Brussels, 06/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - When the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, the European Parliament might have a greater role to play in protecting fundamental rights, explained the MEPs on the EP's civil liberties committee on Monday 5 October. The Lisbon Treaty would beef up EU cooperation on fundamental rights and the civil liberties of EU citizens within the area of freedom, security and justice, explained the committee chair, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spain). The Lisbon Treaty would simplify the institutional set-up, breathe new life into the decision-making process, extend qualified majority voting at the EU Council of Ministers and increase the EP's decision-making powers. The EP's legal department points out that codecision will become the standard procedure and will apply to more areas of action. Any new legislation in such areas will be subject to jurisdictional control. National parliaments could play a greater role in getting the legislation adopted and implemented. The EP's legal department explains that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights will have the same value in law as the Lisbon Treaty. When the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, then EU membership of the European Convention of Human Rights (which requires approval by all member states) should take place as soon as possible, argues the legal department. A Swedish Presidency representative promised that talks on Passenger Name Records (PNR) will not be continued at Council of Minister level but will be held back until the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, and the EP would therefore have its say. All draft legislation requiring a change in legal basis will be submitted anew to the EP when the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, added a European Commission representative. The Commission will be publishing a report on the draft legislation due to change its legal basis under the Lisbon Treaty. (B.C./transl.fl)