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The enhanced cooperation procedure was introduced under the Amsterdam Treaty. It enables Member States who so wish to establish closer cooperation with one another.
EU Member States may request enhanced cooperation in areas covered by the Treaties, with the exception of areas of exclusive Union competence. The Commission will assess the request and it may submit a proposal to the Council in this respect. If the Commission decides not to present a proposal, it will explain its reasons to the Member States concerned.
If the Commission presents a proposal, the authorisation to proceed with the enhanced cooperation is then granted by the Council after obtaining the consent of the European parliament.
In the cases of enhanced cooperation in the framework of the common foreign and security policy, the request is sent to the Council and forwarded to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and to the Commission for their opinion. It is also forwarded to Parliament for information.
In all cases, the Parliament shall be regularly informed regarding developments in enhanced cooperation.