Brussels, 10/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament constitutional affairs committee, in Strasbourg on the evening of Monday 9 March, adopted three reports related to the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The first was the report by Jean-Luc Dehaene (EPP-ED, Belgium) on the impact of the new treaty on the development of inter-institutional balance in the EU. As we suggested (see EUROPE 9824 and 9837), MEPs called for the EP to be involved in the appointment of the president of the European Commission after the European elections in June, as if the Lisbon Treaty had already taken effect. The second was the report by Elmar Brok (EPP-ED, Germany) on relations between the EP and national parliaments under the Lisbon Treaty. MEPs want a new form of “pre-legislative and post-legislative dialogue” with national parliaments once the Lisbon Treaty comes into force. To this end, the report proposes increasing and developing meetings between the specialist committees of the EP and member states' parliaments, the aim being to set up a “standing network” of committees that would allow early dialogue on legislative proposals within the EU. MEPs also want increased Parliamentary supervision of all aspects of the CFSP/ESDP. Thirdly, there was the report by Jo Leinen (PES, Germany) on the role and responsibilities of the EP in the implementation of the new treaty. The report welcomes the fact that, with very few exceptions, the new treaty will put the EP on an equal footing with the Council as an EU law maker), including in important areas, such as the budget, agriculture and justice and home affairs. MEPs suggest, too, that the EP, the Commission and the Council should work together to set out in an inter-institutional agreement, a work programme reflecting key EU objectives post-2009.
The three reports, to which EUROPE will return in greater detail, will be put to the vote at the plenary session in Strasbourg on 23 April. (H.B./transl.rt)