Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission - Main contents

Cooperation between the European Parliament and the European Commission

SUMMARY OF:

Framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

Agreement amending point 4 of the Framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT?

It aims to facilitate and organise cooperation between the European Parliament and the European Commission. The agreement defines the procedures for their collaboration.

KEY POINTS

This framework agreement contains a number of rules relating to the organisation of work between the 2 institutions, in particular:

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  the political responsibility of the Commission;
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  establishing regular and effective political dialogue;
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  implementing legislative procedures.

Political responsibility of the Commission

There is a strong political connection between the composition of the Commission and the Parliament:

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  The President and the other Members of the Commission (commissioners) must be approved by the European Parliament.
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  The Parliament is consulted on the appointment of replacements for commissioners who resign and is also given advance notice of any planned redistribution of responsibilities within the Commission.
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  The Parliament may make a request to the President of the Commission for the resignation of a Member of the Commission. The President must then consider the request and provide an explanation in the case of a refusal.
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  Members of the Commission may stand as candidates in European Parliament elections. In such cases, the agreement specifies the safeguards to ensure proper separation of their duties as commissioners and their campaigning activity.

In the light of the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, the agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission amending point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission to allow Members of the Commission to stand for election to the European Parliament without taking a leave of absence for the duration of the campaign.

Political dialogue

The agreement aims to establish effective cooperation between the Commission and the Parliament. This is achieved by:

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  organising regular meetings between representatives of the two institutions, such as between the College of Commissioners and the chairs of the parliamentary committees;
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  the agreement of both parties to examine carefully any request made by either institution;
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  a commitment from the Commission to guarantee the Parliament equality of access with the Council regarding meetings and documents relating to legislative and budgetary procedures;
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  a requirement for the Parliament to be fully informed during the negotiation and conclusion of international agreements to which the EU is a party;
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  specific rules for cooperation on:

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    the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;
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    cooperation with national parliaments;
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    the work of groups of national experts with the Commission.

Cooperation in legislative procedures

The agreement specifies the organisation of the work between the Parliament and the Commission for implementing legislative procedures:

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  the Commission must present its annual work programme to the Parliament;
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  during the procedure for adopting acts, the agreement then guarantees several commitments on the part of the 2 institutions, including:

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    the timetabling by the Parliament of reports and of opinions on proposals for legislation, and
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    the careful examination by the Commission of any amendments adopted by Parliament;

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  Members of the Commission are present throughout the Parliament’s plenary sessions. One of their tasks includes responding to questions from Members of Parliament;
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  Members of the Commission may also be heard before the Parliament at their request.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission (OJ L 304, 20.11.2010, pp. 47-62)

Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission amending point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission (OJ L 45, 17.2.2018, p. 46)

last update 12.03.2018

This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.