Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-25-Speech-3-058"
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"en.20050525.12.3-058"2
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"Mr President, Mr Leinen, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour and a great pleasure for me to address the House at this crucial juncture, prior to the vote on revision of the framework agreement governing relations between the European Parliament and the Commission. Since my investiture as President of the Commission, I have been telling you of my intention to establish constructive collusion and a sustainable strategic partnership with Parliament.
Finally, we will act within the framework of the existing treaties and safeguard the competences of the other institutions, particularly the Council. While the Commission attaches great importance to our cooperation with Parliament, one should not forget that the Community method is based on a triangle. The Commission is responsible for proposing legislative and budget proposals, and the two branches of the legislative and budgetary authority are responsible for deciding on these. As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission is fully committed to safeguarding this method and to paying all due attention to the balance between the institutions.
With your permission, Mr President, I would like to give the floor to Vice
President Wallström to comment on specific features of the Leinen report. I sincerely hope that this House will support the revised Framework Agreement, thus opening a new dimension to our fruitful relationship.
In the early stages, we experienced some moments of institutional and political tension. An undiscerning observer might have concluded that the desire for cooperation proclaimed by myself, by Margot Wallström and by the whole Commission reflected nothing more than our intention to avoid any further friction. This interpretation has proved to be fallacious and short
sighted. In fact, the desire for cooperation by which we are driven results from an appreciation of the institutional reality of our Union. Under the Treaties, Parliament is the depositary of the will of the peoples of Europe; it is the only directly elected institution and the legitimate representative of the citizenry of the Member States. No other supranational organisation can rely on such an advanced degree of democracy as the European Union; no other multinational structure has assigned such an important role to the directly elected representatives of the people; no territory in the world except our continent, reunited at long last, has an institution that represents four hundred and fifty million people at the present time.
The Union is not a remote abstract entity that takes its decisions behind closed doors, disregarding the inclinations and opinions of its peoples. On the contrary, it is based on the will of the people and on fully democratic institutions. That is the real wealth of our Union. That is what makes it unique among the existing structures in an increasingly globalised world. We are proud of this profoundly democratic character of the Union, which reflects the historical traditions of its Member States. We must act accordingly, and we intend to do so.
This, then, is the underlying reason why we considered it opportune and necessary to revise the framework agreement, the main instrument governing relations between our institutions. This revision has taken place in a climate of excellent cooperation under the direction of the political authorities of both institutions. I wish to take this opportunity to thank President Borrell, the heads of the political groups, Mr Leinen, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, and all those who have contributed to this exercise, which is such an important milestone in the history of our bilateral relations.
The negotiations have enabled considerable progress to be made. We have agreed on a well
balanced text which meets the expectations of both parties and substantially improves cooperation between our institutions. Mr Leinen has already pointed to many aspects, but I should like to outline what we consider to be the five main results.
Firstly, we have enhanced the political dialogue between our institutions. Together with Vice
President Wallström, I will on a regular basis attend the meetings of the Conference of Presidents, which will become the main forum for discussing political developments as well as the work and activities of the Parliament and the Commission. Furthermore, the timetable for the Commission’s legislative and work programme has been streamlined, and the process leading to the Commission’s legislative and work programme has become more political. In this context, Margot Wallström met the Conference of Committee Chairs in February, and will do so again in July.
Secondly, we have strengthened openness and transparency. The Commission commits itself to providing Parliament with a full list of the expert groups assisting us in the exercise of our right of initiative. In addition to this, the chairpersons of the relevant Parliamentary committees may ask the Commission to provide information on the activities and composition of these groups. When taken in conjunction with the existing rule on transparency relating to the ‘comitology groups’, this new provision is a very useful step. It will definitely contribute to enhancing transparency in the context of interinstitutional relations.
Thirdly, we have reinforced the provisions concerning political responsibility. The framework agreement enshrines the key principles of the openness, fairness and consistency of the entire hearing process. It ensures that the Commissioners
designate disclose all relevant information in accordance with the duty of independence laid down in the Treaty itself. In addition, we have agreed on the procedure to be followed should Parliament express a lack of confidence in an individual Commissioner. In such cases the Commission President will give Parliament’s deliberations all the political attention they deserve. That is why we have agreed that I will either ask the individual Commissioner to resign, or I will be prepared to explain before this House the decisions I have taken. This procedure safeguards the collegiality of the Commission and the powers and prerogatives of its President. If new Commissioners are appointed during the mandate of the Commission, I will ensure, together with the President of the Parliament, that they present themselves immediately to Parliament.
My fourth point concerns the improvement of our cooperation regarding the negotiation of international agreements and other aspects of our day
to
day work. We have made provision for the Commission to keep Members of Parliament systematically informed on the conduct of negotiations on multilateral agreements. We have agreed on measures for consultation of the budgetary authority on the occasion of the announcement of new financial undertakings made at international donor conferences. We have deepened our cooperation in the field of Community election observation missions."@en1
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