Commission and Parliament agree framework deal

By Martin Banks

Date: 07/04/05

THE European Commission has ended weeks of wrangling by reaching a deal with the European Parliament on rules governing the working relationship between the two institutions for the next five years.

The so-called framework agreement is expected to be approved at a meeting today (7 April) between the Parliament's conference of presidents - its political group leaders - and Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström.

A spokesman for Wallström said: "The text is balanced and reflects the commitments made by the Commission to the Parliament.

"The political groups are satisfied with the agreement and the Conference is expected to approve it today."

A draft text deals with the two issues which have proved sticking points during negotiations: the procedure for replacing a member of the Commission during his or her mandate and what happens if Parliament withdraws its confidence in an individual commissioner.

Under the current agreement, last revised at the start of the Romano Prodi Commission in 1999, a member state can replace its commissioner at any time without any need for him or her to appear before a Parliamentary hearing.

Governments will still be free to nominate a new commissioner mid-term but in future "he or she shall appear before the relevant Parliamentary committee at Parliament's request".

If an individual commissioner loses the confidence of Parliament, the Commission president "shall either request that member to resign, or explain his decision to Parliament".

The agreement also states that if a commissioner is replaced, the new commissioner will be required to provide "full disclosure of all relevant information" before taking up office.

This is seen as an attempt to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment the Commission suffered last November when it was disclosed that Jacques Barrot, the French transport commissioner, had failed to reveal a 2000 conviction for embezzlement - later quashed under a French amnesty.

Barrot received a suspended prison sentence for party funding offences, but it was immediately nullified by a 1995 presidential amnesty. He was allowed to continue in his job.

The Framework Agreement, governing relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission was expected to be approved at a meeting on 7 April 2005 between the Parliament's Conference of Presidents - its political group leaders - and Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström. The Agreement lays down rules on the working relationship between the two institutions for the following five years.