What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

The new Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission constitutes a major step forward in consolidating and modernising the interinstitutional relationship in light of the post-Lisbon treaty framework and Parliament’s evolving role. For the first time since the 2010 Agreement (as amended in 2018), the two institutions have undertaken a comprehensive update that strengthens democratic accountability, improves legislative cooperation, and enhances Parliament’s capacity to exercise political oversight.

First, the Agreement significantly reinforces the principle of equal treatment of Parliament and the Council. The Commission commits to act as an honest broker between co-legislators and to ensure a comprehensive, timely and detailed flow of information, not only with respect to items contained in the Commission Work Programme but also regarding upcoming initiatives outside it. The Agreement deepens the structured political dialogue between the two institutions and provides mechanisms for advance notice of major initiatives, including their presentation in plenary immediately after adoption by the College. These innovations respond directly to Parliament’s long-standing concerns regarding transparency and access to information.

Second, the Agreement modernises and strengthens the political responsibility of the Commission. The President-elect will present to Parliament political guidelines and detailed information on the structure and gender balance of the incoming College, thereby reinforcing the democratic legitimacy of the investiture process. Importantly, the Commission accepts the obligation to ensure the presence of Commissioners in plenary and committees when requested, and to draw up annual schedules for structured dialogues.

Third, the revised text substantially enlarges Parliament’s practical ability to exercise scrutiny, especially in the field of international agreements. Parliament will now be immediately and fully informed at all stages of negotiation, including on non-binding instruments such as memoranda of understanding. New commitments concerning provisional application, notification periods, and access to confidential information contribute to predictable consent procedures and avoid situations in which Parliament is confronted with a fait accompli.

Fourth, the Agreement strengthens Parliament’s indirect right of initiative under Article 225 TFEU. The Commission commits to closer cooperation during the preparatory phase, to detailed written follow-up within three months, and—where appropriate—to come forward with a legislative proposal within one year or to justify thoroughly any decision not to do so. New provisions on pilot projects linked to Article 225 requests further align the Agreement with the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making.

Finally, an important innovation concerns the Commission’s use of Article 122 TFEU, an exceptional legal basis enabling the adoption of measures in situations of severe difficulty or energy-supply emergencies. Recent experience has shown that recourse to Article 122 can have significant political, legal and budgetary implications, particularly when proposals bypass standard legislative procedures. The new Framework Agreement therefore introduces a clear commitment by the Commission to provide Parliament without delay with comprehensive justification, detailed information and an explanation of the circumstances that warrant recourse to Article 122 TFEU. This includes transparency regarding the urgency, scope and expected budgetary impact of such proposals, as well as subsequent reporting on their implementation. These provisions address Parliament’s concerns about the exceptional and potentially far-reaching nature of legal acts based on Article 122 TFEU, ensuring that the Commission’s emergency powers are exercised with full democratic accountability and that Parliament can effectively scrutinise the Union’s response to crises.

Overall, the new Framework Agreement reinforces Parliament’s prerogatives without altering the institutional balance laid down in the Treaties and provides a more effective, transparent and accountable basis for cooperation in the service of Union citizens.