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| European Parliament Rules of Procedure | |
|---|---|
| Name | European Parliament Rules of Procedure |
| Jurisdiction | European Union |
| Created | 1976 |
| Authority | Treaty of Rome; Treaty of Maastricht; Treaty of Lisbon |
| Amendments | ongoing |
European Parliament Rules of Procedure
The Rules of Procedure govern the internal organization, conduct of business, and decision-making mechanisms of the European Parliament and its organs. They provide the framework for relations with the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Court of Justice and other institutions such as the European Council and the European Central Bank. The Rules interface with foundational instruments including the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and protocols adopted at intergovernmental conferences such as those leading to the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Amsterdam.
The Rules set out procedures for plenary sittings in Strasbourg and Brussels, the timetable for legislative consideration linked to the Ordinary legislative procedure (European Union), and modalities for urgent questions tied to relations with entities such as the European Commission and the European External Action Service. They situate the Parliament alongside supranational actors like the European Investment Bank and regional stakeholders such as the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. The Rules also codify practices observed during major moments including confirmations after European elections and votes related to treaties ratified post-Maastricht Treaty.
Originating in early rules adopted by the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community and evolving through the European Parliamentary Assembly, the Rules were progressively revised after milestones such as the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty. Juridical authority derives from provisions in the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and they have been interpreted in case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Significant revisions followed enlargements including accession of states from the Treaty of Accession 2004 and institutional reforms stemming from the Convention on the Future of Europe and the Lisbon Treaty negotiations.
The Rules define the organisation of organs including the President of the European Parliament, the Conference of Presidents (European Parliament), the Bureau of the European Parliament, the Committees of the European Parliament, and the European Parliamentary Research Service. They regulate composition and powers of political groups such as the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Renew Europe Group, and transnational groupings like European Conservatives and Reformists Party. They determine the role of delegation heads in relations with parliaments such as the United States Congress, the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and regional bodies like the Assembly of the Western European Union.
Rules link to legislative instruments under the Ordinary legislative procedure (European Union), the Special legislative procedures of the European Union, and budget processes overseen alongside the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. They govern first and second reading interactions, conciliation procedures involving the Conciliation Committee, and budget adoption steps tied to the Multiannual Financial Framework and the European Court of Auditors'' scrutiny. The Rules also set modalities for consent and consultation procedures affecting agreements such as the EU–US Privacy Shield and association treaties like those with Ukraine or the Western Balkans.
The Rules establish standing committees including the Committee on Foreign Affairs (European Parliament), the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and specialised bodies like the Committee on Legal Affairs. They regulate rapporteur appointments, shadow rapporteur roles, drafting of opinions, and intercommittee cooperation often interacting with external actors such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations General Assembly. Delegations for relations with parliaments of countries such as China, Russia, Japan, and regional assemblies like the Parliament of the Mediterranean are provided for in the Rules.
The Rules prescribe speaking schedules, time allocations, and order of debates in plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels, and set electronic voting procedures and roll-call requirements for votes of confidence and censure involving institutions like the European Commission. Quorum and majority thresholds for different actions reference qualified majorities relevant to the Council of the European Union and simple majorities used for internal decisions such as election of the President of the European Parliament or removal under disciplinary provisions.
The Rules affirm parliamentary rights including immunity for Members of the European Parliament, protocols for official missions, allowances and facilities, and interactions with national judicial authorities in matters comparable to rulings by the European Court of Human Rights and national constitutional courts such as the Bundesverfassungsgericht. Provisions outline access to documents, protection of parliamentary speech, and cooperation with transparency actors like Transparency International and auditing bodies including the European Court of Auditors.
Amendments to the Rules are enacted by the Parliament itself, often following proposals from the Conference of Presidents (European Parliament), committees, or individual Members, and are influenced by treaty changes negotiated in forums like the Intergovernmental Conference (European Union). Revisions have historically followed landmark events including enlargements exemplified by the 2004 enlargement of the European Union and institutional reforms after the Lisbon Treaty, with oversight from the Court of Justice of the European Union when legal interpretation is contested.