Powers of the European Parliament

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Powers of the European Parliament


Legislative power

The European Parliament adopts European legislation with the Council

The normal legislative procedure is codecision. This procedure puts the European Parliament and the Council on an equal footing, and together they adopt legislation proposed by the Commission. Parliament has to give its final agreement.

Codecision is an essential power of the European Parliament, which enhances its ability to influence European legislation. Codecision applies, among other things, to the free movement of workers, the establishment of the internal market, research and technological development, the environment, consumer protection, education, culture and health. It has enabled the European Parliament to be instrumental in the adoption of legislation whereby, to quote only a few examples,

  • the member states can rule that certain major sporting events must be broadcast in unencrypted form within their territory,
  • much stricter anti-pollution rules apply to fuel and motor oils,
  • the Commission can apply emergency safeguard measures to animal feed,
  • health warnings on cigarette packets are stricter and more visible,
  • the use of heavy metals - lead, mercury and cadmium - in the manufacture of vehicles is to be barred from 2003, so that derelict cars can be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way; the cost of recycling scrap vehicles is to be met by manufacturers; recycling of electrical equipment is also to be improved.

Although codecision is the standard procedure, there are important areas in which Parliament simply gives an opinion; these include taxation and the annual farm price review.

As well as reinforcing Parliament's codecision powers, the Amsterdam Treaty established its position as a driving force behind EU policy making. At the instigation of one or other of its committees Parliament frequently adopts reports designed to steer EU policy in a particular direction.

Parliament's legislative work is organised for the main part as follows:

The Commission submits a legislative proposal to Parliament; one of the standing committees (the 'committee responsible') is instructed to draw up a report and appoints a rapporteur ( i.e. a member of the Committee who is charged with the task of drafting the Committee's report). One or more other committees may be asked to deliver opinions. Each adopts its opinion and forwards it to the committee responsible;

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MEPs - and the committees asked to deliver opinions - can table amendments to the draft report drawn up by the rapporteur; it is then adopted, possibly with some changes, by the committee responsible; the political groups examine the report from their own political standpoint; finally, the report is discussed in plenary session. Amendments to it may be tabled by the committee responsible, the political groups or a number of Members. Parliament votes on the report, thereby adopting its position on the original proposal.

Codecision

The codecision procedure involves one, two or three readings. Its effect has ...

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