Interinstitutional agreements on comitology and on exercising the right of inquiry (codecision)

This modus vivendi between the European Parliament and the Commission contains guidelines designed to overcome difficulties which have arisen with codecision arrangements (Article 189 B of the Treaty) for reasons relating to comitology, pending a longer-term solution to this problem. Basically, the modus vivendi contains three key elements: - substantial improvements to the informal information and consultation procedure by the Commission. The Commission will send all draft executive acts of a general nature within the framework of legislation subject to codecision to the European Parliament and the committee of experts at the same time; - a Council consultation procedure if a draft measure is referred to the Council presidium due to a dispute between the committee of experts and the Commission; - a conciliation procedure between the European Parliament and the Council in the event that Parliament refuses its assent. The modus vivendi also states that the comitology problem will be reviewed at the 1996 intergovernmental conference. In the meantime, the modus vivendi will do nothing to prejudice the positions of principle laid down by the three institutions.�