EP Rules of Procedure, Rules 123 and 42: written declarations and legislative initiatives

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by Rafał TRZASKOWSKI (EPP, PL) on amendment of Rules 123 and 42 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure: written declarations and legislative initiatives.

The committee considers that in the light of Parliament's increased prerogatives, as well as the introduction of the European citizens' initiative, the significance of written declarations has changed, though they still can be a useful tool enabling Members to raise awareness on issues of public concern.

Parliament’s Rules of Procedure should be amended, and the committee recommends new rules, the main points being as follows:

·        at least 10 Members from at least three political groups may submit a written declaration of not more than 200 words on a matter falling exclusively within the competence of the European Union ;

·        the contents of such a declaration may not go beyond the form of a declaration. In particular, it may not call for any legislative action, contain any decision on matters for which specific procedures and competences are laid down in the Rules of Procedure or deal with the subject of ongoing proceedings in Parliament;

·        the authorisation to proceed further shall be subject to a reasoned decision by the President in any given case. Written declarations shall be published in the official languages on Parliament's website and distributed electronically to all Members. They shall be entered, with the names of the signatories, in an electronic register. This register shall be public and shall be accessible through Parliament's website;

·        where the institutions to which the adopted text has been addressed do not inform Parliament about the intended follow-up within three months from its receipt, the matter shall, at the request of one of the authors of the declaration, be placed on the agenda of a subsequent meeting of the committee responsible.

Members take the view that the institutions to which a written declaration is addressed should inform Parliament about the intended follow-up within three months from receipt of such a declaration. Members intend, moreover, to seek an agreement with the Commission on this principle on the occasion of the next negotiations on the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission.

Members add that the quality and relevance of some written declarations, and in particular their concordance with the competences of the Union as set out in Title I of Part I of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, can be underwhelming. In the next term, therefore, Parliament might assess the impact of the new provisions of its Rules of Procedure concerning written declarations and examine their effectiveness.