TEXTS ADOPTED
P6_TA(2006)0021
Standards of conduct of Members (Amendment of the Rules of Procedure)
European Parliament decision on the amendments to be made to the European Parliament's Rules
of Procedure relating to standards for the conduct of Members of the European Parliament
(2005/2075(REG))
The European Parliament ,
— having regard to the letter of 18 March 2005 from its President,
— having regard to the amendments to its Rules of Procedure drawn up by the Bureau on 7 March 2005,— having regard to Rule 202 of its Rules of Procedure,— having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A6-0413/2005),
A. whereas it must be possible for the business of the House to be conducted in a dignified atmosphere,
although the vibrancy of plenary debates must also be maintained,
B. whereas the provisions currently included in its Rules of Procedure do not allow for an appropriate
response in the event of disruption of its business or of other activities taking place within its precincts,
C. whereas, as is the case in all parliamentary assemblies, provision must be made for the possibility of
penalties being imposed on any Member or Members not complying with the standards of conduct, for
the definition of the major principles of which, as well as for the devising of an internal appeals proce-dure that guarantees the right of defence of Members on whom penalties have been imposed, it bearsresponsibility,
1. Decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as set out below;2. Decides that these amendments shall enter into force on the first day of the next part-session, pursuant
to Rule 202(3) of its Rules of Procedure;
3. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council, to the Commission and to the parlia-
ments of the Member States, for information.
PRESENT TEXT AMENDMENTS
Amendment 1
Rule 9, title and paragraph 1, subparagraph 1
Code of conduct Members' financial interests, standards of conduct and
access to Parliament
1. Parliament may lay down a code of conduct for its
Members. The code shall be adopted pursuant to Rule
202(2) and attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex.1. Parliament may lay down rules governing the transpar-
ency of its Members' financial interests, which shall be
attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex.24.11.2006 C 287 E/254 Official Journal of the European Union
Thursday, 19 January 2006EN
PRESENT TEXT AMENDMENTS
Amendment 2
Rule 9, paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Members' conduct shall be characterised by mutual
respect, be based on the values and principles laid down in
the basic texts on which the European Union is founded,
respect the dignity of Parliament and not compromise thesmooth conduct of parliamentary business or disturb thepeace and quiet of any of Parliament's premises.
Failure to comply with these principles may lead to applica-
tion of the measures provided for in Rules 146, 147 and148.
Amendment 3
Rule 9, paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. The application of this Rule shall in no way detract
from the liveliness of parliamentary debates nor undermineMembers' freedom of speech.
It shall be based on full respect for Members' prerogatives,
as laid down in primary law and the Statute applicable to
them.
It shall be based on the principle of transparency and be so
undertaken that the relevant provisions are made clear toMembers, who shall be informed individually of their rightsand obligations.
Amendment 4
Interpretation of Rule 22, paragraph 3
The term 'conduct of sittings' includes the matter of the
conduct of Members within all of Parliament's premises.
Amendment 5
Rule 96, paragraph 3
3. Committees shall normally meet in public. They may
decide, however, at the latest when the agenda of a meeting isadopted, to divide the agenda for that meeting into itemsopen to the public and items closed to the public. However, if
a meeting is held in camera, the committee may, subject to
Article 4(1) to (4) of European Parliament and Council Regu-lation (EC) No 1049/2001, open documents and minutesfrom the meeting to public access.3. Committees shall normally meet in public. They may
decide, however, at the latest when the agenda of a meeting isadopted, to divide the agenda for that meeting into itemsopen to the public and items closed to the public. However, if
a meeting is held in camera, the committee may, subject to
Article 4(1) to (4) of European Parliament and Council Regu-lation (EC) No 1049/2001, open documents and minutesfrom the meeting to public access. Rule 147 shall apply in
the event of any breach of the rules governing confidenti-
ality.24.11.2006 C 287 E/255 Official Journal of the European Union
Thursday, 19 January 2006EN
PRESENT TEXT AMENDMENTS
Amendment 6
Title VI, Chapter 3 a (new), title (new)
CHAPTER 3a
MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF NON-
COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCTOF MEMBERS
(to be inserted before Rule 146)
Amendment 7
Rule 146, title and paragraph 1
Order in the Chamber Immediate measures
1. The President shall call to order any Member who
creates a disturbance during the proceedings .1. The President shall call to order any Member who
disrupts the smooth conduct of the proceedings or whoseconduct fails to comply with the relevant provisions ofRule 9 .
Amendment 8
Rule 146, paragraph 3
3. If a further offence is committed, the President may
exclude the offender from the Chamber for the remainder of
the sitting. The Secretary-General shall see to it that this disci-
plinary measure is carried out immediately , with the assis-
tance of the ushers and, if necessary, of Parliament's SecurityService.3. Should the disturbance continue, or if a further offence
is committed, the President may deny the offender the right
to speak and exclude him from the Chamber for the
remainder of the sitting. He may also resort to the latter
measure immediately and without a second call to order incases of exceptional seriousness. The Secretary-General shall ,
without delay, see to it that such disciplinary measures are
carried out, with the assistance of the ushers and, if necessary,
of Parliament's Security Service.
Amendment 9
Rule 146, paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Should disturbances threaten to obstruct the business
of the House, the President shall close or suspend the sittingfor a specific period to restore order. If he cannot makehimself heard, he shall leave the Chair; this shall have theeffect of suspending the sitting. The President shall recon-vene the sitting.
Amendment 10
Rule 146, paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. The powers provided for in paragraphs 1 to 3a shall
be vested, mutatis mutandis, in the presiding officers of
bodies, committees and delegations as provided for in theRules of Procedure.24.11.2006 C 287 E/256 Official Journal of the European Union
Thursday, 19 January 2006EN
PRESENT TEXT AMENDMENTS
Amendment 11
Rule 146, paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Where appropriate, and bearing in mind the serious-
ness of the breach of the Members' standards of conduct, theMember in the Chair may, no later than the following part-session or the following meeting of the body, committee or
delegation concerned, ask the President to apply Rule 147 .
Amendment 12
Rule 147
Exclusion of Members Penalties1. In serious cases of disorder or disruption of Parliament,
the President may after giving formal notice, move, either
immediately or no later than the next part-session, that
Parliament pass a vote of censure which shall automaticallyinvolve immediate exclusion from the Chamber and suspen-sion for two to five days .1. In exceptionally serious cases of disorder or disruption
of Parliament in violation of the principles laid down in Rule
9, the President, after hearing the Member concerned, shall
adopt a reasoned decision laying down the appropriatepenalty, which he shall notify to the Member concerned andto the presiding officers of the bodies, committees and dele-gations on which the Member serves, before announcing
them to plenary .
2. Parliament shall decide whether to take such disci-
plinary action at a time to be decided by the President,which shall be either at the sitting during which the eventsin question occurred or, in the case of disruption outside theChamber, when the President was informed, or at the latest
at the next part-session. The Member concerned shall be
entitled to be heard by Parliament before the vote. Hisspeaking time shall not exceed five minutes.2. When assessing the conduct observed account shall be
taken of its exceptional, recurrent or permanent nature andof its seriousness, on the basis of the guidelines annexed tothese Rules of Procedure. (*)
3. An electronic vote shall be taken without debate on the
request for disciplinary action. Requests submitted pursuantto Rule 149(3) or 160(1) shall not be admissible.3. The penalty may consist of one or more of the
following measures:
(a) a reprimand;
(b) forfeiture of entitlement to the daily subsistence allow-
ance for a period of between 2 and 10 days;
(c) without prejudice to the right to vote in plenary, and
subject, in this instance, to strict compliance with theMembers' standards of conducts, temporary suspension,
for a period of between 2 and 10 consecutive days on
which Parliament or any of its bodies, committees ordelegations meet, from participation in all or some ofthe activities of Parliament;
(d) submission to the Conference of Presidents, pursuant to
Rule 18, of a proposal for the Member's suspension orremoval from one or more of the elected offices held bythe Member in Parliament.
(*) See Annex XVIa.24.11.2006 C 287 E/257 Official Journal of the European Union
Thursday, 19 January 2006EN
PRESENT TEXT AMENDMENTS
Amendment 13
Rule 148
Disturbances Internal appeal proceduresShould disturbances in Parliament threaten to obstruct the
business of the House, the President shall close or suspendthe sitting for a specific period to restore order. If he cannotmake himself heard, he shall leave the Chair. This shall havethe effect of suspending the sitting. The President shall
reconvene the sitting.The Member concerned may lodge an internal appeal with
the Bureau within two weeks of notification of the penaltyimposed by the President. Such an appeal shall have theeffect of suspending the application of that penalty. TheBureau may, not later than four weeks after the lodging of
the appeal, annul, confirm or reduce the penalty imposed,
without prejudice to the external rights of appeal open tothe Member concerned. Should the Bureau fail to take adecision within the time-limit laid down, the penalty shall bedeclared null and void.
Amendment 14
Annex XVI a (new)
ANNEX XVIa
Guidelines for the interpretation of the standards of conduct
of Members
1. A distinction should be drawn between visual actions,
which may be tolerated, provided they are not offensive
and/or defamatory, remain within reasonable bounds anddo not lead to conflict, and those which actively disruptany parliamentary activity whatsoever.
2. Members shall be held responsible for any failure by
persons whom they employ or for whom they arrange
access to Parliament to comply on Parliament's premiseswith the standards of conduct applicable to Members.
The President or his representatives may exercise disci-
plinary powers over such persons and any other outsideperson present on Parliament's premises.
P6_TA(2006)0022
Implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises
European Parliament resolution on implementing the European Charter for Small Enterprises
(2005/2123(INI))
The European Parliament ,
— having regard to its resolution of 9 March 2005 on the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy (1),
— having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the Lisbon European Council in March 2000;24.11.2006 C 287 E/258 Official Journal of the European Union
Thursday, 19 January 2006EN
(1) OJ C 320 E, 15.12.2005, p. 164.