P9_TA(2021)0330

Amendments to Parliament's Rules of Procedure

European Parliament decision of 7 July 2021 on amendments to Parliament's Rules of Procedure concerning Rules 99, 197, 213, 214, 222, 223, 230, 235 and Annex V, and on insertion of a new Rule 106a (2021/2048(REG))

(2022/C 99/26)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Rules 236 and 237 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A9-0214/2021),

1. Decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as shown below;

2. Decides that the amendments shall enter into force on the first day of the part-session following that of their adoption, with the exception of: (a) the amendment to Rule 213(1) concerning gender diversity, which shall enter into force at the opening of the first part-session following the next elections to the European Parliament due to be held in 2024; (b) the amendment to Rule 223 on the term of office of the members of the bureaux of the delegations, which shall enter into force at the opening of the first part-session following the next elections to the European Parliament due to be held in 2024;

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission, for information.

Amendment 1

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 99

Present text Amendment The provisions governing the procedure for granting discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the budget in accordance with the financial provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) (the ‘Financial Regulation’) are attached to these Rules as an annex. The provisions governing the procedure for granting discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the budget in accordance with the financial provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) (the ‘Financial Regulation’) are attached to these Rules as an annex.

Amendment 2

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 106 a (new)

Present text Amendment Rule 106 a Procedure for delivering Parliament’s position on the establishment or extension of Union trust funds for external actions 1. Where the Commission consults Parliament on its intention to establish or extend a trust fund for emergency or post-emergency actions pursuant to Article 234(1), third subparagraph, or Article 234(5), first subparagraph, of the Financial Regulation, the committee responsible shall draw up draft recommendations. Those draft recommendations may include specific recommendations to the Commission concerning the details of the trust fund, such as the objectives that it should pursue or how it should operate. Rule 118(2) to (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis. 2. Where Parliament is asked by the Commission to give its approval to a draft decision on the establishment or extension of a trust fund for thematic actions pursuant to Article 234(1), fourth subparagraph, or Article 234(5), first subparagraph, of the Financial Regulation, the committee responsible shall prepare a recommendation to approve or reject the draft decision. Rule 105(1) to (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis. 3. Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold or the committee responsible may submit to Parliament a motion for a resolution requesting the Commission to discontinue appropriations for a Union trust fund, or to revise the constitutive agreement with a view to the liquidation of a Union trust fund, pursuant to Article 234(5), second subparagraph, of the Financial Regulation.

Amendment 3

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 197

Present text Amendment Rule 197 deleted Motions calling for a matter to be declared inadmissible 1. At the beginning of the debate on a specific item on the agenda, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold may present a motion calling for it to be declared inadmissible. Such a motion shall be put to the vote immediately. The intention to present an inadmissibility motion shall be notified at least 24 hours in advance to the President who shall inform Parliament immediately. 2. If the motion is carried, Parliament shall immediately proceed to the next item on the agenda.

Amendment 4

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 213 — paragraph 1

Present text Amendment 1. At the first committee meeting after the appointment of committee members pursuant to Rule 209, and again two and a half years thereafter, the committee shall elect a bureau consisting of a Chair and of Vice-Chairs from among its full members in separate ballots. The number of Vice-Chairs to be elected shall be determined by Parliament upon a proposal by the Conference of Presidents. The diversity of Parliament must be reflected in the composition of the bureau of each committee ; it shall not be permissible to have an all male or all female bureau or for all of the Vice-Chairs to come from the same Member State. 1. At the first committee meeting after the appointment of committee members pursuant to Rule 209, and again two and a half years thereafter, the committee shall elect a bureau consisting of a Chair and of Vice-Chairs from among its full members in separate ballots. The number of Vice-Chairs to be elected shall be determined by Parliament upon a proposal by the Conference of Presidents. The diversity of Parliament must be reflected in the composition of the bureau of each committee . The Chair and the first Vice-Chair of a committee shall not be of the same gender. Gender balance shall also apply to the other members of the bureau. It shall not be permissible for all of the bureau members to come from the same Member State.

Amendment 6

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 214 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 4

Present text Amendment The Chair shall announce in committee all decisions and recommendations of the coordinators, which shall be deemed to have been adopted if they have not been contested. They shall be duly mentioned in the minutes of the committee meeting. The Chair shall announce in committee all decisions and recommendations of the coordinators, which shall be deemed to have been adopted if they have not been contested. In cases of contestation, the committee shall vote with a simple majority. Those decisions and recommendations shall be duly mentioned in the minutes of the committee meeting.

Amendment 7

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 1 — introductory part

Present text Amendment 1. When the Commission has published a citizens’ initiative in the relevant register pursuant to point (a) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), the President of the European Parliament, on a proposal from the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs: 1. When the Commission has published the notice on a citizens’ initiative in the relevant register pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), the President of the European Parliament, on a proposal from the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs:

Amendment 8

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 1 — point a

Present text Amendment (a) shall task the committee responsible for the subject-matter according to Annex VI with organising the public hearing provided for in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 ; the committee responsible for petitions shall be automatically associated under Rule 57; (a) shall task the committee responsible for the subject-matter according to Annex VI with organising the public hearing provided for in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 ; the committee responsible for petitions shall be automatically associated under Rule 57;

Amendment 9

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 1 — point b

Present text Amendment (b) may, where two or more citizens’ initiatives published in the relevant register pursuant to point (a) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 have a similar subject-matter, decide, after consulting the organisers, that a joint public hearing is to be organised at which all of the citizens’ initiatives involved shall be dealt with on an equal footing. (b) may, where two or more citizens’ initiatives for which the notices have been published in the relevant register pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 have a similar subject-matter, decide, after consulting the organisers, that a joint public hearing is to be organised at which all of the citizens’ initiatives involved shall be dealt with on an equal footing.

Amendment 10

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 2 — point a

Present text Amendment (a) shall ascertain whether the Commission has received the organisers at an appropriate level in accordance with point (b) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 ; (a) shall ascertain whether the Commission has received the group of organisers at an appropriate level in accordance with Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 ;

Amendment 11

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 3

Present text Amendment 3. The Chair of the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall convene the public hearing at an appropriate date within three months of the submission of the initiative to the Commission pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 . 3. The Chair of the committee responsible for the subject-matter shall convene the public hearing at an appropriate date within three months of the submission of the initiative to the Commission pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 .

Amendment 12

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 4 — subparagraph 2

Present text Amendment The committee responsible for the subject matter shall invite a representative group of organisers, including at least one of the contact persons referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 , to present the initiative at the hearing. The committee responsible for the subject matter shall invite a representative group of organisers, including at least one of the contact persons referred to in Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 , to present the initiative at the hearing.

Amendment 13

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 222 — paragraph 8

Present text Amendment 8. Parliament shall hold a debate on a citizens’ initiative published in the relevant register pursuant to point (a) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 , at a part-session following the public hearing and shall, when placing the debate on its agenda, decide whether or not to wind up the debate with a resolution. It shall not wind up the debate with a resolution if a report on an identical or similar subject matter is scheduled for the same or the next part-session, unless the President, for exceptional reasons, proposes otherwise. If Parliament decides to wind up a debate with a resolution, the committee responsible for the subject matter or a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold may table a motion for a resolution. Rule 132(3) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis. 8. Parliament shall hold a debate on a citizens’ initiative for which a notice has been published in the relevant register pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 , at a part-session following the public hearing and shall, when placing the debate on its agenda, decide whether or not to wind up the debate with a resolution. It shall not wind up the debate with a resolution if a report on an identical or similar subject matter is scheduled for the same or the next part-session, unless the President, for exceptional reasons, proposes otherwise. If Parliament decides to wind up a debate with a resolution, the committee responsible for the subject matter or a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold may table a motion for a resolution. Rule 132(3) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Amendment 14

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 223 — paragraph 3

Present text Amendment 3. The bureaux of the delegations shall be constituted in accordance with the procedure laid down for the standing committees in Rule 213. 3. The bureaux of the delegations shall be constituted in accordance with the procedure laid down for the committee bureaux in Rule 213. However, members of the bureaux of the delegations shall be elected for the duration of the parliamentary term.

Amendment 15

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 230 — paragraph 1

Present text Amendment 1. When Parliament is informed that the Commission has been invited to submit a proposal for a legal act under Article 11(4) of the Treaty on European Union and in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 , the committee responsible for petitions shall ascertain whether this is likely to affect its work and, if need be, shall inform those petitioners who have addressed petitions on related subjects. 1. When Parliament is informed that the Commission has been invited to submit a proposal for a legal act under Article 11(4) of the Treaty on European Union and in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/788 , the committee responsible for petitions shall ascertain whether this is likely to affect its work and, if need be, shall inform those petitioners who have addressed petitions on related subjects.

Amendment 16

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 230 — paragraph 2

Present text Amendment 2. Proposed citizens’ initiatives which have been registered in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 , but which cannot be submitted to the Commission in accordance with Article 9 of that Regulation since not all the relevant procedures and conditions laid down have been complied with, may be examined by the committee responsible for petitions if it considers that follow-up is appropriate. Rules 226, 227, 228 and 229 shall apply mutatis mutandis. 2. Proposed citizens’ initiatives which have been registered in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 , but which cannot be submitted to the Commission in accordance with Article 13 of that Regulation since not all the relevant procedures and conditions laid down have been complied with, may be examined by the committee responsible for petitions if it considers that follow-up is appropriate. Rules 226, 227, 228 and 229 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Amendment 17

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Rule 235 — paragraph 1 — subparagraph 1

Present text Amendment 1. Where, in accordance with Article 65(1) of the Financial Regulation, Parliament decides to reserve to itself the right to authorise expenditure, it shall act through its Bureau. 1. Where, in accordance with Article 73(1) of the Financial Regulation, Parliament decides to reserve to itself the right to authorise expenditure, it shall act through its Bureau.

Amendment 18

Parliament's Rules of Procedure

Annex V — Article 2 — paragraph 1

Present text Amendment 1. Parliament shall consider a report from the committee responsible concerning discharge by 30 April of the year following the adoption of the Court of Auditors' Annual Report as required by the Financial Regulation. 1. Parliament shall consider a report from the committee responsible concerning discharge by 15 May of the year following the adoption of the Court of Auditors' Annual Report as required by the Financial Regulation.

(1) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).

(1) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1).

(1) Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens’ initiative (OJ L 65, 11.3.2011, p. 1).

(1) Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens' initiative (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55).