EP Rules of procedure, rule 57: annual legislative programme and programmation of works

The committee adopted the report by Cecilia MALMSTRÖM (ELDR, S) recommending several changes to Parliament's Rules of Procedure to take account of a new agreement with the Commission on the implementation of the Commission's annual legislative and work programme. The idea is for both institutions to agree a timetable to allow all parties involved including Council adequate time to participate fully in the process. The committee believed that the priorities should be set out clearly with both Parliament and Council involved at an early stage in the preparatory phase. In addition, the programme should be realistic and take proper account of subsidiarity. The "State of the Union" debate should take place at the beginning of the year allowing the three institutions to agree on the priorities. There should be further consultation and a mid-term review with the Commission presenting the legislative programme in November with clear references to a timetable for adoption and the budgetary implication of all proposals. �