Text tabled : A7-0352/2011

  Jan Březina (PPE), in writing. – (CS) The right of inquiry is an important feature of the European Parliament’s supervisory powers. Parliament is not, however, a court. It has no power in itself to impose penalties on individuals. Under the Lisbon Treaty, however, Parliament has the right to investigate contraventions or maladministration in the implementation of EU law. The aim of setting up a committee of inquiry is to provide a remedy for an illegal or unfair situation. Inquiries should therefore lead to outcomes that provide the most appropriate solution. The final power of decision ― regardless of the powers conferred on the committees of inquiry to perform their duties ― ultimately belongs to Parliament. The conclusions of the committees of inquiry could thus be submitted in the form of a final report to Parliament. It would then be up to Parliament to take up one or more of the recommendations contained in the final report, such as deciding to publish the report, putting forward a legislative initiative, referring the matter to the competent Union or national authorities, referring the matter to the Ombudsman or taking any other appropriate action, according to the specific circumstances.