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))
Date: 2021-07-07
Institutions: Committee on Constitutional Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: amendment, parliamentary rules of procedure




C_2022099EN.01022601.xml










1.3.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 99/226






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).