03 October 2012

Parliament's committee chairs give input to Commission's 2013 work programme

The EP's committee chairs discussed political priorities with the College of Commissioners on Tuesday. The topics discussed included the economic outlook, economic and monetary union, proposals for a banking union, and ongoing negotiations on the EU's multi-annual financial framework.

This meeting is held each year, under an agreement to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.

"Next year's work programme has to set a new tone following Commission President Barroso's very political State of the Union address, in which he called for a federation of nation states and announced a blueprint for a deeper economic and monetary union. We look forward to the practical implementation of this", said Parliament's head of delegation, Klaus-Heiner Lehne (EPP, DE).

Moreover, "European Parliament committees and the Commission must strengthen their ties and stand shoulder to shoulder", he added, referring to negotiations under way on the Multi-financial Financial Framework (MFF) and the question of the EU's own resources.

Mr Lehne and other Parliament speakers regretted that not all legislative proposals on the current Commission work programme had been delivered. "It is striking that half of the legislative acts announced have not made it through", he said, adding that: "It is also problematic that the Commission is not always responding appropriately to Parliament's calls for legislative proposals".

The discussion was divided into two main parts:

• a general debate on the political and economic situation in the EU, including economic and monetary union and proposals for a banking union, and
• future priorities in other policy areas for the 2013 work programme. The European Parliament adopted its own blueprint in September (see link to the right).

Background

The Lisbon Treaty provides for enhanced cooperation between Parliament and the Commission. The meeting of committee chairs and Commissioners is a part of a procedure that stems from the recently-negotiated framework agreement governing relations between two institutions. This procedure enables Parliament to provide its input to the following year's Commission work programme before it is adopted in October.

Press release

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