Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament - CONTENTS

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Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament

10th parliamentary term - July 2024

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		CONTENTS
		NOTE TO THE READER
		COMPENDIUM OF THE MAIN LEGAL ACTS RELATED TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

CONTENTS

Titles

Annexes

TITLE I: MEMBERS, PARLIAMENT BODIES AND POLITICAL GROUPS

CHAPTER 1: MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Rule 1 :	European Parliament
Rule 2 :	Independent mandate
Rule 3 :	Verification of credentials
Rule 4 :	Term of office of Members
Rule 5 :	Privileges and immunities
Rule 6 :	Waiver of immunity
Rule 7 :	Defence of privileges and immunity
Rule 8 :	Urgent action by the President to assert immunity
Rule 9 :	Procedures on immunity
Rule 10 :	Standards of conduct
Rule 11 :	Rules of conduct regarding integrity and transparency
Rule 12 :	Internal investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Rule 13 :	Observers
CHAPTER 2: OFFICERS OF PARLIAMENT
Rule 14 :	Provisional Chair
Rule 15 :	Nominations and general provisions
Rule 16 :	Election of President – opening address
Rule 17 :	Election of Vice-Presidents
Rule 18 :	Election of Quaestors
Rule 19 :	Term of office of Officers
Rule 20 :	Vacancies
Rule 21 :	Early termination of an office
CHAPTER 3: BODIES AND DUTIES
Rule 22 :	Duties of the President
Rule 23 :	Duties of the Vice-Presidents
Rule 24 :	Composition of the Bureau
Rule 25 :	Duties of the Bureau
Rule 26 :	Composition of the Conference of Presidents
Rule 27 :	Duties of the Conference of Presidents
Rule 28 :	Duties of the Quaestors
Rule 29 :	Conference of Committee Chairs
Rule 30 :	Conference of Delegation Chairs
Rule 31 :	Continuity of an office during the election period
Rule 32 :	Accountability of the Bureau and the Conference of Presidents
CHAPTER 4: POLITICAL GROUPS
Rule 33 :	Establishment and dissolution of political groups
Rule 34 :	Activities and legal situation of the political groups
Rule 35 :	Intergroups
Rule 36 :	Unofficial groupings
Rule 37 :	Non-attached Members
Rule 38 :	Allocation of seats in the Chamber

TITLE II: LEGISLATIVE, BUDGETARY, DISCHARGE AND OTHER PROCEDURES

CHAPTER 1: LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Rule 39 :	Annual programming
Rule 40 :	Respect for fundamental rights
Rule 41 :	Verification of legal basis
Rule 42 :	Delegation of legislative powers and conferral of implementing powers
Rule 43 :	Examination of respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality
Rule 44 :	Access to documents and provision of information to Parliament
Rule 45 :	Representation of Parliament in Council meetings
Rule 46 :	Right of Parliament to submit proposals
Rule 47 :	Requests to the Commission for submission of proposals
Rule 48 :	Referral of legally binding acts and questions of competence
Rule 49 :	Acceleration of legislative procedures
Rule 50 :	Legislative procedures on initiatives originating from institutions other than the Commission or from Member States
CHAPTER 2: PROCEDURE IN COMMITTEE
Rule 51 :	Legislative reports
Rule 52 :	Simplified procedure
Rule 53 :	Non-legislative reports
Rule 54 :	Co-rapporteurship
Rule 55 :	Own-initiative reports
Rule 56 :	Drafting of reports
Rule 57 :	Opinions of committees
Rule 58 :	Budgetary assessment on proposals for legally binding acts with budgetary implications
Rule 59 :	Joint committee procedure
CHAPTER 3: ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
SECTION 1 - FIRST READING
Rule 60 :	Vote in Parliament – first reading
Rule 61 :	Referral back to the committee responsible
Rule 62 :	Renewed referral to Parliament
Rule 63 :	First-reading agreement
SECTION 2 - SECOND READING
Rule 64 :	Communication of the Council's position
Rule 65 :	Extension of time limits
Rule 66 :	Procedure in the committee responsible
Rule 67 :	Submission to Parliament
Rule 68 :	Vote in Parliament – second reading
Rule 69 :	Admissibility of amendments to the Council's position
Rule 70 :	Second-reading agreement
SECTION 3 - INTERINSTITUTIONAL NEGOTIATIONS DURING THE ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
Rule 71 :	General provisions
Rule 72 :	Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading
Rule 73 :	Negotiations ahead of Council's first reading
Rule 74 :	Negotiations ahead of Parliament's second reading
Rule 75 :	Conduct of negotiations
SECTION 4 - CONCILIATION AND THIRD READING
Rule 76 :	Extension of time limits
Rule 77 :	Convening of the Conciliation Committee
Rule 78 :	Delegation to the Conciliation Committee
Rule 79 :	Joint text
SECTION 5 – CONFLICT OF RULES
Rule 80 :	Conflict of rules
SECTION 6 – CONCLUSION OF THE PROCEDURE
Rule 81 :	Signing and publication of adopted acts
CHAPTER 4: PROVISIONS SPECIFIC TO THE CONSULTATION PROCEDURE
Rule 82 :	Modified proposal for a legally binding act
Rule 83 :	Commission position on amendments
Rule 84 :	Vote in Parliament
Rule 85 :	Follow-up to Parliament's position
Rule 86 :	Renewed referral to Parliament
CHAPTER 5: CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Rule 87 :	Ordinary Treaty revision
Rule 88 :	Simplified Treaty revision
Rule 89 :	Accession treaties
Rule 90 :	Withdrawal from the Union
Rule 91 :	Breach by a Member State of fundamental principles and values
Rule 92 :	Composition of Parliament
Rule 93 :	Enhanced cooperation between Member States
CHAPTER 6: BUDGETARY PROCEDURES
Rule 94 :	Multiannual financial framework
Rule 95 :	Annual budgetary procedure
Rule 96 :	Parliament's position on the draft budget
Rule 97 :	Budgetary conciliation
Rule 98 :	Definitive adoption of the budget
Rule 99 :	Provisional twelfths system
Rule 100 :	Implementation of the budget
Rule 101 :	Discharge to the Commission in respect of implementation of the budget
Rule 102 :	Other discharge procedures
Rule 103 :	Interinstitutional cooperation
CHAPTER 7: INTERNAL BUDGETARY PROCEDURES
Rule 104 :	Estimates of Parliament
Rule 105 :	Procedure to be applied when drawing up Parliament's estimates
Rule 106 :	Power to incur and settle expenditure, to approve accounts and to grant discharge
CHAPTER 8: CONSENT PROCEDURE
Rule 107 :	Consent procedure
CHAPTER 9: OTHER PROCEDURES
Rule 108 :	Procedure for delivering opinions on derogations to the adoption of the euro
Rule 109 :	Procedure for delivering Parliament’s position on the establishment or extension of Union trust funds for external actions
Rule 110 :	Procedures relating to dialogue between management and labour
Rule 111 :	Procedures for scrutiny of envisaged voluntary agreements
Rule 112 :	Codification
Rule 113 :	Recasting
CHAPTER 10: DELEGATED AND IMPLEMENTING ACTS
Rule 114 :	Delegated acts
Rule 115 :	Implementing acts and measures
Rule 116 :	Consideration under the joint committee procedure

TITLE III: EXTERNAL RELATIONS

CHAPTER 1: INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
Rule 117 :	International agreements
Rule 118 :	Provisional application or suspension of the application of international agreements or establishment of the Union's position in a body set up by an international agreement
CHAPTER 2: EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNION AND THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY
Rule 119 :	Special representatives
Rule 120 :	International representation
CHAPTER 3: RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE UNION’S EXTERNAL ACTION
Rule 121 :	Recommendations on the Union's external policies
Rule 122 :	Consultation of, and provision of information to, Parliament within the framework of the common foreign and security policy
Rule 123 :	Breach of human rights

TITLE IV: TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS

Rule 124 :	Transparency of Parliament's activities
Rule 125 :	Public access to documents
Rule 126 :	Access to Parliament
Rule 127 :	Cooperation with committees or in the context of special scrutiny hearings

TITLE V: RELATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES AND POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY

CHAPTER 1: APPOINTMENTS
Rule 128 :	Election of the President of the Commission
Rule 129 :	Election of the Commission
Rule 130 :	Multiannual programming
Rule 131 :	Motion of censure on the Commission
Rule 132 :	Nomination of Judges and Advocates-General at the Court of Justice of the European Union
Rule 133 :	Appointment of the Members of the Court of Auditors
Rule 134 :	Appointment of the Members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank
Rule 135 :	Appointments to the economic governance bodies
CHAPTER 2: STATEMENTS
Rule 136 :	Statements by the Commission, Council and European Council
Rule 137 :	Statements explaining Commission decisions
Rule 138 :	Statements explaining the use of Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as a legal basis
Rule 139 :	Statements by the Court of Auditors
Rule 140 :	Statements by the European Central Bank
CHAPTER 3: SPECIAL SCRUTINY HEARINGS AND PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Rule 141 :	Special scrutiny hearings
Rule 142 :	Questions for oral answer with debate
Rule 143 :	Question Time
Rule 144 :	Questions for written answer
Rule 145 :	Major interpellations for written answer
Rule 146 :	Questions for written answer to the European Central Bank
Rule 147 :	Questions for written answer concerning the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the Single Resolution Mechanism
CHAPTER 4: REPORTS OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
Rule 148 :	Annual and other reports of other institutions or bodies
CHAPTER 5: RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Rule 149 :	Motions for resolutions
Rule 150 :	Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
CHAPTER 6: CONSULTATION OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
Rule 151 :	Consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee
Rule 152 :	Consultation of the Committee of the Regions
Rule 153 :	Requests to European Agencies
CHAPTER 7: INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS
Rule 154 :	Interinstitutional agreements
CHAPTER 8: REFERRALS TO THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Rule 155 :	Proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union

TITLE VI: RELATIONS WITH NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

Rule 156 :	Exchange of information, contacts and reciprocal facilities
Rule 157 :	Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC)
Rule 158 :	Conferences of parliaments

TITLE VII: SESSIONS

CHAPTER 1: SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT
Rule 159 :	Parliamentary term, sessions, part-sessions, sittings
Rule 160 :	Convening of Parliament
Rule 161 :	Venue of sittings and meetings
Rule 162 :	Attendance of Members at sittings
CHAPTER 2: ORDER OF BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT
Rule 163 :	Draft agenda
Rule 164 :	Adopting and amending the agenda
Rule 165 :	Procedure in plenary without amendment and debate
Rule 166 :	Short presentation
Rule 167 :	Debates on specific matters of interest to the European Union – Parliament’s statements
Rule 168 :	Extraordinary debate
Rule 169 :	Topical debate requested by a political group
Rule 170 :	Urgent procedure
Rule 171 :	Joint debate
Rule 172 :	Time limits
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SITTINGS
Rule 173 :	Access to the Chamber
Rule 174 :	Languages
Rule 175 :	Transitional arrangement
Rule 176 :	Distribution of documents
Rule 177 :	Electronic handling of documents
Rule 178 :	Allocation of speaking time
Rule 179 :	One-minute speeches
Rule 180 :	Personal statements
Rule 181 :	Prevention of obstruction
CHAPTER 4: MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
Rule 182 :	Immediate measures
Rule 183 :	Penalties
Rule 184 :	Internal appeal procedures
CHAPTER 5: QUORUM, AMENDMENTS AND VOTING
Rule 185 :	Quorum
Rule 186 :	Thresholds
Rule 187 :	Tabling and presenting amendments
Rule 188 :	Admissibility of amendments
Rule 189 :	Voting procedure
Rule 190 :	Order of voting on amendments
Rule 191 :	Committee filter of plenary amendments
Rule 192 :	Split voting
Rule 193 :	Right to vote
Rule 194 :	Voting
Rule 195 :	Final vote
Rule 196 :	Tied votes
Rule 197 :	Voting by roll call
Rule 198 :	Voting by secret ballot
Rule 199 :	Use of electronic voting system
Rule 200 :	Disputes on voting
Rule 201 :	Explanations of votes
CHAPTER 6: POINTS OF ORDER AND PROCEDURAL MOTIONS
Rule 202 :	Points of order
Rule 203 :	Procedural motions
Rule 204 :	Referral back to committee
Rule 205 :	Closure of a debate
Rule 206 :	Adjournment of a debate or vote
Rule 207 :	Suspension or closure of the sitting
CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Rule 208 :	Minutes
Rule 209 :	Texts adopted
Rule 210 :	Verbatim reports
Rule 211 :	Audiovisual record of proceedings

TITLE VIII: COMMITTEES AND DELEGATIONS

CHAPTER 1: COMMITTEES
Rule 212 :	Setting-up of standing committees
Rule 213 :	Special committees
Rule 214 :	Temporary legislative committees
Rule 215 :	Committees of inquiry
Rule 216 :	Composition of committees
Rule 217 :	Duties of committees
Rule 218 :	Subcommittees
Rule 219 :	Committee bureaux
Rule 220 :	Committee coordinators
Rule 221 :	Shadow Rapporteurs
Rule 222 :	Committee meetings
Rule 223 :	Minutes of committee meetings
Rule 224 :	Voting in committee
Rule 225 :	Provisions concerning plenary sittings applicable in committee
Rule 226 :	Question Time in committee
Rule 227 :	Procedure for the consultation by a committee of confidential information in a committee meeting in camera
Rule 228 :	Public hearings and debates on citizens’ initiatives
CHAPTER 2: INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
Rule 229 :	Setting-up and duties of interparliamentary delegations
Rule 230 :	Joint parliamentary committees
Rule 231 :	Cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

TITLE IX: PETITIONS

Rule 232 :	Right of petition
Rule 233 :	Examination of petitions
Rule 234 :	Fact-finding visits
Rule 235 :	Notice of petitions
Rule 236 :	Citizens' initiative

TITLE X: OMBUDSMAN

Rule 237 :	Election of the Ombudsman
Rule 238 :	Activities of the Ombudsman
Rule 239 :	Dismissal of the Ombudsman

TITLE XI: PARLIAMENT'S SECRETARIAT

Rule 240 :

Parliament's Secretariat

TITLE XII: POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES AND EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS

Rule 241 :

Powers and responsibilities relating to European political parties and European political foundations

TITLE XIII: APPLICATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

Rule 242 :	Application of the Rules of Procedure
Rule 243 :	Amendment of the Rules of Procedure

TITLE XIV: EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

Rule 244 :	Extraordinary measures
Rule 245 :	Disturbance of the political balance in Parliament
Rule 246 :	Remote participation regime
Rule 247 :	Holding of a part-session or a sitting in separate meeting rooms

TITLE XV: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Rule 248 :	The symbols of the Union
Rule 249 :	Gender Mainstreaming
Rule 250 :	Unfinished business
Rule 251 :	Corrigenda

ANNEX I

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REGARDING INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY

ANNEX II

CODE OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN EXERCISING THEIR DUTIES

ANNEX III

CRITERIA FOR QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER UNDER RULES 144, 146 AND 147

ANNEX IV

GUIDELINES AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN CHOOSING THE SUBJECTS TO BE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE DEBATE ON CASES OF BREACHES OF HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW PROVIDED FOR UNDER RULE 150

ANNEX V

PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF DECISIONS ON THE GRANTING OF DISCHARGE

ANNEX VI

POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES
I. :	Committee on Foreign Affairs
II. :	Committee on Development
III. :	Committee on International Trade
IV. :	Committee on Budgets
V. :	Committee on Budgetary Control
VI. :	Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
VII. :	Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
VIII. :	Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
IX. :	Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
X. :	Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
XI. :	Committee on Transport and Tourism
XII. :	Committee on Regional Development
XIII. :	Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
XIV. :	Committee on Fisheries
XV. :	Committee on Culture and Education
XVI. :	Committee on Legal Affairs
XVII. :	Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
XVIII. :	Committee on Constitutional Affairs
XIX. :	Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
XX. :	Committee on Petitions

ANNEX VII

APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION AND MONITORING OF COMMITMENTS MADE DURING THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS

ANNEX VIII

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DRAFTING OF ACTS ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

Last updated: 12 July 2024

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