European Parliament decision of 31 January 2019 on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure affecting Chapters 1 and 4 of Title I; Chapter 3 of Title V; Chapters 4 and 5 of Title VII; Chapter 1 of Title VIII; Title XII; Title XIV and Annex II (2018/2170(REG))
Date: 2019-01-31
Institutions: Committee on Constitutional Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: amendment, parliamentary rules of procedure




C_2020411EN.01020401.xml










27.11.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 411/204






P8_TA(2019)0046
Amendments to Parliament's Rules of Procedure
European Parliament decision of 31 January 2019 on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure affecting Chapters 1 and 4 of Title I; Chapter 3 of Title V; Chapters 4 and 5 of Title VII; Chapter 1 of Title VIII; Title XII; Title XIV and Annex II (2018/2170(REG))
(2020/C 411/29)

The European Parliament,






—


having regard to Rules 226 and 227 of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A8-0462/2018),












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 next part-session with the exception of the amendments inserting the second subparagraph of paragraph 3e in Rule 11 and points 6 and 7 of the Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties as well as the amendments to Rules 196 and 204, 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 2019;












3.


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





Amendment 1


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — title








Present text




Amendment







Members' financial interests and
 standards of conduct


Standards of conduct





Amendment 2


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 1








Present text




Amendment








1.
   
Parliament shall lay down rules governing the transparency of its Members' financial interests in the form of a Code of Conduct which shall be adopted by a majority of its component Members and attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex

 (4)

.







deleted








Those rules shall not otherwise prejudice or restrict Members in the exercise of their office or of any related political or other activity.




 





 





Amendment 3


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 2








Present text




Amendment








2.
   
Members should adopt the systematic practice of only meeting interest representatives that have registered in the Transparency Register established by means of the Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register

 (5)

.







deleted







Amendment 4


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 — subparagraph 1








Present text




Amendment





The conduct of Members shall be characterised by mutual respect, be based on the values and principles laid down in the Treaties, and particularly in the Charter of Fundamental Rights
, and
 shall respect 
the dignity of Parliament
. 
Furthermore, it shall not compromise the smooth conduct of parliamentary business, the maintenance of security and order on Parliament's premises or the functioning of Parliament's equipment.




The conduct of Members shall be characterised by mutual respect 
and shall
 be based on the values and principles laid down in the Treaties, and particularly in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. 
Members shall respect Parliament’s dignity and shall not harm its reputation.







Amendment 5


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 — subparagraph 2








Present text




Amendment







In parliamentary debates, Members shall not resort to defamatory, racist or xenophobic language or behaviour, nor shall they unfurl banners.






deleted







Amendment 6


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 — subparagraph 3








Present text




Amendment







Members shall comply with Parliament's rules on the treatment of confidential information.






deleted







Amendment 7


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 — subparagraph 4








Present text




Amendment







Failure to comply with those standards and rules may lead to the application of measures in accordance with Rules 165, 166 and 167.






deleted







Amendment 8


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





3a.
   
Members shall not compromise the smooth conduct of parliamentary business and shall not compromise the maintenance of security and order on Parliament’s premises or the functioning of its equipment.








Amendment 9


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 b (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





3b.
   
Members shall not disrupt the good order of the Chamber and shall refrain from improper behaviour. They shall not display banners.








Amendment 10


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 c (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





3c.
   
In parliamentary debates in the Chamber, Members shall not resort to offensive language.








Amendment 11


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 c (new) — interpretation








Present text




Amendment





 




The assessment of whether the language used by a Member in a parliamentary debate is offensive or not should take into consideration, inter alia, the identifiable intentions of the speaker, the perception of the statement by the public, the extent to which it harms the dignity and reputation of Parliament, and the freedom of speech of the Member concerned. By way of example, defamatory language, ‘hate speech’ and incitement to discrimination based, in particular, on any ground referred to in Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, would ordinarily constitute cases of ‘offensive language’ within the meaning of this Rule.







Amendment 12


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 d (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





3d.
   
Members shall comply with Parliament’s rules on the treatment of confidential information.








Amendment 13


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 3 e (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





3e.
   
Members shall refrain from any type of psychological or sexual harassment and shall respect the Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties which is attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex

 (1a)






 




Members may not be elected as office-holders of Parliament or one of its bodies, be appointed as rapporteur or participate in an official delegation or interinstitutional negotiations, if they have not signed the declaration relating to that Code.






 






Amendment 14


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 4








Present text




Amendment








4.
   
The application of this Rule shall not otherwise detract from the liveliness of parliamentary debates, nor shall it undermine Members' freedom of speech.







deleted








It shall be based on full respect for Members’ prerogatives, as laid down in Union primary law and the Statute for Members.




 






It shall be based on the principle of transparency and be so undertaken that the relevant provisions are made clear to Members, who shall be informed individually of their rights and obligations.




 





Amendment 15


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 5








Present text




Amendment






5.   Where a person 
employed by
 a Member, or another person for whom the Member has arranged access to Parliament's premises or equipment, fails to comply with the standards of conduct set out in 
paragraph 3, the penalties provided for in Rule 166 may,
 where appropriate, 
be imposed upon
 the Member concerned.




5.   Where a person 
working for
 a Member, or another person for whom the Member has arranged access to Parliament's premises or equipment, fails to comply with the standards of conduct set out in 
this Rule
, 
this behaviour may,
 where appropriate, 
be imputable to
 the Member concerned.






Amendment 16


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 5 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





5a.
   
The application of this Rule shall not otherwise detract from the liveliness of parliamentary debates, nor shall it undermine Members' freedom of speech.








Amendment 17


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 5 b (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





5b.
   
This Rule shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in Parliament’s bodies, committees and delegations.








Amendment 18


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 6








Present text




Amendment








6.
   
The Quaestors shall determine the maximum number of assistants who may be registered by each Member.







deleted







Amendment 19


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 — paragraph 7








Present text




Amendment








7.
   
The code of conduct and the rights and privileges of former Members shall be laid down by a decision of the Bureau. No distinction shall be made in the treatment of former Members.







deleted







Amendments 20 and 75


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 11 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 




Rule 11a






 




Members’ financial interests and Transparency register






 





1.
   
Parliament shall lay down rules governing the transparency of its Members' financial interests in the form of a Code of Conduct which shall be adopted by a majority of its component Members and attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex

 (1a)

.







 




Those rules shall not otherwise prejudice or restrict Members in the exercise of their office or of any related political or other activity.






 





2.
   
Members should adopt the systematic practice of only meeting interest representatives that have registered in the Transparency Register established by means of the Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register

 (1b)

.







 





3.
   
Members should publish online all scheduled meetings with interest representatives falling under the scope of the Transparency register. Without prejudice to Article 4(6) of Annex I, rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and committee chairs shall, for each report, publish online all scheduled meetings with interest representatives falling under the scope of the Transparency register. The Bureau shall provide for necessary infrastructure on Parliament's website.







 





4.
   
The Bureau shall provide the necessary infrastructure on Members’ online page on Parliament’s website for those Members who wish to publish a voluntary audit or confirmation, as provided for under the applicable rules of the Statute for Members and its implementing rules, that their use of the General Expenditure Allowance complies with the applicable rules of the Statute for Members and its implementing measures.







 





5.
   
These rules shall not otherwise prejudice or restrict Members in the exercise of their office or of any related political or other activity.







 





6.
   
The code of conduct and the rights and privileges of former Members shall be laid down by a decision of the Bureau. No distinction shall be made in the treatment of former Members.







 






Amendment 88


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 32 — paragraph 5








Present text




Amendment






5.   The President shall be notified in a statement when a political group is set up. That statement shall specify the name of the group and the names of its members and bureau members. 
It shall be signed by
 all members of the group.






5.
   The President shall be notified in a statement when a political group is set up. That statement shall specify:





 








—


the name of the group,








 








—




a political declaration, setting out the purpose of the group,
 and








 








—


the names of its members and bureau members.








 


All members of the group 
shall declare in writing in an annex to the statement that they share the same political affinity.







Amendment 21


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 34 — paragraph 1 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





1a.
   
Intergroups as well as other unofficial groupings shall be fully transparent in their actions and shall not engage in any activities which might result in confusion with the official activities of Parliament or of its bodies. They may not organise events in third countries that coincide with a mission of an official Parliament body, including an official election observation delegation.








Amendment 22


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 34 — paragraph 2








Present text




Amendment






2.   
Such groupings shall be fully transparent in their actions and shall not engage in any activities which might result in confusion with the official activities of Parliament or of its bodies.
 Provided that the conditions laid down in 
the
 rules 
adopted by the Bureau
 governing 
their
 establishment are complied with, political 
groups
 may facilitate their activities by providing them with logistical support.




2.   Provided that the conditions laid down in 
Parliament’s internal
 rules governing 
the
 establishment 
of such groupings
 are complied with, 
a
 political 
group
 may facilitate their activities by providing them with logistical support.






Amendment 23


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 34 — paragraph 3 — subparagraph 1 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 




Other unofficial groupings shall also be required to declare, by the end of the following month, any support, whether in cash or in kind, which Members have not declared individually in accordance with their obligations under Annex I.







Amendment 24


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 34 — paragraph 3 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





3 a.
   
Only interest representatives who are registered in the Transparency register may participate in intergroup or other unofficial grouping activities organised on Parliament’s premises, for instance by attending meetings or events of the intergroup or other unofficial grouping, by offering support to it, or by co-hosting its events.








Amendment 25


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 34 — paragraph 4








Present text




Amendment






4.   The Quaestors shall keep a register of the declarations referred to in paragraph 3. 
That register shall be published on the Parliament's website
. The Quaestors shall adopt detailed rules on those declarations 
and shall ensure the effective enforcement of this Rule.






4.   The Quaestors shall keep a register of the declarations referred to in paragraph 3. The Quaestors shall adopt detailed rules on those declarations 
and their publication on Parliament’s website
.






Amendment 26


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 34 — paragraph 4 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





4a.
   
The Quaestors shall ensure the effective enforcement of this Rule.








Amendment 27


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 128 — paragraph 4








Present text




Amendment






4.   
One of
 the questioners 
may
 move the question in Parliament. The addressee shall answer.




4.   
A Member designated in advance by
 the questioners 
shall
 move the question in Parliament
. If that Member is not present, the question shall lapse.
 The addressee shall answer.






Amendment 28


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130 — paragraph 1








Present text




Amendment






1.   Any Member may put questions for written answer to the President of the European Council, to the Council, to the Commission or to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in accordance with criteria laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure (27). The content of questions shall be the sole responsibility of their authors.




1.   Any Member, 
a political group or a committee
 may put questions for written answer to the President of the European Council, to the Council, to the Commission or to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in accordance with criteria laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure (27). The content of questions shall be the sole responsibility of their authors.






Amendment 29


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130 — paragraph 2








Present text




Amendment






2.   Questions shall be submitted to the President. Issues concerning the admissibility of a question shall be decided by the President. The President's decision shall not be based exclusively on the provisions of the annex referred to in paragraph 1 but on the provisions of these Rules of Procedure in general. The questioner shall be notified of the President's reasoned decision.




2.   Questions shall be submitted 
in electronic form
 to the President. Issues concerning the admissibility of a question shall be decided by the President. The President's decision shall not be based exclusively on the provisions of the annex referred to in paragraph 1 but on the provisions of these Rules of Procedure in general. The questioner shall be notified of the President's reasoned decision.






Amendment 30


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130 — paragraph 3








Present text




Amendment






3.   
Questions shall be submitted in electronic format
. Each Member may submit a maximum of twenty questions over a rolling period of three months.




3.   Each Member, 
political group or committee
 may submit a maximum of twenty questions over a rolling period of three months. 
As a general rule, the questions shall be answered by the addressee within six weeks of being forwarded to it. However, any Member, political group or committee may every month designate one of its questions as a ‘priority question’ to be answered by the addressee within three weeks of being forwarded to it.








Amendment 31


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130 — paragraph 5








Present text




Amendment






5.   If a question 
cannot be
 answered by the addressee within 
three weeks (priority question) or within six weeks (non-priority question) of being forwarded to the addressee, it may, at the request of the author, be placed
 on the agenda for 
the
 next meeting 
of the committee responsible
.




5.   If a question 
was not
 answered by the addressee within 
the deadline provided for in paragraph 3, the committee responsible may decide to place it
 on the agenda for 
its
 next meeting.






Amendment 32


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130 — paragraph 6








Present text




Amendment








6.
   
Each Member may table one priority question per month.







deleted







Amendment 33


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130 — paragraph 7








Present text




Amendment






7.   Questions, and 
any
 answers, including their related annexes, thereto, shall be published on Parliament’s website.




7.   Questions, and answers, including their related annexes, thereto, shall be published on Parliament’s website.






Amendment 34


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130a








Present text




Amendment







Rule 130 a






deleted








Minor interpellations for written answer




 







1.
   
In minor interpellations, consisting in questions for written answer, the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy may be asked by a committee, a political group or at least five per cent of Parliament’s component Members to provide Parliament with information on specifically designated issues.





 






Such questions shall be submitted to the President who, provided that the questions are in accordance with these Rules of Procedure generally and that they fulfil the criteria laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure

 (28)

, shall ask the addressee to reply within two weeks; the President may extend this time limit in consultation with the questioners.




 







2.
   
Questions and answers shall be published on Parliament's website.





 





 





Amendment 35


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — title








Present text




Amendment





Major interpellations for written answer 
with debate




Major interpellations for written answer





Amendment 36


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 1








Present text




Amendment






1.   
In
 major interpellations, 
consisting in
 questions for written answer 
with debate
, 
those questions may be
 put to the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by 
a committee,
 a political group 
or at least five percent of Parliament’s component Members. Questions may include a brief explanatory statement.






1.   Major interpellations 
shall consist of
 questions for written answer put to the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by a political group.







Such questions shall be submitted in writing to the President who, provided that the questions are in accordance with these Rules of Procedure generally and that they fulfil the criteria laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure

 (29)

, shall immediately inform the addressee of the question and ask the addressee to state whether it will be answered and, if so, when.




 





Amendment 37


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 1 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





1a.
   
The major interpellation shall be of general interest and shall be submitted in writing to the President. It shall not exceed 500 words. Provided that the major interpellation is in accordance with the provisions of the Rules in general, the President shall immediately transmit it to the addressee for a written answer.








Amendment 38


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 1 b (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





1b.
   
There shall be maximum 30 major interpellations every year. The Conference of Presidents shall ensure a fair distribution of such interpellations among the political groups, and no political group shall submit more than one per month.








Amendment 39


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 1 c (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





1c.
   
If the addressee fails to answer the major interpellation within six weeks of being forwarded to it, the interpellation shall, at the request of the author, be placed on the final draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 149 and subject to paragraph 3a.








Amendment 40


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 2








Present text




Amendment






2.   On receipt of the written 
reply
, the major interpellation shall be placed on the draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 149. 
A debate must be held if a committee, a political group or at least five per cent of Parliament’s component Members so demand.






2.   On receipt of the written 
answer, if Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold so request
, the major interpellation shall be placed on the 
final
 draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 149 
and subject to paragraph 3a .








Amendment 41


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 3








Present text




Amendment








3.
   
If the addressee refuses to answer the question or fails to do so within three weeks, the question shall be placed on the draft agenda. A debate must be held if a committee, a political group or at least five per cent of Parliament’s component Members so demand. Prior to the debate one of the questioners may be given leave to state supplementary reasons for the question.







deleted







Amendment 42


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 3 a








Present text




Amendment





 





3a.
   
The number of major interpellations debated during the same part-session shall not exceed three. If debates are requested for more than three major interpellations during the same part-session, the Conference of Presidents shall include them in the final draft agenda in the order it has received those requests for debate.








Amendment 43


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 4








Present text




Amendment






4.   
One of
 the 
questioners may
 move the 
question
 in Parliament. 
One member
 of the 
institution concerned
 shall answer.




4.   
A Member designated in advance by
 the 
author, or by those requesting the debate in accordance with paragraph 2, shall
 move the 
major interpellation
 in Parliament. 
If that Member is not present, the major interpellation shall lapse. The addressee
 shall answer.





Rule 123(2) to 
(5)
 concerning the tabling of, and voting on, motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.


Rule 123(2) to 
(8)
 concerning the tabling of, and voting on, motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.





Amendment 44


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 130b — paragraph 5








Present text




Amendment






5.   Such 
questions
, as well as the answers to them, shall be published on Parliament's website.




5.   Such 
interpellations
, as well as the answers to them, shall be published on Parliament's website.






Amendment 45


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 165 — paragraph 1








Present text




Amendment






1.   The President shall call to order any Member who 
disrupts the smooth conduct of the proceedings or whose conduct fails to comply with the relevant provisions of Rule 11.






1.   The President shall call to order any Member who 
breaches the standards of conduct defined in Rule 11 (3b) or (3c).








Amendment 46


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 165 — paragraph 2








Present text




Amendment






2.   If the 
offence
 is repeated, the President shall call the Member to order a second time, and the fact shall be recorded in the minutes.




2.   If the 
breach
 is repeated, the President shall call the Member to order a second time, and the fact shall be recorded in the minutes.






Amendment 47


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 165 — paragraph 3








Present text




Amendment






3.   If the 
disturbance
 continues, or if a further offence is committed, the Member may be denied the right to speak and may be excluded from the Chamber by the President for the remainder of the sitting. In cases of exceptional seriousness, the President may also resort to exclusion of the Member concerned from the Chamber for the remainder of the sitting immediately and without a second call to order. 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.




3.   If the 
breach
 continues, or if a further 
breach
 is committed, the Member may be denied the right to speak and may be excluded from the Chamber by the President for the remainder of the sitting. In cases of exceptional seriousness, the President may also resort to exclusion of the Member concerned from the Chamber for the remainder of the sitting immediately and without a second call to order. 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 48


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 165 — paragraph 5








Present text




Amendment






5.   The President may decide to interrupt the live broadcasting of the sitting in the case of 
defamatory, racist or xenophobic language or behaviour
 by a Member.




5.   The President may decide to interrupt the live broadcasting of the sitting in the case of 
a breach of Rule 11(3b) or (3c)
 by a Member.






Amendment 49


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 165 — paragraph 6 — subparagraph 1








Present text




Amendment





The President may order the deletion from the audiovisual record of the proceedings of those parts of a speech by a Member that 
contain defamatory, racist or xenophobic language.




The President may order the deletion from the audiovisual record of the proceedings of those parts of a speech by a Member that 
breach Rule 11(3b) or (3c).







Amendment 50


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 166 — paragraph 1








Present text




Amendment






1.   In serious cases of 
disorder or disruption of Parliament in violation of the principles laid down in Rule 11
, the President shall adopt a reasoned decision imposing the appropriate penalty.




1.   In serious cases of 
breach of Rule 11 (3a) to (5b),
 the President shall adopt a reasoned decision imposing 
upon the Member concerned
 the appropriate penalty 
in accordance with this Rule.







 




In relation to Rule 11 (3b) or (3c), the President may adopt a reasoned decision under this Rule regardless of whether or not an immediate measure within the meaning of Rule 165 had previously been imposed upon the Member concerned.






 




In relation to Rule 11 (3e), the President may only adopt a reasoned decision under this Rule following the establishment of the occurrence of a harassment in accordance with the applicable internal administrative procedure on harassment and its prevention.






 




The President may impose a penalty upon a Member in cases in which provision is made, by these Rules of Procedure or by a decision adopted by the Bureau under Rule 25, for the application of this Rule.








The Member concerned shall be invited by the President to submit written observations before the decision is adopted. In exceptional cases, the President may convene an oral hearing of the Member concerned.




 






That decision shall be notified to the Member concerned by registered letter or, in urgent cases, via the ushers.




 






After that decision has been notified to the Member concerned, any penalty imposed on a Member shall be announced by the President in Parliament. The presiding officers of the bodies, committees and delegations on which the Member serves shall be informed.




 






Once the penalty becomes final, it shall be published prominently on Parliament's website, and shall remain there for the rest of the parliamentary term.




 





Amendment 51


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 166 — paragraph 1 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





1a.
   
The Member concerned shall be invited by the President to submit written observations before the decision is adopted. The President may decide to convene an oral hearing instead whenever it is more appropriate.







 




The decision imposing the penalty shall be notified to the Member concerned by registered letter or, in urgent cases, via the ushers.






 




After that decision has been notified to the Member concerned, any penalty imposed on a Member shall be announced by the President in Parliament. The presiding officers of the bodies, committees and delegations on which the Member serves shall be informed.






 




Once the penalty becomes final, it shall be published prominently on Parliament's website, and shall remain there for the rest of the parliamentary term.







Amendment 52


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 166 — paragraph 2








Present text




Amendment






2.   When assessing the conduct observed, account shall be taken of its exceptional, recurrent or permanent nature and of its seriousness.




2.   When assessing the conduct observed, account shall be taken of its exceptional, recurrent or permanent nature and of its seriousness. 
Account shall also be taken, if applicable, of possible damage inflicted on the dignity and reputation of Parliament.









A distinction should be drawn between actions of a visual nature, which may be tolerated provided they are not offensive, defamatory, racist or xenophobic, and remain within reasonable bounds, and those which actively disrupt parliamentary activity.




 





Amendment 53


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 166 — paragraph 4








Present text




Amendment






4.   The measures laid down in points (b) to (e) of paragraph 3 may be doubled in the case of repeated 
offences
, or if the Member refuses to comply with a measure taken under Rule 165(3).




4.   The measures laid down in points (b) to (e) of paragraph 3 may be doubled in the case of repeated 
breaches
, or if the Member refuses to comply with a measure taken under Rule 165(3).






Amendment 54


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 174 — paragraph 7








Present text




Amendment






7.   The President may put other amendments to the vote collectively where they are complementary, unless a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold have requested separate or split votes. Authors of amendments may also propose 
such
 collective votes 
where
 their amendments 
are complementary.






7.   The President may put other amendments to the vote collectively where they are complementary, unless a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold have requested separate or split votes. Authors of amendments may also propose collective votes 
on
 their amendments.






Amendment 55


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 174 — paragraph 10








Present text




Amendment






10.   Amendments in respect of which a roll-call vote has been requested shall be put to the vote 
individually
.




10.   Amendments in respect of which a roll-call vote has been requested shall be put to the vote 
separately from other amendments
.






Amendment 56


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 177 — interpretation








Present text




Amendment





Any infringement of this Rule is considered 
as a serious case of disorder as referred to in Rule 166(1) and will have the legal consequences mentioned in that Rule.




Any infringement of this Rule is considered 
a serious breach of Rule 11(3b).







Amendment 57


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 196








Present text




Amendment





Rule 196


Rule 196




Setting-up of standing committees


Setting-up of standing committees




Parliament shall, on a proposal from the Conference of Presidents, set up standing committees. Their responsibilities shall be defined in an annex to these Rules of Procedure (52). That annex shall be adopted by a majority of the votes cast. Their members shall be appointed during the first part-session following the re-election of Parliament 
and again two and a half years thereafter
.


Parliament shall, on a proposal from the Conference of Presidents, set up standing committees. Their responsibilities shall be defined in an annex to these Rules of Procedure (52). That annex shall be adopted by a majority of the votes cast. Their members shall be appointed during the first part-session following the re-election of Parliament.




The responsibilities of standing committees can also be 
defined
 at a time other than that at which the committee is set up.


The responsibilities of standing committees can also be 
redefined
 at a time other than that at which the committee is set up.









Amendment 58


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 204 — paragraph 1








Present text




Amendment






1.   At the first committee meeting after the appointment of committee members pursuant to Rule 199, 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 199, 
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.






Amendment 59


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 210a — title








Present text




Amendment





Procedure for the consultation by a committee of confidential information 
received by Parliament




Procedure for the consultation by a committee of confidential information 
in a committee meeting in camera







Amendment 60


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 210a — paragraph 3 — subparagraph 1








Present text




Amendment





Once the Chair of the committee has declared that the confidential procedure is to be applied, the meeting 
shall
 be attended only by members of the committee 
and by officials and experts who
 have been designated in advance by the Chair 
and whose presence is strictly necessary
.


Once the Chair of the committee has declared that the confidential procedure is to be applied, the meeting 
shall be in camera and may
 be attended only by members of the committee, 
including substitute members. The committee may decide, in compliance with the applicable inter-institutional legal framework, that other Members may attend the meeting pursuant to Rule 206(3). The meeting may also be attended by those persons who
 have been designated in advance by the Chair, 
as having a need-to-know, in due respect of any restrictions stemming from the applicable rules governing the treatment of confidential information by Parliament. As regards the consultation of classified information at the level of CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL and above, or in case of specific limitations of access stemming from the interinstitutional legal framework, additional restrictions may apply.







Amendment 61


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 210a — paragraph 4








Present text




Amendment






4.   Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee which has applied the confidential procedure may request consideration of a breach of confidentiality. This request may be placed on the agenda of the next committee meeting. By a majority of its members, the committee may decide to submit the matter to the President for further consideration under Rules 11 and 166.




4.   
Without prejudice to the applicable rules on breach of confidentiality in general,
 Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee which has applied the confidential procedure may request consideration of a breach of confidentiality. This request may be placed on the agenda of the next committee meeting. By a majority of its members, the committee may decide to submit the matter to the President for further consideration under Rules 11 and 166.






Amendment 62


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 211 — title








Present text




Amendment





Public hearings on citizens’ initiatives


Public hearings 
and debates
 on citizens’ initiatives





Amendment 63


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 211 — paragraph 7 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





7 a.
   
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 123(3) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.








Amendment 76


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 211 — paragraph 8








Present text




Amendment






8.   In the event that the Commission fails to 
put forward a
 proposal 
for a legal act
 on a citizens' initiative
, successfully submitted to it in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011, within a twelve-month period after issuing a positive opinion on it and setting out in a communication the action it intends to take
, the committee responsible for the subject matter may organise a hearing in consultation with the 
citizen's
 initiative organisers 
and, if necessary, may activate
 the procedure laid down in Rule 46 
with a view to exercising Parliament's right to request the Commission to submit an appropriate proposal
.




8.   
Following the Commission's communication setting out its legal and political conclusions on a specific citizens’ initiative, Parliament shall assess the actions taken by the Commission as a result of such communication.
 In the event that the Commission fails to 
submit an appropriate
 proposal on a citizens' initiative, the committee responsible for the subject matter may organise a hearing in consultation with the 
citizens'
 initiative organisers
. Furthermore, Parliament may decide whether to hold a plenary debate and whether to wind up this debate with a resolution. The procedure set out in Rule 211(7a) shall apply mutatis mutandis. Parliament may also decide to exercise the right conferred on it by Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, thereby activating
 the procedure laid down in Rule 46.






Amendment 64


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 223a — title — footnote








Present text




Amendment












61



Rule 223a shall only apply to European political parties and European political foundations within the meaning of Article 2 (3) and (4) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014. 
See also footnotes to Rules 224 and 225.















61



Rule 223a shall only apply to European political parties and European political foundations within the meaning of Article 2 (3) and (4) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.









Amendment 65


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 223a — paragraph 2 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





2a.
   
On the basis of the first subparagraph of Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, a group of at least 50 citizens may submit a reasoned request inviting Parliament to request the verification mentioned in paragraph 2. That reasoned request shall not be launched or signed by Members. It shall include substantial factual evidence showing that the European political party or European political foundation in question does not comply with the conditions referred to in paragraph 2.







 




The President shall forward admissible requests from groups of citizens to the committee responsible for further examination.






 




Following that examination, which should take place within four months from the President’s referral, the committee responsible may, by a majority of its component members representing at least three political groups, submit a proposal to follow up the request and inform the President thereof.






 




The group of citizens shall be informed of the outcome of the committee’s examination.






 




Upon reception of the committee proposal, the President shall communicate the request to Parliament.






 




Following such a communication, Parliament shall, by a majority of the votes cast, decide on whether or not to lodge a request to the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations.






 




The committee shall adopt guidelines for the treatment of such requests from groups of citizens.







Amendment 89/rev


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 228 a (new)








Present text




Amendment





 





Rule 228a




Gender Mainstreaming




The Bureau shall adopt a gender action plan aimed at incorporating a gender perspective in all Parliament’s activities, at all levels and all stages. The gender action plan shall be monitored bi-annually and reviewed at least every five years.








Amendment 66


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Rule 229 — paragraph 3








Present text




Amendment





These provisions shall not apply to petitions and communications that do not require a decision.


These provisions shall not apply to petitions, 
citizens’ initiatives
 and communications that do not require a decision.





Amendment 67


Parliament's Rules of Procedure


Annex II — title








Present text




Amendment





CRITERIA FOR QUESTIONS AND INTERPELLATIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER UNDER RULES 130, 
130A, 130B,
 131 AND 131A


CRITERIA FOR QUESTIONS AND INTERPELLATIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER UNDER RULES 130, 131 AND 131A






(4)  
See Annex I



(5)  
Agreement of 16 April 2014 between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy- making and policy implementation (OJ L 277, 19.9.2014, p. 11).



(1a)  
The Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties, adopted by the Bureau on 2 July 2018, shall become an annex to these Rules.



(1a)  
See Annex I.



(1b)  
Agreement of 16 April 2014 between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation (OJ L 277, 19.9.2014, p. 11).



(27)  See Annex II

(27)  See Annex II

(28)  
See Annex II



(29)  
See Annex II



(52)  See Annex V.

(52)  See Annex V.