Negotiations take place during informal tripartite meetings (trilogues) including the Commission. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, Whereas: (1) The European Union and the United States of America (United States) have … The Council decides by qualified majority, unless its position differs from that of the Commission, in which case unanimity is required. The threshold falls to ¼ for a draft legislative proposal submitted on the basis of Article 76 TFEU (judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation). Parliament adopts a Position of the European Parliament at first reading. The Council delegation approves it by a qualified majority (or unanimity in cases stipulated by the Treaty) while the Parliament delegation votes by a simple majority of its component members. While the Commission maintains its right to withdraw a proposal at any stage, Parliament and Council argue that once Council has adopted its first reading position it is that text and not the Commission proposal that forms the basis for the rest of the procedure; and consequently the Commission cannot withdraw a text, over which it no longer exercises “ownership”. Upon official receipt of the European Parliament's second reading amendments, in all official languages, the Council's second reading clock starts to tick. Agreement to certain amendments or compromise proposals is given, subject to overall agreement. If the Council approves Parliament's second reading position, the legislative act is adopted and published as a directive (or regulation or decision) of the European Parliament and of the Council. During the 8th legislative term (2014-2019) the civil liberties committee was in charge of 13% of all ordinary legislative procedure files, followed by the economic and monetary affairs committee which was responsible for 12% of all files. However, Parliament and Council may ask the Commission to submit proposals and in a few well-defined cases other institutions may come up with proposals. The parliamentary committee usually meets several times to examine the draft report. The Commission is present at this and all subsequent Parliament delegation meetings. Where the procedure with associated committees applies, the Parliament delegation must include the rapporteur of any associated committee. In Parliament, the vote on the joint text is preceded by a debate in plenary. MEPs can propose amendments, or the rejection of a bill. After the “yellow card” review, the authoring institution (usually the Commission) may decide to maintain, amend or withdraw the legislation. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91(1)thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Amendments may be tabled for the plenary by the committee responsible, a political group or at least 36 individual members. As part of a series outlining the form and functions of the key EU institutions, here we explain the role of the European Parliament. The Commission, represented in principle by the Commissioner responsible for the dossier, also takes part in the Conciliation Committee's proceedings with a view to reconciling the positions of Parliament and Council. In trilogues, Parliament is represented by the chair of the delegation to the Conciliation Committee, the chair of the responsible parliamentary committee and the rapporteur, assisted by members of the Parliament's conciliation secretariat and, if necessary, a member of the legal service. The Council of the European Union, generally known as the Council (previously the Council of Ministers), represents EU member state governments. In addition, they are entitled to perks including a general expenditure allowance, golden parachute, travel expenses, daily allowance, a budget for staff, car service, a pension and medical expenses. What does the Parliament do? If you believe that a proposal is fundamentally flawed, and even with amendments will not be workable, then you will probably be seeking to have it rejected by the European Parliament. Unlike the first reading, the second reading is subject to strict time limits. The Council approves the joint text by qualified majority. If the Council proposes changes to the Parliament's position at first reading, the resulting document is: Position of the Council at first reading. The Council examines Parliament's second reading position and either approves all of Parliament's amendments, meaning the act is adopted, or does not approve all amendments, leading to the convening of the Conciliation Committee. In the course of negotiations, the two delegations seek compromises on amendments where there are outstanding differences. Debate in Council. If Parliament by a simple majority of its Members or the Council by a majority of 55% of its members consider that the proposal does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity, it is dropped. The Parliament delegation is composed of an equal number of MEPs - 27 - plus 27 substitutes (who can only vote if a member of their political group is absent). The number of MEPs for each member state is proportionate to its population, but no country can have fewer than six or more than 96 MEPs. The rapporteurs keep each other informed and should mutually agree the texts they propose to the committees and their position regarding amendments. AT LEAST 4 SUMMITS/YEAR. If either institution fails to approve the joint text, the legislative procedure comes to an end: it can only be re-started by a new proposal from the Commission. The Parliament is the centre of debate on issues affecting the 28 member states and their citizens and has legislative, supervisory and budgetary responsibilities. In the 2014-2019 legislative term, only four out of 401 legislative files (1%) were agreed at the second reading (excluding agreements at early second reading), compared to 5% in the 2009-2014 term, 13% in the 2004-2009 term and 24% in the 1999-2004 term. If the Council approves all Parliament's amendments, the act is adopted. 16/02/2012. The file is automatically forwarded to the committee responsible, which is the same as in first reading. The Commission frequently plays a mediating role in respect of compromise texts. Alternatively, the committee may seek to immediately obtain a mandate from the plenary. The European Council does not adopt EU laws. If no amendments or proposal for rejection are tabled or adopted, the President merely announces that the proposed act has been adopted (there is no formal vote). It is the body where member state governments meet to negotiate, make EU laws and take key decisions in foreign and security policy, trade, and economic policy. The Commission's proposals are scrutinised in detail by the European Parliament and the Council. Other political groups may appoint a shadow rapporteur, who is responsible for preparing the group's position and monitoring the work of the rapporteur. 2017/0143(COD) COD - Ordinary legislative procedure (ex-codecision procedure) Regulation Subject 2.50.03 Securities and financial markets, stock exchange, CIUTS, investments 2.50.05 Insurance, pension funds 4.10.11 Retirement, pensions 4.60.06 Consumers' economic and legal interests It also plays a key role in electing the president of the European Commission, and has the power to dismiss the Commission. The precise day of elections is also set by individual member states. Several proposals have been made in recent years to reform the EU’s approach to critical infrastructures. The Council adopted a Partial General Approach at its meeting (Competitiveness) on 30 November 2018. The Conciliation Committee has six weeks (with a possible extension to eight) to decide on a joint text based on the second reading positions of Parliament and Council. Summary . Committee meetings and plenary are webstreamed live. If the Conciliation Committee approves the joint text, it must be approved by the full European Parliament and the Council in third readings. The European Institutions are made up primarily of the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council of the European Union. The European Parliament has appointed MEP Dan NICA (S&D) as rapporteur on the Framework Programme. If Council adopts Parliament's position without changes, the legislative act is adopted and published as a directive (or regulation or decision) of the European Parliament and of the Council. Parliament has three months to conduct a second reading with a possible one-month extension. In order to do so, the co-legislators (Parliament and Council) have to negotiate unless they both approve the Commission proposal without amendments or agree to minor technical amendments that do not require negotiation. The European elections took place between 23-26 May 2019. In both cases, the Council only finalises its position after receiving Parliament's first reading amendments and the Commission's resulting amended proposal. If it is approved by Parliament and Council, the act is adopted. The environment and transport committees each dealt with 11% of all files. The ordinary legislative procedure currently applies in 85 defined policy areas covering the majority of the EU's areas of competence. More about the 2019 European elections results This case raised the question as to whether the Commission can withdraw a proposal that has passed the first reading. Elections. ask the Commission a question on the basis of which it might consider legislation.More on questions, submit a petition to the European Parliament.More on petitions, Once the Commission starts preparing or revising legislation, it usually opens a public consultation, allowing interested parties and experts to give their views.More on public consultations. They can of course modify proposals or reject them altogether. The minimum age to stand as a candidate is set by the national government of each member state and varies from 18 in France and Germany to 25 in Greece and Italy. Following a successful conclusion to the conciliation procedure, a draft joint text is prepared on the basis of the joint working document and any modifications agreed in conciliation. There are restrictions on second reading amendments in committee and plenary. If the Commission refuses to submit a proposal, it has to give an explanation. The rapporteur(s) and chair of the parliamentary committee responsible are also ex officio members of the delegation, included in the quota of their political group. Its representatives are expected to present and explain the Commission's opinion on Parliament's second reading amendments and possibly also to provide information about ongoing developments in the Council of which they are aware. Subject: Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Directive 2014/65/EU as regards information requirements, product governance and position limits to help the r ecovery from the COVID -19 pandemic - Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament Delegations will find below the Presidency compromise text on the above-mentioned Commission proposal … Where negotiations are successful, the Coreper chair will send a letter to the chair of the parliamentary committee responsible, in which the Council undertakes to approve the Parliament's amendments if they are in line with the compromise jointly identified by Council and Parliament. MEPs pay EU tax and insurance contributions, after which the salary is €6,824.85. If the Commission does so, the legislative procedure stops. Examples of areas of legislation MEPs might vote on include workers' rights, mobile phone roaming charges, health and safety and pesticide use. The European Commission is represented by the Commissioner or their representative (Director-General of the department in charge of the dossier), assisted by experts, its legal service and the administration. To: Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM -MIKKELSEN, Secretary -General of the Council of the European Union No. In the case of a vote, the delegation's decisions are taken by a majority of its component members (i.e. Prior to reaching a first reading position, Council may reach an agreement in principle, commonly termed a general approach. It is considered to have been convened when its first meeting takes place. The institution that hosts the first meeting of the Conciliation Committee is responsible for editing the joint text and the forwarding letter, and, after definitive adoption of the legislative act by Parliament and Council, for the signing of the act by the Presidents of the two institutions and for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Commission proposal is sent to the Council at the same time it goes to the European Parliament. The plenary discusses the legislative proposal on the basis of the report drawn up by the committee responsible, including any proposed amendments, a draft legislative resolution and, if appropriate, an explanatory statement by the rapporteur. Conciliation Committee meetings may also be interrupted by trilogue negotiations. You can only ask MEPs and/or your government to approve or reject the joint text. Debate in Council. This examination is known as a 'reading'. If Parliament does not take a decision by the deadline, the act is deemed to have been adopted in accordance with the Council's first reading position. The average time for a a Commission proposal to be adopted on the first reading - from publication until the signature following the adoption of an act first-was just below 18 months in the 2014-2019 legislative term, compared to 17 months in the 2009-2014 term, 16 months in the 2004-2009 term and 11 months in 1999-2004. The certificate proposals will need to be endorsed by both the Parliament and the European Council, with the next session Parliament set for April 26-29. Before the committee responsible takes a final vote on a proposal for a legislative act, it asks the Commission to state its position on all amendments adopted by the committee, and requests a comment from the Council. The president serves a term of two and a half years, half the lifetime of the parliament, which is usually divided between the two biggest political parties. If at least 1/3 of national parliaments are of the opinion that the draft legislation does not comply with the subsidiarity principle, it must be reviewed (“yellow card”). The other MEPs in the delegation are appointed by the political groups, in proportion to the size of each group within Parliament. It also asks the Commission to propose legislation. The Parliament delegation will hold a constituent meeting to give a mandate to the negotiating team - normally the vice-president chairing the delegation, the chair of the committee responsible and the rapporteur(s) - so that trilogue meetings can begin. MEPs are elected using individual national electoral systems, but these observe common provisions established by EU law such as proportional representation, which ensure that if, for example, a party gets 20 per cent of the votes, it will also win roughly 20 per cent of seats, so all sizes of political parties have the chance to send representatives to the Parliament.