Review of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

PURPOSE: to amend point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission amending point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission.

CONTENT: Point 4 of Part II (Political Responsibility) of the Agreement is revised to clarify the following:

The participation of Members of the Commission in electoral campaigns is governed by the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission.

Members of the Commission may participate in electoral campaigns in elections to the Parliament, including as candidates. They may also be chosen by European political parties as lead candidate (‘Spitzenkandidat’) for the position of President of the Commission.

The President of the Commission shall inform Parliament in due time whether one or more Members of the Commission will stand as candidates in electoral campaigns for elections to the Parliament, as well as of the measures taken to ensure the respect of the principles of independence, integrity and discretion provided for by Article 245 TFEU and the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission.

Any Member of the Commission standing as candidate or participating in an electoral campaign for elections to the Parliament will undertake:

• to refrain from adopting a position, in the course of the campaign, that would not be in line with his/her duty of confidentiality, or that would infringe the principle of collegiality;
• to not use the Commission's human or material resources for activities linked to the electoral campaign.