On Wednesday 11 March, the European Parliament approved by a large majority (446 votes in favour, 100 against, 72 abstentions) the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, which should enable it to better exercise its role of democratic and budgetary control (see EUROPE 13706/27).
During the debate at Monday’s plenary session, European Parliament rapporteur Sven Simon (EPP, German) welcomed the fact that this agreement gives the European Parliament a de facto “indirect right of initiative”, by authorising it to ask the Commission to launch a legislative initiative and to amend or even withdraw an existing legislative text.
The Commission will also have to justify to MEPs the reasons why it is presenting legislative proposals that circumvent the European Parliament’s legislative power (Article 122 TFEU), as was the case with the ‘SAFE’ loan instrument to increase national military spending.
Attendance at parliamentary committees and plenary sessions will be stepped up, particularly when the Commission intends to withdraw a legislative proposal.
Mr Simon said that the EU Council’s concerns that the European treaties would be undermined were unfounded. “The agreement fully respects the Treaty and the institutional balance of the Union. It guarantees that the democratic voice of Parliament will be heard”, he declared. Agreeing with him, European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič considered that such a revision was “clearly necessary” in order to improve dialogue, the flow of information and transparency between the two institutions.
In a letter sent to the Commission and the European Parliament at the end of February, the Council of the EU expressed serious concerns about the revised Framework Agreement, stressing the importance of fully respecting the Treaties. It will “closely monitor the practical implementation of the revised Framework Agreement (...) and reserves the right to react, making use of all means available under the Treaties”, a spokesperson for the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council told Agence Europe.
To see the text of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission: https://aeur.eu/f/l4m (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)