REPORT on the draft Council decision fixing the period for the eighth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage

17.4.2013 - (07279/2013 – C7‑0068/2013 – 2013/0802(CNS)) - *

Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Rapporteur: Carlo Casini
(Simplified procedure – Rule 46(1) of the Rules of Procedure)

Procedure : 2013/0802(CNS)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A7-0138/2013
Texts tabled :
A7-0138/2013
Debates :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision fixing the period for the eighth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage

(07279/2013 – C7‑0068/2013 – 2013/0802(CNS))

(Consultation)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Council draft (07279/2013),

–   having regard to Article 11(2), second subparagraph, of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage[1] (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Electoral Act’), pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C7-0068/2013),

–   having regard to its resolution of 22 November 2012 on the elections to the European Parliament in 2014[2],

–   having regard to Rules 55 and 46(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A7-0138/2013),

1.  Approves the Council draft;

2.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the text approved by Parliament;

4.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, and, for information, to the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Croatia.

  • [1]  Annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, of 20 September 1976 (OJ L 278, 8.10.1976, p. 1), as amended by Council Decision 93/81/ECSC, EEC, Euratom (OJ L 33, 9.2.1993, p. 15), and Council Decision 2002/772/EC, Euratom (OJ L 283, 21.10.2002, p. 1).
  • [2]  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0462.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This report was drawn up in response to a request for consultation from the Council on a draft decision seeking to modify the period during which the forthcoming European elections would ordinarily have been held. Under Article 11(2) of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (the ‘Electoral Act’), this period would have been Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 June 2014, by analogy with the dates on which the first elections by direct universal suffrage were held (Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 June 1979).

In paragraph 5 of its resolution of 22 November 2012[1], the European Parliament asked the Council to ‘consult Parliament on holding the elections on either 15-18 May or 22-25 May 2014’.

This request echoed a wish that had already been expressed on several occasions in the past, including in a report on a proposal to amend the Electoral Act adopted by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 1 February 2012[2].

Given that, in most Member States, the dates on which the elections would ordinarily have been held would have coincided with the Whitsun bank holiday weekend, the Council took the view that it would be preferable to bring them forward, and proposed that the electoral period should run between Thursday 22 and Sunday 25 May 2014.

The decision on these new dates needs to be taken as soon as possible in order to give the Member States time to organise the elections.

This situation warrants the use of the simplified procedure provided for in Rule 46(1) of the Rules of Procedure, especially given the fact that the Council’s proposal echoes the request made by Parliament in the aforementioned resolution.

The rapporteur therefore recommends that the Committee on Constitutional Affairs approve the Council’s draft decision as it stands.

PROCEDURE

Title

Period for the eighth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage

References

07279/2013 – C7-0068/2013 – 2013/0802(CNS)

Date of consulting Parliament

15.3.2013

 

 

 

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

AFCO

15.4.2013

 

 

 

Rapporteur(s)

       Date appointed

Carlo Casini

19.3.2013

 

 

 

Simplified procedure - date of decision

19.3.2013

Discussed in committee

15.4.2013

 

 

 

Date adopted

15.4.2013

 

 

 

Date tabled

17.4.2013