EP Rules of procedure, rules 3 and 4: verification of credentials and term of office of Members

 The committee adopted the report by Borut PAHOR (PES, SI) on amending Rules 3 and 4 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure. The aim was to improve the current provisions regarding the verification of the credentials of Members, particularly cases of incompatibility, given that problems had occurred in the past owing to belated notification by the competent authorities of the Member States of the names of the elected candidates. The amendments to Rules 3 and 4 therefore sought to provide the appropriate procedural instruments to guarantee the proper functioning of the plenary from its constituent session, to avoid instances of MEPs sitting in plenary while holding incompatible offices which have not yet been verified.

The committee said that the President should invite the competent authorities to notify Parliament "without delay" of the names of the elected Members and at the same time remind them to take the necessary measures to avoid any incompatibility. The report also called for every Member whose election has been notified to Parliament to make a written declaration, no later than six days before Parliament's constituent session, stating that he/she does not hold any incompatible office. Until such time as the Member's credentials have been verified, and provided he/she has signed the declaration, the Member may sit in Parliament. Where incompatibility is established, Parliament should establish that a vacancy exists and the vacant seat should be filled without delay.