Committee on petitions. Annual report 1998-1999

The Parliament adopted its resolution drafted by Mr. Edward NEWMAN (PES, UK), on the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions during the parliamentary year 1998-99. It emphasises the need for petitions to be dealt with as effectively and thoroughly as possible so that Parliament can improve its monitoring of the general operation of Community policies, especially on social security, environmental questions and matters related with the exercise of the right of freedom of movement. Parliament also emphasises that the greater use of new information technologies would enable the petitions received by Parliament to be dealt with more effectively and in a more expedient way. It expresses its regret that the Council continues to ignore most of the communications of the Committee of Petitions concerning serious failures to implement Community law and the Parliament's call for regular attendance by Council officials at committee meetings. It also emphasises the need for the Member States to reply fully and promptly to requests for information and action addressed to them by the Commission concerning petitions. The EP strongly recommends the adoption of an inter-institutional code of conduct concerning the follow-up of petitions by the Council representing the Member States and it urges the Member States to consider at Council level a common code in respect of their administrative dealings with citizens of the European Union.�