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

The European Parliament decided by 446 votes to 100, with 72 abstentions, to approve the conclusion on the revised Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Members believe the revised agreement represents institutional progress for Parliament in its relations with the Commission, while emphasising that this progress must remain enshrined in the Treaties. The agreement strengthens political accountability and legitimacy, improves dialogue and the flow of information between the two institutions, and improves cooperation on procedures and planning, including powers of scrutiny and inquiry.

Parliament welcomed, in particular, the following improvements:

- the affirmation of the principle of equal treatment of Parliament and Council and the role of the Commission as an honest broker, in particular by ensuring a comprehensive, timely, detailed and transparent flow of information to Parliament;

- the obligation of the President-elect to present to Parliament detailed information on the composition of the incoming College of Commissioners;

- the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that its impact assessments are conducted under its responsibility through a transparent procedure that guarantees an independent assessment;

- the strengthening of the Commission’s political accountability by ensuring the presence of the competent Members of the Commission in Parliament, both in plenary and in committees;

- the possibility for Parliament to summon the Commissioners and request their presence in plenary, in particular, during Question Time, in order to ensure a meaningful, open, and democratic debate between Members of the European Parliament and Members of the Commission;

- the obligation for Members of the Commission to attend committee meetings, and that only in the event that the presence of a commissioner is not explicitly required, can he or she be replaced by a high-ranking official;

- the commitment of the Commission that, whenever it intends to withdraw a proposal, the competent Member of the Commission will attend the committees’ meetings to discuss that intention;

- the commitment of the Commission to provide a comprehensive justification of, and information on, the exceptional and emergency cases where its proposals are based on Article 122 TFEU;

- the strengthening of Parliament’s right of initiative under Article 225 TFEU, by enhancing the follow-up by the Commission to Parliament’s requests;

- the commitment of the Commission that, whenever it requests the Parliament to decide urgently on a proposal, it will do so in writing and provide a justification for the request;

- the improved flow of information regarding international agreements at all stages of the negotiation, thereby strengthening democratic accountability and transparency in external policy.

Members regretted the Commission’s failure to indicate whether new legislative initiatives will be accompanied by an impact assessment, and to provide a proper justification where no impact assessment is provided. Parliament called on the Commission to renew its efforts to fulfil the obligation in Article 226 TFEU and facilitate the adoption of a regulation governing the exercise of the European Parliament's right of inquiry, which remains long overdue. It expects the Commission to honour the principle of mutual sincere cooperation when assessing Parliament's proposals on the matter and cooperate in good faith with the European Parliament to resolve any outstanding issues.

Regular monitoring by the European Parliament of the Agreement’s implementation should be put in place from its entry into force.