Brussels, 14/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 February, the EU Council of Ministers adopted a regulation putting in place new rules for the control by member states of the Commission's exercise of its implementing powers, following a first-reading agreement with the European Parliament.
The new regulation is intended to put Article 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on implementing acts into practice (in line with Article 291 of the TFEU implementing powers are conferred on the Commission where uniform conditions for implementing legally binding EU acts by the member states are needed). It will replace Council Decision 1999/468 on the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (“comitology” decision) as far as consultation, management and regulatory procedures are concerned. Delegated acts as provided for in Article 290 of TFEU cover almost the same type of measures as those adopted so far under the “regulatory procedure with scrutiny” which the Council introduced into the “comitology” decision in 2006. In line with Article 290 of the TFEU, the EU legislators - the Council and the European Parliament - may delegate to the Commission the power to supplement or amend certain non-essential elements of a legislative act (such as maximum levels of contaminants in food contained in the annex of a legislative act). They may also decide to revoke this delegation or to object to a Commission delegated act. The specific objectives, content, scope and duration of a delegation will be defined in each legislative act making a delegation (“basic act”).
The new regulation on implementing acts establishes two procedures for controlling the Commission's exercise of implementing powers: an advisory and an examination procedure. The two types of procedure will be run with the help of committees composed of the representatives of the member states and chaired by the Commission. The Commission must try to find solutions which receive the widest possible support of these committees.
The examination procedure will apply in particular for the adoption of measures of general scope (such as the technical details related to the online collection system of statements of support for the European citizens' initiative) and specific measures with a potentially significant impact, for instance in the field of agriculture, fisheries, environment, health, trade and taxation. It aims to ensure that Commission implementing acts are supported by a qualified majority of the committee. If, however, the committee delivers a negative opinion, the Commission may either submit its draft act to an appeal committee for further discussions or amend the text. If the examination procedure committee does not deliver an opinion, the Commission may adopt the draft act under certain conditions. Within this procedure, specific rules apply for trade policy.
The advisory procedure will apply, as a general rule, for the adoption of implementing acts in other fields (such as individual measures in the field of culture). The Commission must take the utmost account of the committee's opinions which are to be adopted by simple majority.
The new regulation also confers on the European Parliament (EP) and the Council a right of scrutiny. Where the basic legislative act has been adopted under the co-decision procedure, the EP or the Council may at any time inform the Commission that it considers that the draft implementing act exceeds the powers which they conferred on it. In such cases, the Commission must review the draft act and decide whether to maintain, amend or withdraw it. The regulation on implementing acts will come into force on 1 March 2011. Article 290 of the TFEU on delegated acts has been applied since 1 December 2009. (L.C./transl.rt)