgetary objectives. To this end, they shall invite each other’s rapporteurs to their discussions within Parliament relating to the proposal for a legally binding act, including to the meetings between the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs.

6. The amendments contained in the budgetary assessment shall be inserted as such in the amendments tabled to plenary by the committee responsible for the subject-matter if they are compatible with the amendments put to the vote in the latter committee. In the exceptional case where there is an incompatibility, the relevant amendment contained in the budgetary assessment shall be put to the vote in the committee responsible for the subject-matter. If it is then rejected, that amendment may be tabled in plenary by the committee responsible for budgetary issues. In plenary, any such amendment tabled by the committee responsible for budgetary issues shall be put to the vote before any incompatible amendment.

7. Where a budgetary assessment is provided, the negotiating team referred to in Rule 74(1) shall include the rapporteur from the committee responsible for budgetary issues who shall lead the negotiations on the issues referred to in paragraph 3. Where a budgetary assessment is not provided, the committee responsible for the subject-matter may ask the committee responsible for budgetary issues to provide assistance to the negotiating team referred to in Rule 74(1) in relation to the issues referred to in paragraph 3 at any stage of the interinstitutional negotiations.

Or. en

Amendment 38

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 57

Present text

Amendment

Rule 57

deleted

Associated committee procedure

(Amendment applies throughout: delete references to Rule 57 and make resulting changes throughout the Rules of Procedure)

1. Where a question of competence is referred to the Conference of Presidents pursuant to Rule 211, and the Conference of Presidents, on the basis of Annex VI, considers that the matter falls almost equally within the competence of two or more committees, or that different parts of the matter fall within the competence of two or more committees, Rule 56 shall apply with the following additional provisions:

– the timetable shall be jointly agreed by the committees concerned;

– the rapporteurs concerned shall keep each other informed and shall endeavour to agree on the texts they propose to their committees and on their position regarding amendments;

– the Chairs and rapporteurs concerned are bound by the principle of good and sincere cooperation; they shall jointly identify areas of the text falling within their exclusive or shared competence and agree on the precise arrangements for their cooperation; in the event of disagreement about the delimitation of competences the matter shall be submitted, at the request of one of the committees involved, to the Conference of Presidents; the Conference of Presidents may decide on the question of the respective competences or decide that the joint committee procedure under Rule 58 is to apply; it shall take its decision in accordance with the procedure and within the deadline set out in Rule 211;

– the committee responsible shall accept without a vote amendments from an associated committee where they concern matters which fall within the exclusive competence of that associated committee;. if the committee responsible fails to respect the exclusive competence of the associated committee, that associated committee may table amendments directly in plenary; if amendments on matters which fall within the shared competence of the committee responsible and an associated committee are not adopted by the committee responsible, the associated committee may table those amendments directly in plenary;

– in the event of a conciliation procedure in respect of the proposal, Parliament's delegation shall include the rapporteur of any associated committee.

A decision by the Conference of Presidents to apply the associated committee procedure applies at all stages of the procedure in question.

The rights attaching to the status of "committee responsible" are exercised by the lead committee. In exercising those rights, the lead committee must take due account of the prerogatives of the associated committee. In particular, the lead committee must comply with the obligation to observe the principle of sincere cooperation as regards the timetable and respect the right of the associated committee to determine the amendments submitted in plenary which fall within its exclusive competence.

2. The procedure laid down in this Rule shall not apply to the recommendations to be adopted by the committee responsible under Rule 105.

Or. en

Amendment 39

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 58 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. When a question of competence is referred to it pursuant to Rule 211, the Conference of Presidents may decide that the procedure with joint meetings of committees and a joint vote is to be applied, provided that:

1. When a matter falls within the competence of two or three committees, without the competence of any of them prevailing, the procedure with joint meetings of committees and a joint vote may be applied pursuant to Rule 48 or Rule 54.

– by virtue of Annex VI, the matter falls indissociably within the competences of several committees; and

– it is satisfied that the question is of major importance.

Or. en

Amendment 40

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 58 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. In that event, the respective rapporteurs shall draw up a single draft report, which shall be examined and voted on by the committees involved, under the joint chairmanship of the committee Chairs.

2. In that event, the respective rapporteurs shall draw up a single draft report, which shall be examined and voted on by the committees involved under the joint chairmanship of the committee Chairs. The chairmanship of meetings shall alternate among the Chairs of the committees involved.

At all stages of the procedure, the rights attaching to the status of committee responsible may be exercised by the committees involved only when they are acting jointly. The committees involved may set up working groups to prepare the meetings and votes. For the calculation of quorums, majorities and thresholds, all committees involved shall be considered to constitute a single committee.

Or. en

Amendment 41

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 58 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

Present text

Amendment

3. At the second-reading stage of the ordinary legislative procedure, the Council position shall be considered at a joint meeting of the committees involved, which, should no agreement be reached between their Chairs, shall be held on the Wednesday of the first week set aside for meetings of parliamentary bodies following the communication of the Council’s position to Parliament. If no agreement is reached on the convening of a further meeting, any such meeting shall be convened by the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs. The vote on the recommendation for second reading shall be taken at a joint meeting on the basis of a joint text drafted by the respective rapporteurs of the committees involved or, in the absence of a joint text, on the basis of the amendments tabled in the committees involved.

3. At the second-reading stage of the ordinary legislative procedure, the Council position shall be considered at a joint meeting of the committees involved. If no agreement is reached between the Chairs of those committees, the joint meeting shall be held on the Wednesday of the first week set aside for meetings of parliamentary bodies following the communication of the Council’s position to Parliament. If no agreement is reached on the convening of a further meeting, any such meeting shall be convened by the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs. The vote on the recommendation for second reading shall be taken at a joint meeting on the basis of a joint text drafted by the respective rapporteurs of the committees involved or, in the absence of a joint text, on the basis of the amendments tabled in the committees involved.

Or. en

Amendment 42

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 71 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Any committee having issued an opinion pursuant to Rule 56 may oppose the adoption of such a decision at the latest 24 hours before the scheduled vote in the committee responsible.

Or. en

Amendment 43

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 71 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

Present text

Amendment

If no such request is received by the expiry of the deadline laid down in the first subparagraph, the President shall inform Parliament that this is the case. If a request is made, the President may, immediately prior to the vote, give the floor to one speaker in favour of the committee’s decision to enter into negotiations and to one speaker against that decision. Each speaker may make a statement lasting no more than two minutes.

If no such request is received by the expiry of the deadline laid down in the first subparagraph, the President shall inform Parliament that this is the case. If a request is made, the President may, immediately prior to the vote, give the floor to one speaker from each political group to speak on the committee’s decision to enter into negotiations. Each speaker may make a statement lasting no more than one minute.

Or. en

Amendment 44

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 74 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. Parliament's negotiating team shall be led by the rapporteur and shall be presided over by the Chair of the committee responsible or by a Vice-Chair designated by the Chair. It shall at least consist of the shadow rapporteurs from each political group that wishes to participate.

1. Parliament's negotiating team shall be led by the rapporteur and shall be presided over by the Chair of the committee responsible or by a Vice-Chair designated by the Chair. If neither the Chair nor a Vice-Chair can attend a specific negotiation meeting with the Council and the Commission (“trilogue”), the Chair shall seek the President’s authorisation for the negotiating team to be presided over by the rapporteur at that trilogue.

Without prejudice to Rule 56a, the negotiating team shall consist of the shadow rapporteur from each political group. If a shadow rapporteur is unable to attend a specific trilogue, his or her political group may appoint another Member to replace the shadow rapporteur.

Or. en

Amendment 45

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 74 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. Any document intended to be discussed at a meeting with the Council and the Commission ("trilogue") shall be circulated to the negotiating team at least 48 hours or, in cases of urgency, at least 24 hours in advance of that trilogue.

2. Any document intended to be discussed at a trilogue shall be circulated to the negotiating team at least 48 hours or, in cases of urgency, at least 24 hours in advance of that trilogue.

Or. en

Amendment 46

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 74 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. In the event of a disagreement between the committees concerned under Rules 57 and 58, the detailed rules for the opening of negotiations and the conduct of such negotiations shall be determined by the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs in accordance with the principles set out in those Rules.

5. In the event of a disagreement relating to the opening of negotiations and the conduct of negotiations between the committees concerned under Rule 58, the detailed rules for such negotiations shall be determined by the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs in accordance with the principles set out in Rule 58.

Or. en

Amendment 47

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Title II – Chapter 3 – Section 4 a (new) – title

Present text

Amendment

SECTION 4A

CONFLICT OF RULES

Or. en

Amendment 48

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 78 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 78a

Conflict of rules

In the event of a conflict between a provision of the Rules of Procedure relating to the second and third readings and any other provision of the Rules, the provision relating to the second and third readings shall take precedence.

Or. en

Amendment 49

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 94 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

3a. Amendments concerning pilot projects and preparatory actions shall be subject to a prior executability assessment by the Commission, in accordance with the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management. Proposed pilot projects and preparatory actions directly linked to reports being drawn up, or to proposals having been adopted, in accordance with Rule 47 shall be sent to the Commission for information purposes only and not for assessment.

The committee responsible for budgetary issues shall lay down for each year the procedure and timetable for the executability assessment. That procedure and timetable shall allow sufficient time for the preparation of amendments to the Council’s position on the draft budget. The committee responsible for budgetary issues shall only send proposed pilot projects and preparatory actions to the Commission for assessment or for the purposes of information where those proposals have the support of a committee, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold.

Or. en

Amendment 50

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 94 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. The committee responsible shall vote on the amendments before they are discussed in Parliament.

4. The committee responsible shall vote on all budgetary amendments before they are discussed in Parliament. Amendments introducing pilot projects and preparatory actions directly linked to reports being drawn up or to proposals having been adopted in accordance with Rule 47 shall be given priority in voting.

Or. en

Amendment 51

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 99 – interpretation (new)

Present text

Amendment

Discharge to the Commission includes non-traditionally financed instruments, off-budget instruments and performance-based hybrid instruments. Since such instruments require a special control framework, the committee responsible concerning discharge has to be systematically associated with the consideration of those instruments in accordance with Rule 56.

Or. en

Amendment 52

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 113 – title

Present text

Amendment

Consideration under the associated committee procedure or the joint committee procedure

Consideration under the joint committee procedure

Or. en

Amendment 53

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 113 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. If the basic legislative act was adopted by Parliament under the procedure provided for in Rule 57, the following additional provisions shall apply to the consideration of the delegated acts or draft implementing acts or measures:

deleted

– the delegated act or draft implementing act or measure shall be forwarded to the committee responsible and to the associated committee;

– the Chair of the committee responsible shall set a deadline by which the associated committee may draw up proposals on matters falling within its exclusive competence or within the joint competence of the two committees;

– if the delegated act or draft implementing act or measure falls mainly within the exclusive competence of the associated committee, the committee responsible shall accept its proposals without a vote; if the committee responsible fails to respect this rule, the President may authorise the associated committee to table a motion for a resolution in plenary.

Or. en

Amendment 54

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 118 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. During the procedure for adopting those draft recommendations at committee stage, it shall be necessary for a written text to be put to the vote.

3. During the procedure for adopting those draft recommendations at committee stage, it shall be necessary for a written text to be put to the vote. Other committees may deliver an opinion to the committee responsible in accordance with Rule 56.

Or. en

Amendment 55

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 118 – paragraph 6

Present text

Amendment

6. Recommendations shall be deemed to have been adopted unless, before the beginning of the part-session, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold submit a written objection. Where such an objection is submitted, the committee's draft recommendations shall be included on the agenda of the same part-session. Such recommendations shall be the subject of a debate, and any amendment tabled by a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold shall be put to the vote.

6. Recommendations shall be deemed to have been adopted unless, before the beginning of the part-session, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold submit a written objection. Where such an objection is submitted, the committee's draft recommendations shall be included on the agenda of the same part-session. Such recommendations may be the subject of a debate, and any amendment tabled by a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold shall be put to the vote.

Or. en

Amendment 56

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Title V – title

Present text

Amendment

RELATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

RELATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES AND POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Or. en

Amendment 57

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 125 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. The President shall invite the President-elect of the Commission to inform Parliament about the allocation of responsibilities (portfolios) in the proposed College of Commissioners in accordance with the political guidelines of the President-elect.

1. The President shall invite the President-elect of the Commission to inform Parliament about the planned structure of the new Commission and the allocation of responsibilities (portfolios) in the proposed new College of Commissioners in accordance with the political guidelines of the President-elect as well as about other horizontal issues, in particular gender balance in that College.

Or. en

Amendment 58

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 125 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. The hearings shall be conducted by the committees. Exceptionally, a hearing may be carried out in a different format when the responsibilities of a Commissioner-designate are primarily horizontal in nature, provided that such a hearing involves the committees responsible.

3. The confirmation hearings shall be conducted by the committees. Exceptionally, a confirmation hearing may be carried out in a different format when the responsibilities of a Commissioner-designate are primarily horizontal in nature, provided that such a confirmation hearing involves the committees responsible.

The hearings shall be held in public.

The confirmation hearings shall be held in public.

(Amendment applies throughout: replace "hearings" by "confirmation hearings” throughout Rule 125 and Annex VII)

Or. en

Amendment 59

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 133 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 133a

Statements explaining the use of Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as a legal basis

1. When the Commission plans to adopt a proposal for a legal act based on Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the President shall invite the President of the Commission to make a statement to Parliament explaining the reasons for the choice of that legal basis, as well as outlining the main objectives and elements of the proposal. The statement shall be included in the draft agenda of the first part-session following the adoption of the proposal by the Commission, unless, for timetabling reasons or because of the relative political relevance of the subject-matter, the Conference of Presidents decides otherwise. The Conference of Presidents shall decide whether the statement is to be followed by a full debate or by a period of brief and concise questions from Members lasting 30 minutes. Rule 132(2) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

When such statement is not placed on the agenda of the first part-session following the adoption of the proposal mentioned in the first subparagraph, the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall invite the Commissioner responsible to provide the information referred to above at one of its forthcoming meetings.

2. The President shall refer the proposal to the committee responsible for legal affairs for verification of the legal basis. If that committee decides to question the validity, or the appropriateness, of the legal basis, it shall report its conclusions to Parliament, if necessary orally. Rule 149(3) to (5) shall apply.

3. When a proposal for a legal act based on Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union has potential appreciable implications for the Union budget, Parliament shall request that the budgetary scrutiny procedure provided for in the joint declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission27a be initiated.

Parliament’s delegation to the Joint Committee provided for in the joint declaration referred to in the first subparagraph shall be made up of one member of its committee responsible for budgetary issues from each political group and one member from any committee responsible for the subject-matter.

__________

27a OJ C 444I, 22.12.2020, p. 5.

Or. en

Amendment 60

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Title V – Chapter 3 – title

Present text

Amendment

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

SPECIAL SCRUTINY HEARINGS AND PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Or. en

Amendment 61

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 135 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 135a

Ad hoc special scrutiny hearings

1. In order to question one or more Commissioners, or any other relevant person, on an issue of major political importance, the Conference of Presidents may, upon a proposal by the President, by a committee or by Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold, convene at short notice an ad hoc special scrutiny hearing.

2. The Conference of Presidents shall determine the number of Members to be appointed for a given ad hoc special scrutiny hearing by the political groups and the non-attached Members. Where relevant, political groups shall ensure that the committees concerned are duly represented.

3. An ad hoc special scrutiny hearing shall be chaired by the President or, by delegation, by one of the Vice-Presidents. It shall be entirely public unless decided otherwise by the Conference of Presidents.

4. The speaking time allocated to a political group shall be treated as a block. Each political group shall distribute the speaking time within its block between those of its members who are participating in the hearing. Speaking time allocated to non-attached Members shall not be treated as a block. .

5. Following the conclusion of the ad hoc special scrutiny hearing, its chair may submit to the Conference of Presidents written recommendations on behalf of Members who participated at the hearing.

(This amendment is inserted in Title V, Chapter 3, before Rule 136.)

Or. en

Amendment 62

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 137 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. Question Time with Commissioners may be held at each part-session for a duration of up to about 90 minutes on one or more themes to be decided upon by the Conference of Presidents in advance, and at the latest on the Thursday before the relevant part-session.

1. Question Time with one or more Commissioners may be held at each part-session for a duration of up to about 90 minutes on one or more themes to be decided upon by the Conference of Presidents in advance, and at the latest on the Thursday before the relevant part-session. The Commissioners invited to participate in Question Time by the Conference of Presidents shall have a portfolio related to the theme or themes on which questions are to be put to them.

Or. en

Amendment 63

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 137 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. The Commissioners invited to participate by the Conference of Presidents shall have a portfolio related to the theme or themes on which questions are to be put to them. The number of Commissioners to be invited shall be limited to two per part-session. However, it shall be possible to invite a third Commissioner, depending on the theme or themes chosen for the Question Time.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 64

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 137 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. Question Time may also be held, under the terms laid down in paragraph 1, with the President of the European Council, with the Presidency of the Council, with the President of the Commission, with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and with the President of the Eurogroup.

3. Question Time may also be held, under the terms laid down in paragraph 1, with the President of the European Council, with the Presidency of the Council, with the President of the Commission, with the entire college of Commissioners or specific categories of Commissioners, with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and with the President of the Eurogroup.

(Option 1)

Or. en

Amendment 65

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 137 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. Question Time may also be held, under the terms laid down in paragraph 1, with the President of the European Council, with the Presidency of the Council, with the President of the Commission, with specific categories of Commissioners, with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and with the President of the Eurogroup.

(Option 2)

Or. en

Amendment 66

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 150 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. A committee may directly engage in dialogue with national parliaments at committee level within the limits of the budgetary appropriations set aside for that purpose. This may include appropriate forms of pre-legislative and post-legislative cooperation.

Or. en

Amendment 67

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 158 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. At the beginning of each part-session, Parliament shall adopt its agenda. Amendments to the final draft agenda may be proposed by a committee, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold. Any such amendments must be received by the President at least one hour before the opening of the part-session. Any such amendment shall be inadmissible if a similar amendment to the draft agenda was rejected by the Conference of Presidents. When any such amendment proposes the addition of a new item, the committee, the political group or the Members proposing it shall indicate what item of the final draft agenda shall be replaced by the item added. The President may give the floor to the mover and to one speaker against, and in each case for not more than one minute. In order to be adopted, any such amendment shall require the votes of a majority of the component Members of Parliament.

(Option 1)

Or. en

Amendment 68

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 158 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. At the beginning of each part-session, Parliament shall adopt its agenda. A committee, a political group or Members reaching at least the medium threshold may propose one amendment to the final draft agenda in response to events or new political developments, which arose after the adoption of the final draft agenda. Any such amendments must be received by the President at least one hour before the opening of the part-session. When any such amendment proposes the addition of a new item, the committee, the political group or the Members proposing it shall indicate what item of the final draft agenda is to be replaced by the item to be added. The President may give the floor to the mover and to one speaker against, and in each case for not more than one minute.

(Option 2)

Or. en

Amendment 69

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 160 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 160a

Debates on specific matters of interest to the European Union

1. Parliament may place debates on specific matters of interest to the European Union on the agenda, in accordance with Rules 157 and 158.

2. Rule 132(2) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Or. en

Amendment 70

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 163 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. A request to treat a debate on a proposal submitted to Parliament pursuant to Rule 48(1) as urgent may be made to Parliament by the President, a committee, a political group, Members reaching at least the low threshold, the Commission or the Council. Such requests shall be made in writing and supported by reasons.

1. A request to decide urgently on a proposal submitted to Parliament pursuant to Rule 48(1) as a result of unforeseen developments may be made to Parliament by the President, a committee, a political group, Members reaching at least the low threshold, the Commission or the Council. Such requests shall be made in writing and supported by reasons. For requests made by the Commission or the Council, the statement of reasons shall contain a detailed justification of each proposal and, where appropriate, a precise indication of legally required deadlines for the adoption or entry into force of the proposed legally binding act.

Or. en

Amendment 71

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 163 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. As soon as the President has received a request for urgent debate this shall be announced in Parliament. The vote on the request shall be taken at the beginning of the sitting following that during which the announcement was made, provided that the proposal to which the request relates has been distributed to Members in the official languages. Where there are several requests for urgent debate on the same subject, the approval or rejection of the request for urgent debate shall apply to all such requests that are on the same subject.

2. Requests for an urgent decision shall be announced in Parliament as soon as possible after they are received by the President. The vote on the request shall be taken at the beginning of the sitting following that during which the announcement was made, provided that the proposal to which the request relates has been distributed to Members in the official languages. Where there are several requests for an urgent decision on the same subject, the approval or rejection of the request for an urgent decision shall apply to all such requests.

Or. en

Amendment 72

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 163 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. Before the vote, only the mover, and one speaker against may be heard, along with the Chair or rapporteur of the committee responsible, or both. None of those speakers may speak for more than three minutes.

3. Before the vote on the request for an urgent decision, only the mover, and one speaker against may be heard, along with the Chair or rapporteur of the committee responsible, or both. None of those speakers may speak for more than three minutes.

Or. en

Amendment 73

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 163 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. Questions to be dealt with by urgent procedure shall be given priority over other items on the agenda. The President shall determine the time of the debate and vote.

4. Where the request for an urgent decision is approved, the item shall be given priority over other items on the agenda. The President shall determine the time of the debate, where one is appropriate, and the time of the vote.

Or. en

Amendment 74

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 163 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. An urgent procedure may be held without a report or, exceptionally, on the basis of an oral report by the committee responsible.

5. Parliament shall take the urgent decision on the proposal on the basis of a report from the committee responsible in accordance with the usually applicable rules and with due consideration of the urgency of the matter. In such a case, the examination of the proposal shall be given priority over other items on the committee agenda and the committee responsible shall, where expedient, apply the simplified procedure pursuant to Rule 52.

Where an urgent procedure is used and interinstitutional negotiations take place, Rules 70 and 71 shall not apply. Rule 74 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Or. en

Amendment 75

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 163 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

5a. Parliament may exceptionally decide to take the urgent decision on the proposal without a report or on the basis of an oral report by the committee responsible. In such cases, if interinstitutional negotiations take place, Rules 70 and 71 shall not apply and Rule 74 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Or. en

Amendment 76

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 167 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. At committee and delegation meetings away from the usual places of work, interpretation shall be provided from and into the languages of those members who have confirmed that they will attend the meeting. These arrangements may exceptionally be made more flexible. The Bureau shall adopt the necessary provisions.

4. During missions away from the usual places of work, interpretation shall be provided from and into the languages of those members who have confirmed that they will attend the meeting. These arrangements shall be determined on the basis of the Code of Conduct on multilingualism and may exceptionally be made more flexible. The Bureau shall adopt the necessary provisions.

Or. en

Amendment 77

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 171 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

Present text

Amendment

3. Speakers whose interventions are foreseen on the list of speakers shall speak from the central rostrum. Speakers with disabilities may speak from their places if they prefer.

3. Speakers whose interventions are foreseen on the list of speakers shall speak from the central rostrum, unless the President decides otherwise. Speakers with disabilities may speak from their places if they prefer.

Or. en

Amendment 78

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 171 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. The President may draw up, for the first part of a particular debate, a list of speakers that includes one or more rounds of speakers from each political group wishing to speak, in the order of the relative size of those political groups. Speaking time shall be allocated to political groups in proportion to the total number of their members.

Or. en

Amendment 79

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 171 – paragraph 5 – point c

Present text

Amendment

(c) the non-attached Members shall be allocated an overall speaking time based on the fractions allocated to each political group under points (a) and (b);

(c) the Members who do not belong to a political group shall be allocated an overall speaking time based on the fractions allocated to each political group under point (b), in proportion to the total number of non-attached Members up to the number of Members provided for in Rule 33(2);

Or. en

Amendment 80

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 171 – paragraph 7

Present text

Amendment

7. The remaining part of the time for a debate shall not be specifically allocated in advance. Instead, the President may call on Members to speak, as a general rule for no more than one minute. The President shall, as far as possible, ensure that speakers who hold different political views and who come from different Member States are heard in turn.

(Option 1)

Or. en

Amendment 81

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 171 – paragraph 7

Present text

Amendment

(Option 2)

Or. en

Amendment 82

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 171 – paragraph 9

Present text

Amendment

9. The President may give the floor to Members who indicate, by raising a blue card, their wish to put to another Member, during that Member’s speech, a question of no longer than half a minute’s duration related to what that Member has said. The President shall only do so if the speaker agrees to the question and if the President is satisfied that this will lead neither to disruption of the debate nor, through the putting of successive questions by raising a blue card, to a gross imbalance in the political group affinities of Members speaking in that debate. The Member raising the blue card and the speaker shall not be from the same political group, and they shall not both be non-attached Members. Subject to the conditions set out in the second sentence, applied mutatis mutandis, the President may allow the Member who has asked such a question to react to the speaker’s answer for no longer than half a minute. The speaker may then follow up on that reaction.

9. The President may give the floor to Members who indicate, by raising a blue card or by using the electronic tool, their wish to put to another Member, during that Member’s speech, a question of no longer than half a minute’s duration related to what that Member has said. The President shall only do so if the speaker agrees to the question and if the President is satisfied that this will lead neither to disruption of the debate nor, through the putting of successive questions by raising a blue card, to a gross imbalance in the political group affinities of Members speaking in that debate. The Member raising the blue card and the speaker shall not be from the same political group, and they shall not both be non-attached Members. Subject to the conditions set out in the second sentence, applied mutatis mutandis, the President may allow the Member who has asked such a question to react to the speaker’s answer for no longer than half a minute. The speaker may then follow up on that reaction.

Or. en

Amendment 83

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 178 – paragraph 3 – interpretation

Present text

Amendment

The electronic voting system may be used in order to check the threshold of 38 Members, but it may not be used for checking the quorum. The doors of the Chamber may not be closed.

deleted

(This interpretation is moved into paragraph 3b (new) of Rule 178 (see amendment 86)

Or. en

Amendment 84

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 178 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

3a. Debates may be held whatever the number of Members present in the Chamber. However, on a request made by at least 38 Members at the start of the debate or at any time during the debate, the President shall establish whether a quorum is present.

If the number of Members required to make up a quorum is not present, the President shall close the debate. Where one or more speakers have already intervened in the debate before the request to check the quorum was made, the President shall give the floor to one speaker present in the Chamber for each political group which has not yet provided a speaker.

(Option 1)

Or. en

Amendment 85

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 178 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

If the number of Members required to make up a quorum is not present, the President may decide to close the debate. Where one or more speakers have already intervened in the debate before the request to check the quorum was made, the President shall give the floor to one speaker present in the Chamber for each political group which has not yet provided a speaker.

(Option 2)

Or. en

Amendment 86

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 178 – paragraph 3 b (new)

Present text

Amendment

3b. The electronic voting system may be used to check the threshold of 38 Members for a request to establish whether a quorum is present, but it shall not be used for checking the quorum itself. The doors of the Chamber shall not be closed when establishing the quorum.

Or. en

Amendment 87

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 178 – paragraph 4

Present text

Amendment

4. Members who ask for the quorum to be established must be present in the Chamber when the request is made, and shall be counted as being present within the meaning of paragraphs 2 and 3, even if they then leave the Chamber.

4. Members who ask for the quorum to be established must be present in the Chamber when the request is made, and shall be counted as being present within the meaning of paragraphs 2, 3 and 3a, even if they then leave the Chamber.

Or. en

Amendment 88

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 207 – paragraph -1 (new)

Present text

Amendment

-1. Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the high threshold may, at any time, request the Conference of Presidents to propose to Parliament the setting up of a special committee.

Or. en

Amendment 89

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 207 – paragraph -1 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

-1a. Before taking a decision on such a request, the Conference of Presidents shall seek the opinion of the Conference of Committee Chairs.

Or. en

Amendment 90

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 207 a (new)

Present text

Amendment

Rule 207a

Ad-hoc temporary committees with legislative competences

1. When it results from the procedure in Rule 48 that a matter falls within the competence of more than three committees, without the competence of any committee prevailing, the Conference of Presidents may, on the basis of a recommendation by the Conference of Committee Chairs, propose to Parliament the setting up of an ad-hoc temporary committee with legislative competences to deal with a specific proposal for a legally binding act or a pre-legislative strategic document. The recommendation by the Conference of Committee Chairs shall indicate the committees responsible for scrutiny of the implementation of the legislation.

2. The numerical strength of an ad-hoc temporary committee with legislative competences shall be decided by Parliament, based on a proposal by the Conference of Presidents. Its term of office shall run from the date of its constitutive meeting until the adoption of the legally binding act, without prejudice to the need for scrutiny activities. In the case of a pre-legislative strategic document, its term of office shall run from the date of its constitutive meeting until the adoption of the report in plenary.

Members of an ad-hoc temporary committee with legislative competences shall be appointed by the political groups and the non-attached Members, drawing from the members of the committees involved. The Conference of Presidents shall decide whether one or more rapporteurs are to be appointed at the same time that the proposal is taken to set up the committee.

3. Other committees shall not be authorised to deliver opinions pursuant to Rule 56.

4. Ad-hoc temporary committees with legislative competences shall not have the right to deliver opinions to other committees.

Or. en

Amendment 91

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 211

Present text

Amendment

Rule 211

deleted

Questions of competence

(Amendment applies throughout: delete references to Rule 211 and make resulting changes throughout the Rules of Procedure)

1. If a standing committee declares itself not to be competent to consider an item, or if a conflict arises over the competence of two or more standing committees, the question of competence shall be submitted to the Conference of Committee Chairs within two weeks of the referral to committee provided for in Rule 48(1). Weeks without parliamentary activities and weeks set aside for external parliamentary activities shall not be taken into account for the purposes of that deadline.

2. At the latest at its second meeting after the expiry of the deadline laid down in paragraph 1, the Conference of Committee Chairs or its Chair shall issue a recommendation. The Conference of Presidents shall take a decision on the basis of that recommendation within six weeks after its transmission. If the Conference of Presidents fails to take a decision within that period, the recommendation shall be deemed to have been approved.

3. The committee Chairs may enter into agreements with other committee Chairs concerning the allocation of an item to a particular committee, subject, where necessary, to the authorisation of an associated committee procedure under Rule 57.

Or. en

Amendment 92

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 – paragraph 1 – point a

Present text

Amendment

(a) shall task the committee responsible for the subject-matter according to Annex VI with organising the public hearing provided for in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788; the committee responsible for petitions shall be automatically associated under Rule 57;

Or. en

Amendment 93

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 223 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. The bureaux of the delegations shall be constituted in accordance with the procedure laid down for the committee bureaux in Rule 213.

3. The bureaux of the delegations shall be constituted in accordance with the procedure laid down for the committee bureaux in Rule 213. Any Chair of a delegation shall be a member of the committee responsible for foreign affairs, of the committee responsible for development, or of the committee responsible for international trade.

Or. en

Amendment 94

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article -1 (new)

Present text

Amendment

Article -1

Structure and organisation of portfolios of the Commission

Pursuant to Rule 125, before the confirmation hearings, the President shall invite the President-elect of the Commission to inform the Conference of Presidents about the following:

– the planned structure of the new Commission, including the proposed titles of individual portfolios and their possible grouping;

– the allocation of responsibilities (portfolios) in the proposed College of Commissioners in accordance with the political guidelines of the President-elect; and

– other horizontal questions, in particular gender balance in that College.

Or. en

Amendment 95

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 1 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. Parliament may seek any information relevant to its reaching a decision on the aptitude of the Commissioners-designate. It shall expect full disclosure of information relating to their financial interests. The declarations of interest of the Commissioners-designate shall be sent for scrutiny to the committee responsible for legal affairs.

3. Parliament may seek any information relevant to its reaching a decision on the aptitude of the Commissioners-designate. Parliament expects Commissioners-designate to make full disclosure of information relating to their financial interests. The declarations of interest of the Commissioners-designate shall be sent for scrutiny to the committee responsible for legal affairs.

Or. en

Amendment 96

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 2 – title

Present text

Amendment

Examination of declaration of financial interests

Examination of declaration of interests

Or. en

Amendment 97

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 2 – paragraph 3 – introductory part

Present text

Amendment

3. The following guidelines shall be applied when the declarations of financial interests are scrutinised by the committee responsible for legal affairs:

3. The following guidelines shall be applied when the declarations of interests are scrutinised by the committee responsible for legal affairs:

Or. en

Amendment 98

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 2 – paragraph 3 – point a

Present text

Amendment

(a) if, when scrutinising a declaration of financial interests, the committee responsible for legal affairs deems, on the basis of the documents presented, the declaration to be accurate, complete and to contain nothing indicating an actual or potential conflict of interests in connection with the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate, its Chair shall send a letter confirming this finding to the committees responsible for the hearing or to the committees involved in the event of a procedure taking place during a Commissioner's term of office;

(a) if, when scrutinising a declaration of interests, the committee responsible for legal affairs considers, on the basis of the documents presented, that the declaration is accurate, complete and contains nothing indicating an actual or potential conflict of interests in connection with the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate, its Chair shall send a letter confirming this finding to the committees responsible for the confirmation hearing or to the committees involved in the event of a procedure taking place during a Commissioner's term of office; if the committee responsible for legal affairs finds in the declaration of interests of the Commissioner-designate elements, other than those related to financial interests, which should be considered in the overall evaluation of the Commissioner-designate, it shall immediately inform all the committees involved in the confirmation hearing;

Or. en

Amendment 99

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 2 – paragraph 3 – point b

Present text

Amendment

(b) if the committee responsible for legal affairs considers that the declaration of interests of a Commissioner-designate contains information which is incomplete or contradictory, or that there is a need for further information, it shall, pursuant to the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, request the Commissioner-designate to provide supplementary information without undue delay and shall consider and properly analyse it before making its decision; the committee responsible for legal affairs may decide, where appropriate, to invite the Commissioner-designate to a discussion;

(b) if the committee responsible for legal affairs considers that the declaration of interests of a Commissioner-designate contains information related to financial interests, which is incomplete or contradictory, or that there is a need for further information regarding financial interests, it shall, pursuant to the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, request the Commissioner-designate to provide supplementary information without undue delay and shall consider and properly analyse it before making its decision; the committee responsible for legal affairs may decide, where appropriate, to invite the Commissioner-designate to a discussion;

Or. en

Amendment 100

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 2 – paragraph 3 – point c

Present text

Amendment

(c) if the committee responsible for legal affairs identifies a conflict of interests based on the declaration of financial interests or the supplementary information supplied by the Commissioner-designate, it shall draw up recommendations aimed at resolving the conflict of interests; the recommendations may include renouncing the financial interests in question or changes to the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate by the President of the Commission; in more serious cases, if no solution is found to the conflict of interests, and as a last resort, the committee responsible for legal affairs may conclude that the Commissioner-designate is unable to exercise his or her functions in accordance with the Treaties and the Code of Conduct; the President of Parliament shall then ask the President of the Commission what further steps the latter intends to take.

(c) if the committee responsible for legal affairs identifies a conflict of interests related to financial interests based on the declaration of interests or the supplementary information supplied by the Commissioner-designate, it shall draw up recommendations that aim to resolve the conflict of interests; the recommendations may include renouncing the financial interests in question or changes to the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate by the President of the Commission; in more serious cases, if no solution is found to the conflict of interests related to financial interests, and as a last resort, the committee responsible for legal affairs may conclude that the Commissioner-designate is unable to exercise his or her functions in accordance with the Treaties and the Code of Conduct; the President of Parliament shall then ask the President of the Commission what further steps the latter intends to take.

Or. en

Amendment 101

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 3 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. The hearings shall be organised by the Conference of Presidents on a recommendation of the Conference of Committee Chairs. The Chair and coordinators of each committee shall be responsible for the detailed arrangements. Rapporteurs may be appointed.

2. The confirmation hearings shall be organised by the Conference of Presidents based on a recommendation of the Conference of Committee Chairs, which shall specify the proposed allocation of responsibilities among committees as well as the proposed length of each individual confirmation hearing. The Chair and coordinators of each committee shall be responsible for the detailed arrangements.

Or. en

Amendment 102

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 3 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. Appropriate arrangements shall be made to associate relevant committees where portfolios are mixed. There are three options:

3. Appropriate arrangements shall be made to allocate the responsibilities for a confirmation hearing to committees. There are two options:

(a) if the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate falls within the remit of a single committee, the Commissioner-designate shall be heard by that committee alone (the committee responsible);

(a) if the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate falls within the responsibility of a single committee or of several committees but with the competence of one committee prevailing, the Commissioner-designate shall be heard by that committee alone (the committee responsible); other committees may be invited to participate in the confirmation hearing if the portfolio falls to a substantial extent within their remit;

(b) if the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate falls more or less equally within the remit of more than one committee, the Commissioner-designate shall be heard jointly by those committees (joint committees); and

(b) if significant parts of the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate fall within the responsibility of two or more committees without the competence of any of them prevailing, the Commissioner-designate shall be heard jointly by those committees (joint committees); other committees may be invited to participate in the confirmation hearing if the portfolio falls to a substantial extent within their remit.

(c) if the portfolio of the Commissioner-designate falls mainly within the remit of one committee and only to a small extent within the remit of at least one other committee, the Commissioner-designate shall be heard by the committee mainly responsible, with the association of the other committee or committees (associated committees).

Or. en

Amendment 103

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 3 – paragraph 5

Present text

Amendment

5. The committees shall submit written questions to the Commissioners-designate in good time before the hearings. For each Commissioner-designate there shall be two common questions drafted by the Conference of Committee Chairs, the first relating to the issues of general competence, European commitment and personal independence, and the second relating to the management of the portfolio and cooperation with Parliament. The committee responsible shall submit five other questions; sub-questions shall not be allowed. In the case of joint committees, they shall each be given the right to submit three questions.

5. The committees shall submit written questions to the Commissioners-designate in good time before the confirmation hearings. For each Commissioner-designate there shall be two common questions drafted by the Conference of Committee Chairs, the first of which shall relate to the issues of general competence, European commitment and personal independence, and the second of which shall relate to the management of the portfolio and cooperation with Parliament. The committee responsible shall submit five other questions. In the case of joint committees, each of them shall have the right to submit three questions. Each invited committee shall have the right to submit one question. Sub-questions shall not be allowed.

The curriculum vitae of the Commissioners-designate and their response to the written questions shall be published on Parliament’s website in advance of the hearing.

The curriculum vitae of the Commissioners-designate and their response to the written questions shall be published on Parliament’s website in advance of the confirmation hearing.

Or. en

Amendment 104

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 3 – paragraph 6

Present text

Amendment

6. Each hearing shall be scheduled to last three hours. Hearings shall take place in circumstances, and under conditions, in which Commissioners-designate enjoy an equal and fair opportunity to present themselves and their opinions.

6. In principle, confirmation hearings shall be scheduled to last for three hours. However, in the case of Commissioners-designate with particularly large or complex portfolios involving more than one committee, the Conference of Committee Chairs may recommend that the confirmation hearing be scheduled to last for up to three and a half hours. The recommended length of the confirmation hearing shall take due account of the number of invited committees in order to allow each of their Chairs to put one question.

Or. en

Amendment 105

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 3 – paragraph 7

Present text

Amendment

7. Commissioners-designate shall be invited to make an opening oral statement of no longer than 15 minutes. Up to 25 questions, grouped together by theme whenever possible, shall be put during the course of the hearing. One follow up question may be asked immediately within the allocated time. The bulk of the speaking time shall be allotted to political groups, mutatis mutandis in accordance with Rule 171. The conduct of the hearings shall aim to develop a pluralistic political dialogue between the Commissioners-designate and the Members. Before the end of the hearing, the Commissioners-designate shall be given the opportunity to make a brief closing statement.

7. Commissioners-designate shall be invited to make an opening oral statement, which shall last no longer than 15 minutes. The bulk of the speaking time shall be allotted to political groups, mutatis mutandis in accordance with Rule 171. The speaking time allocated to a political group shall be treated as a block, subject to the need to maintain a single harmonised format for each individual confirmation hearing. It shall be up to the political group to distribute that time between its Members participating in the hearing. Speaking time allocated to non-attached Members shall not be treated as a block. The Commissioner-designate shall be given, on average, twice as much time for his or her reply as the time given for the question. The conduct of the confirmation hearings shall aim to develop a pluralistic political dialogue between the Commissioners-designate and the Members. Before the end of the confirmation hearing, the Commissioners-designate shall be given the opportunity to make a brief closing statement.

Or. en

Amendment 106

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 3 – paragraph 8

Present text

Amendment

8. There shall be a live audio-visual transmission of the hearings made available free of charge to the public and media. An indexed recording of the hearings shall be made available to the public within 24 hours.

8. A live audio-visual transmission of the confirmation hearings shall be made available free of charge to the public. An indexed recording of the confirmation hearings shall be made available to the public within 24 hours.

Or. en

Amendment 107

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 1

Present text

Amendment

1. The Chair and coordinators shall meet without delay after the hearing to evaluate the individual Commissioners-designate. Those meetings shall be held in camera. The coordinators shall be invited to state whether, in their opinion, the Commissioners-designate are qualified both to be members of the College and to carry out the particular duties they have been assigned. The Conference of Committee Chairs shall design a pro forma template to assist the evaluation.

1. The Chair and coordinators shall meet without delay after the confirmation hearing to evaluate the individual Commissioners-designate. Those meetings shall be held in camera. The Chairs of the invited committees shall be invited to participate in the evaluation meetings. The coordinators of the committee responsible shall be invited to state whether, in their respective opinions, the Commissioners-designate are qualified both to be members of the College and to carry out the particular duties they have been assigned. The Conference of Committee Chairs shall design a pro forma template to assist the evaluation.

Or. en

Amendment 108

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 2

Present text

Amendment

2. In the case of joint committees the Chair and the coordinators of the committees concerned shall act jointly throughout the procedure.

2. In the case of joint committees, the Chair and the coordinators of the committees concerned shall act jointly throughout the procedure, including by holding joint evaluation meetings.

Or. en

Amendment 109

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 3

Present text

Amendment

3. There shall be a single evaluation letter for each Commissioner-designate. The opinions of all the committees associated with the hearing shall be included.

3. There shall be a single evaluation letter for each Commissioner-designate. The opinions of the invited committees, adopted by coordinators representing a simple majority of committee members belonging to a political group, shall be annexed to the evaluation letter.

Or. en

Amendment 110

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 4 – point c

Present text

Amendment

(c) If coordinators representing a majority of at least two-thirds of the committee membership approve the Commissioner-designate, the Chair shall submit a letter on their behalf stating that a large majority approve the Commissioner-designate. Minority views shall be mentioned upon request.

(c) If coordinators representing a majority of at least two-thirds of the committee members belonging to a political group approve the Commissioner-designate, the Chair shall submit a letter on their behalf stating that a large majority approve the Commissioner-designate. Minority views shall be mentioned in that letter upon request.

Or. en

Amendment 111

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 4 – point d

Present text

Amendment

(d) If coordinators cannot reach a majority of at least two-thirds of the committee membership to approve the candidate, they shall

(d) If coordinators cannot reach a majority of at least two-thirds of the committee members belonging to a political group to approve the candidate, they may request:

– first request additional information through further written questions;

– additional information by means of further written questions, which shall not exceed the number of written questions initially submitted to the Commissioner-designate. or/and

– if coordinators are still dissatisfied, request a resumed hearing of 1,5 hour subject to the approval of the Conference of Presidents;

– a resumed confirmation hearing of one and a half hours subject to the approval of the Conference of Presidents.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph, first indent, sub-questions shall not be allowed and invited committees shall not have the right to submit additional written questions

Only one set of additional written questions and one resumed confirmation hearing may be requested as part of the evaluation of a Commissioner-designate.

Additional written questions and the Commissioner’s-designate replies shall be published on Parliament’s website.

Or. en

Amendment 112

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 4 – point e

Present text

Amendment

(e) If, further to the application of point (d), coordinators representing a majority of at least two-thirds of the committee membership approve the Commissioner-designate, the Chair shall submit a letter on their behalf stating that a large majority approve the Commissioner-designate. Minority views shall be mentioned upon request.

(e) If, further to the application of point (d), coordinators representing a majority of at least two-thirds of the committee members belonging to a political group approve the Commissioner-designate, the Chair shall submit a letter on their behalf stating that a large majority approve the Commissioner-designate. Minority views shall be mentioned upon request.

Or. en

Amendment 113

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex VII – Article 4 – paragraph 4 – point f

(f) If, further to the application of point (d), there is still no majority of coordinators representing at least two-thirds of the committee membership to approve the Commissioner-designate, the Chair shall convene a committee meeting and put to vote the two questions mentioned in paragraph 1. The Chair shall submit a letter stating the committee’s evaluation.

(f) If, further to the application of point (d), there is still no majority of coordinators representing at least two-thirds of the committee members belonging to a political group to approve the Commissioner-designate, the Chair shall convene a committee meeting and put to vote the two questions mentioned in paragraph 1. The Chair shall submit a letter stating the committee’s evaluation.

Or. en

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

On 18 January 2023, the Conference of Presidents (CoP) set up the Working Group ‘Parliament 2024’ with a mandate to develop concrete and actionable reform proposals to strengthen Parliament’s internal working methods as well as its institutional role and capacity to act. Members of the Working Group unanimously underlined the need for reforms since Parliament has to ensure that it is and remains well-equipped to fulfil its tasks under the Treaties and to live up to the expectations of citizens. Not least in view of the many challenges and crises the EU is and has been facing, the credibility of the European Parliament also rests in its ability to reform and modernise.

The Working Group identified problems encountered along the five areas defined in its mandate, namely legislation, scrutiny, budgetary functions and budgetary control, plenary, and external relations. After ten months of analysis and sharing views, the Working Group put forward a comprehensive package of reform proposals covering the five areas.

The reform package was endorsed by the CoP on 7 December 2023 with the objective of full implementation by the end of the parliamentary term. This requires a coordinated follow-up by several parliamentary bodies. For a number of reform measures, the Rules of Procedure have to be amended and for others, additionally, implementing decisions have to be adopted by Parliament’s governing bodies.

At its meeting on 31 January 2024, with a view to facilitating the work of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), the CoP endorsed proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure based on its decision of 7 December 2023 and decided to forward them to AFCO. The CoP invited the AFCO Committee to act swiftly and to submit the amendments to plenary in a timely manner for adoption before the end of the parliamentary term.

The reform measures, once implemented, will lead to a better functioning of Parliament as co legislator, arm of the budgetary authority and discharge authority. Moreover, the reforms will increase Parliament’s capacity to exercise democratic oversight and to hold the other institutions, notably the Commission, accountable.