What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

Changed:on the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission

10 unchanged paragraphs

(2025/2243(ACI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission,

– having regard to Article 295 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the commitment made by then candidate for President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, at the extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Presidents of 2 July 2024, to revise and improve the Framework Agreement,

– having regard to the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 11 July 2024 to launch the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission,

– having regard to the letter of 12 July 2024 from the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola to Ursula von der Leyen, then candidate for President of the European Commission,

– having regard to the joint statement of 21 October 2024 by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on the revision of the framework agreement, in particular the nine political priorities identified therein,

– having regard to the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 11 September 2025, endorsing the outcome of the negotiations and the provisional agreement reached on 9 September 2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the agreement’),

– having regard to Rule 154(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed:– having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A10-0000/2026),(A10-0031/2026),

Change 1

Changed:A. whereas the Treaties provide for an express legal basis for interinstitutional agreements, which allows for the conclusion of such agreements in compliance with the Treaties, including the principle of conferral, which does not allow for any extension of the competences of the EU institutions beyond the scope of the Treaties,

B. whereas the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union place the Parliament on an equal footing with the Council in the ordinary legislative procedure and in budgetary matters, and enhances its role in the EU’s external policy, with the exception of the role relating to Common Foreign and Security Policy,

C. whereas Article 122 TFEU provides for a legal basis for the Council to adopt exceptional measures on the basis of a proposal from the Commission,

D. whereas Article 225 TFEU confers on the Parliament a right of initiative to request the Commission to submit a proposal for a Union act,

Change 2

Changed:E. whereas the Framework Agreement on relations between the Parliament and the Commission dates back to 2010, and interinstitutional cooperation has evolved significantly since then, as reflected in the “Parliament 2024” reform and the subsequent revision of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure adopted in April 2024,2024; and whereas the Framework Agreement seeks to ensure consistency with the Treaties and to give practical effect to the European Parliament’s control, scrutiny and budgetary prerogatives,

Change 3

Removed:F. whereas a joint assessment of the implementation of the Framework Agreement carried out at technical level, in agreement with the President of the Commission, emphasised the need to update and improve some of its provisions in respect of Parliament’s legislative, budgetary and scrutiny prerogatives,

Added:F. whereas the two Institutions attach the utmost importance to the principle of institutional balance and the principle of mutual sincere cooperation, as enshrined in Article 13(2) TEU,

Removed:1. Considers the revised agreement a substantive institutional advance for Parliament in its relations with the Commission;

Added:G. whereas a joint assessment of the implementation of the Framework Agreement carried out at technical level, in agreement with the President of the Commission, emphasised the need to update and improve some of its provisions so as to better reflect the institutional balance and to fully implement Parliament’s prerogatives as enshrined in the Treaties, in respect of Parliament’s legislative, budgetary and scrutiny prerogatives,

Added:1. Considers the revised agreement to be an institutional advance for Parliament in its relations with the Commission, while stressing that any such advance must have a basis in the Treaties; considers that the revised agreement strengthens political responsibility and legitimacy, extends constructive dialogue, improves the flow of information between the two Institutions and improves cooperation on procedures and planning, including powers of scrutiny and inquiry;

2. Welcomes, in particular, the following improvements contained in the revised agreement:

Change 4

Changed:– the affirmation of the principle of equal treatment of Parliament and Council and the role of the Commission as an honest broker, in particular by ensuring a comprehensive, timelytimely, detailed and detailedtransparent flow of information to Parliament,Parliament enabling meaningful democratic scrutiny, as shown by the commitment to inform the Parliament of policy initiatives and legislative proposals not included in the Commission Work Programme, and to present key initiatives in plenary immediately after their adoption by the college of commissioners;

Change 5

Added:– the obligation of the President-elect to present to Parliament detailed information on the composition of the incoming College of Commissioners, including its planned structure;

Added:– the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that its impact assessments are conducted under its responsibility through a transparent procedure that guarantees an independent assessment;

– the strengthening of the Commission’s political accountability by ensuring the presence of the competent Members of the Commission in Parliament, both in plenary and in committees;

Change 6

Changed:– the assurance that Members of the Commission will in general be summoned by Parliament as part of its political oversight function, and that Parliament maycan request that a specific commissioner be present in plenary where an agenda item so justifies; in particular, the assurance that, during Question Time, for a duration of up to 90 minutes, Members of the Commission whose portfolios relate to the theme of the questions will be present, in order to ensure a meaningful, open, and democratic debate between Members of the European Parliament and Members of the Commission;

Change 7

Changed:– the obligation for Members of the Commission to attend committee meetings, and that only in casethe event that the presence of a commissioner is not explicitly required, can he or she be replaced by a high-ranking official who is in a position to provide substantive answers to questions from the committee members;

Change 8

Changed:– the commitment of the Commission that, whenever it intends to withdraw a proposal, the competent Member of the Commission shallwill attend the committees’ meetings to discuss that intention;

Change 9

Changed:– the commitment of the Commission to provide a comprehensive justification of, and information onon, the exceptional and emergency cases where its proposals are based on Article 122 TFEU;TFEU, both when submitting the request to Parliament and after the implementation of the legal act concerned;

– the strengthening of Parliament’s right of initiative under Article 225 TFEU, including proposals to amend or repeal existing legislation, by enhancing the follow-up by the Commission to Parliament’s requests;

Change 10

Changed:– the commitment of the Commission,Commission that, whenever it requests the Parliament to decide urgently on a proposal, toit will do so in writing and to provide a justification for the request;

Change 11

Changed:– the improved flow of information regarding international agreements,agreements thusat all stages of the negotiation, thereby strengthening democratic accountability and transparency in external policy;

Change 12

Added:3. Considers that democratic scrutiny over the Commission not only requires an appropriate legal framework, but also a sense of political responsibility and commitment; draws attention to the formal exchange between Members of Parliament and the Commission during the plenary session, including during Question Time, as a cornerstone of European democracy; commits to further invest in and to foster a parliamentary culture so that attendance of those sessions is ensured on both sides, enabling a meaningful and substantive exchange between Parliament and Commission;

Added:4. Regrets the Commission’s failure to indicate whether new legislative initiatives will be accompanied by an impact assessment, and to provide a proper justification where no impact assessment is provided;

Added:5. Expects the Commission to fully comply with both the new and existing provisions of the Agreement. Regular monitoring by the European Parliament of the Agreement’s implementation should be put in place from its entry into force;

6. Approves the conclusion of the agreement annexed hereto;

Change 13

Changed:4.7. Instructs its President to sign the agreement with the President of the CouncilCommission and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

8. Instructs its President to forward this decision, including its annex, to the Council, the Commission, and the parliaments of the Member States, for information.