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| Interparliamentary Conference on EU Affairs | |
|---|---|
| Name | Interparliamentary Conference on EU Affairs |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Brussels |
| Membership | National and regional parliaments of European Union |
| Leader title | Chair |
Interparliamentary Conference on EU Affairs is a forum that brings together representatives from national parliaments and European Parliament delegations to discuss policies of the European Union and to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny. It fosters dialogue between legislative bodies such as the Bundestag, Assemblée nationale, Cortes Generales, Parliament of the United Kingdom (historical participants), and regional chambers like the Catalan Parliament and Scottish Parliament on issues including treaties like the Treaty of Lisbon and actions by institutions such as the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.
The conference aims to enhance interparliamentary cooperation among bodies like the Senate of France, Senate of Poland, Seimas, Riigikogu, and delegations from the European Parliament to uphold principles of subsidiarity under the Treaty on European Union and to monitor instruments including the Yellow Card procedure and the Reasoned Opinion. It serves as a consultative platform for topics ranging from the Schengen Area to the Common Foreign and Security Policy and legislation proposed by the European Commission while engaging actors such as the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank.
The initiative built on earlier cooperative efforts like the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union and responses to treaty reforms spurred by events including the Treaty of Maastricht debates and the aftermath of the Draft European Constitution. Formalization followed discussions among the Committee of Permanent Representatives, speakers of parliaments such as Nancy Pelosi (in transatlantic comparison), chairs of committees like the European Affairs Committee (UK House of Commons), and advocacy by institutions including the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. The mechanism reflected lessons from interparliamentary bodies including the Benelux Interparliamentary Consultative Council and the Nordic Council.
Membership comprises delegations from national parliaments of Member States of the European Union and, when applicable, legislative assemblies of Associate Members and regional legislatures such as the Landtag of Bavaria. The bureau usually includes a chair and vice-chairs drawn from parliaments like the Senate (Italy), House of Representatives (Netherlands), and committees mirroring the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (European Parliament). Rules of procedure reference models used by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Observers have included representatives from bodies such as the European Free Trade Association and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The conference exercises soft-power functions: issuing opinions, coordinating scrutiny of European Commission proposals, and facilitating exchanges on treaty implementation exemplified by the Lisbon Treaty provisions. It cannot override powers of the European Council or the Court of Justice of the European Union but influences deliberation through reasoned opinions, modelled after mechanisms like the Early Warning System and the Subsidiarity Control Mechanism. It also promotes dialogue on budgetary coordination tied to the Multiannual Financial Framework and oversight of agencies such as the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority.
Plenary sessions convene periodically in venues including Brussels and rotating national capitals, following agendas similar to those used by the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments. Preparatory work is undertaken by committees akin to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (European Parliament) and rapporteurs resembling roles in the Council of the European Union. Proceedings produce non-binding resolutions, exchange of reports, and joint declarations comparable to outputs from the Western European Union and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Translation and interpretation arrangements echo practices of the European Union institutions.
The forum interacts with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union through delegation exchanges, hearings, and written questions reflecting practices seen in relations between the European Court of Auditors and national audit offices. It strengthens national scrutiny by enabling parliaments such as the Dáil Éireann and Storting to coordinate positions before Council of the European Union deliberations and Treaty amendment debates in venues like the Convention on the Future of Europe. Collaboration also extends to supranational actors including the European Investment Bank and the European Ombudsman.
Critics compare its effectiveness to entities like the European Citizens' Initiative and argue for clearer mandates similar to powers of the European Parliament or standing committees modeled on the United States Congress oversight mechanisms. Proposals include statutory reinforcement through amendments to the Treaty on European Union, enhanced access to Commission impact assessments, formalized rights to submit reasoned opinions comparable to the Yellow Card procedure expansion, and improved coordination with regional bodies like the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Debates reference reform experiences from the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Maastricht Treaty to seek increased transparency and accountability.
Category:European Union politics Category:Interparliamentary organizations