Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament
9th parliamentary term - April, 2023
EPUB 141kPDF 670k
Top of pageCONTENTS
 NOTE TO THE READER
 COMPENDIUM OF THE MAIN LEGAL ACTS RELATED TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

CONTENTS
TitlesIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIIIXIII-1XIV   
AnnexesIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIII

TITLE I: MEMBERS, PARLIAMENT BODIES AND POLITICAL GROUPS
Top of pageNext
CHAPTER 1: MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Rule 1 : 
European Parliament

Rule 2 : 
Independent mandate

Rule 3 : 
Verification of credentials

Rule 4 : 
Term of office of Members

Rule 5 : 
Privileges and immunities

Rule 6 : 
Waiver of immunity

Rule 7 : 
Defence of privileges and immunity

Rule 8 : 
Urgent action by the President to assert immunity

Rule 9 : 
Procedures on immunity

Rule 10 : 
Standards of conduct

Rule 11 : 
Members’ financial interests and Transparency register

Rule 12 : 
Internal investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

Rule 13 : 
Observers
CHAPTER 2: OFFICERS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 14 : 
Provisional Chair

Rule 15 : 
Nominations and general provisions

Rule 16 : 
Election of President – opening address

Rule 17 : 
Election of Vice-Presidents

Rule 18 : 
Election of Quaestors

Rule 19 : 
Term of office of Officers

Rule 20 : 
Vacancies

Rule 21 : 
Early termination of an office
CHAPTER 3: BODIES AND DUTIES

Rule 22 : 
Duties of the President

Rule 23 : 
Duties of the Vice-Presidents

Rule 24 : 
Composition of the Bureau

Rule 25 : 
Duties of the Bureau

Rule 26 : 
Composition of the Conference of Presidents

Rule 27 : 
Duties of the Conference of Presidents

Rule 28 : 
Duties of the Quaestors

Rule 29 : 
Conference of Committee Chairs

Rule 30 : 
Conference of Delegation Chairs

Rule 31 : 
Continuity of an office during the election period

Rule 32 : 
Accountability of the Bureau and the Conference of Presidents
CHAPTER 4: POLITICAL GROUPS

Rule 33 : 
Establishment and dissolution of political groups

Rule 34 : 
Activities and legal situation of the political groups

Rule 35 : 
Intergroups

Rule 36 : 
Non-attached Members

Rule 37 : 
Allocation of seats in the Chamber

TITLE II: LEGISLATIVE, BUDGETARY, DISCHARGE AND OTHER PROCEDURES
Top of pageNextPrevious
CHAPTER 1: LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Rule 38 : 
Annual programming

Rule 39 : 
Respect for fundamental rights

Rule 40 : 
Verification of legal basis

Rule 41 : 
Delegation of legislative powers and conferral of implementing powers

Rule 42 : 
Verification of financial compatibility

Rule 43 : 
Examination of respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality

Rule 44 : 
Access to documents and provision of information to Parliament

Rule 45 : 
Representation of Parliament in Council meetings

Rule 46 : 
Right of Parliament to submit proposals

Rule 47 : 
Requests to the Commission for submission of proposals

Rule 48 : 
Consideration of legally binding acts

Rule 49 : 
Acceleration of legislative procedures

Rule 50 : 
Legislative procedures on initiatives originating from institutions other than the Commission or from Member States
CHAPTER 2: PROCEDURE IN COMMITTEE

Rule 51 : 
Legislative reports

Rule 52 : 
Simplified procedure

Rule 53 : 
Non-legislative reports

Rule 54 : 
Own-initiative reports

Rule 55 : 
Drafting of reports

Rule 56 : 
Opinions of committees

Rule 57 : 
Associated committee procedure

Rule 58 : 
Joint committee procedure
CHAPTER 3: ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
SECTION 1 - FIRST READING

Rule 59 : 
Vote in Parliament – first reading

Rule 60 : 
Referral back to the committee responsible

Rule 61 : 
Renewed referral to Parliament

Rule 62 : 
First-reading agreement
SECTION 2 - SECOND READING

Rule 63 : 
Communication of the Council's position

Rule 64 : 
Extension of time limits

Rule 65 : 
Procedure in the committee responsible

Rule 66 : 
Submission to Parliament

Rule 67 : 
Vote in Parliament – second reading

Rule 68 : 
Admissibility of amendments to the Council's position

Rule 69 : 
Second-reading agreement
SECTION 3 - INTERINSTITUTIONAL NEGOTIATIONS DURING THE ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

Rule 70 : 
General provisions

Rule 71 : 
Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading

Rule 72 : 
Negotiations ahead of Council's first reading

Rule 73 : 
Negotiations ahead of Parliament's second reading

Rule 74 : 
Conduct of negotiations
SECTION 4 - CONCILIATION AND THIRD READING

Rule 75 : 
Extension of time limits

Rule 76 : 
Convening of the Conciliation Committee

Rule 77 : 
Delegation to the Conciliation Committee

Rule 78 : 
Joint text
SECTION 5 - CONCLUSION OF THE PROCEDURE

Rule 79 : 
Signing and publication of adopted acts
CHAPTER 4: PROVISIONS SPECIFIC TO THE CONSULTATION PROCEDURE

Rule 80 : 
Modified proposal for a legally binding act

Rule 81 : 
Commission position on amendments

Rule 82 : 
Vote in Parliament

Rule 83 : 
Follow-up to Parliament's position

Rule 84 : 
Renewed referral to Parliament
CHAPTER 5: CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Rule 85 : 
Ordinary Treaty revision

Rule 86 : 
Simplified Treaty revision

Rule 87 : 
Accession treaties

Rule 88 : 
Withdrawal from the Union

Rule 89 : 
Breach by a Member State of fundamental principles and values

Rule 90 : 
Composition of Parliament

Rule 91 : 
Enhanced cooperation between Member States
CHAPTER 6: BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

Rule 92 : 
Multiannual financial framework

Rule 93 : 
Annual budgetary procedure

Rule 94 : 
Parliament's position on the draft budget

Rule 95 : 
Budgetary conciliation

Rule 96 : 
Definitive adoption of the budget

Rule 97 : 
Provisional twelfths system

Rule 98 : 
Implementation of the budget

Rule 99 : 
Discharge to the Commission in respect of implementation of the budget

Rule 100 : 
Other discharge procedures

Rule 101 : 
Interinstitutional cooperation
CHAPTER 7: INTERNAL BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

Rule 102 : 
Estimates of Parliament

Rule 103 : 
Procedure to be applied when drawing up Parliament's estimates

Rule 104 : 
Power to incur and settle expenditure, to approve accounts and to grant discharge
CHAPTER 8: CONSENT PROCEDURE

Rule 105 : 
Consent procedure
CHAPTER 9: OTHER PROCEDURES

Rule 106 : 
Procedure for delivering opinions on derogations to the adoption of the euro

Rule 106 a : 
Procedure for delivering Parliament’s position on the establishment or extension of Union trust funds for external actions

Rule 107 : 
Procedures relating to dialogue between management and labour

Rule 108 : 
Procedures for scrutiny of envisaged voluntary agreements

Rule 109 : 
Codification

Rule 110 : 
Recasting
CHAPTER 10: DELEGATED AND IMPLEMENTING ACTS

Rule 111 : 
Delegated acts

Rule 112 : 
Implementing acts and measures

Rule 113 : 
Consideration under the associated committee procedure or the joint committee procedure

TITLE III: EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Top of pageNextPrevious
CHAPTER 1: INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Rule 114 : 
International agreements

Rule 115 : 
Provisional application or suspension of the application of international agreements or establishment of the Union's position in a body set up by an international agreement
CHAPTER 2: EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNION AND THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

Rule 116 : 
Special representatives

Rule 117 : 
International representation
CHAPTER 3: RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE UNION’S EXTERNAL ACTION

Rule 118 : 
Recommendations on the Union's external policies

Rule 119 : 
Consultation of, and provision of information to, Parliament within the framework of the common foreign and security policy

Rule 120 : 
Breach of human rights

TITLE IV: TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 121 : 
Transparency of Parliament's activities

Rule 122 : 
Public access to documents

Rule 123 : 
Access to Parliament

TITLE V: RELATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
Top of pageNextPrevious
CHAPTER 1: APPOINTMENTS

Rule 124 : 
Election of the President of the Commission

Rule 125 : 
Election of the Commission

Rule 126 : 
Multiannual programming

Rule 127 : 
Motion of censure on the Commission

Rule 128 : 
Nomination of Judges and Advocates-General at the Court of Justice of the European Union

Rule 129 : 
Appointment of the Members of the Court of Auditors

Rule 130 : 
Appointment of the Members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank

Rule 131 : 
Appointments to the economic governance bodies
CHAPTER 2: STATEMENTS

Rule 132 : 
Statements by the Commission, Council and European Council

Rule 133 : 
Statements explaining Commission decisions

Rule 134 : 
Statements by the Court of Auditors

Rule 135 : 
Statements by the European Central Bank
CHAPTER 3: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Rule 136 : 
Questions for oral answer with debate

Rule 137 : 
Question Time

Rule 138 : 
Questions for written answer

Rule 139 : 
Major interpellations for written answer

Rule 140 : 
Questions for written answer to the European Central Bank

Rule 141 : 
Questions for written answer concerning the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the Single Resolution Mechanism
CHAPTER 4: REPORTS OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Rule 142 : 
Annual and other reports of other institutions or bodies
CHAPTER 5: RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Rule 143 : 
Motions for resolutions

Rule 144 : 
Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
CHAPTER 6: CONSULTATION OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Rule 145 : 
Consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee

Rule 146 : 
Consultation of the Committee of the Regions

Rule 147 : 
Requests to European Agencies
CHAPTER 7: INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS

Rule 148 : 
Interinstitutional agreements
CHAPTER 8: REFERRALS TO THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Rule 149 : 
Proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union

TITLE VI: RELATIONS WITH NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 150 : 
Exchange of information, contacts and reciprocal facilities

Rule 151 : 
Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC)

Rule 152 : 
Conferences of parliaments

TITLE VII: SESSIONS
Top of pageNextPrevious
CHAPTER 1: SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 153 : 
Parliamentary term, sessions, part-sessions, sittings

Rule 154 : 
Convening of Parliament

Rule 155 : 
Venue of sittings and meetings

Rule 156 : 
Attendance of Members at sittings
CHAPTER 2: ORDER OF BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 157 : 
Draft agenda

Rule 158 : 
Adopting and amending the agenda

Rule 159 : 
Procedure in plenary without amendment and debate

Rule 160 : 
Short presentation

Rule 161 : 
Extraordinary debate

Rule 162 : 
Topical debate requested by a political group

Rule 163 : 
Urgent procedure

Rule 164 : 
Joint debate

Rule 165 : 
Time limits
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SITTINGS

Rule 166 : 
Access to the Chamber

Rule 167 : 
Languages

Rule 168 : 
Transitional arrangement

Rule 169 : 
Distribution of documents

Rule 170 : 
Electronic handling of documents

Rule 171 : 
Allocation of speaking time and list of speakers

Rule 172 : 
One-minute speeches

Rule 173 : 
Personal statements

Rule 174 : 
Prevention of obstruction
CHAPTER 4: MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

Rule 175 : 
Immediate measures

Rule 176 : 
Penalties

Rule 177 : 
Internal appeal procedures
CHAPTER 5: QUORUM, AMENDMENTS AND VOTING

Rule 178 : 
Quorum

Rule 179 : 
Thresholds

Rule 180 : 
Tabling and presenting amendments

Rule 181 : 
Admissibility of amendments

Rule 182 : 
Voting procedure

Rule 183 : 
Order of voting on amendments

Rule 184 : 
Committee filter of plenary amendments

Rule 185 : 
Split voting

Rule 186 : 
Right to vote

Rule 187 : 
Voting

Rule 188 : 
Final vote

Rule 189 : 
Tied votes

Rule 190 : 
Voting by roll call

Rule 191 : 
Voting by secret ballot

Rule 192 : 
Use of electronic voting system

Rule 193 : 
Disputes on voting

Rule 194 : 
Explanations of votes
CHAPTER 6: POINTS OF ORDER AND PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

Rule 195 : 
Points of order

Rule 196 : 
Procedural motions

Rule 197 : 
(deleted)

Rule 198 : 
Referral back to committee

Rule 199 : 
Closure of a debate

Rule 200 : 
Adjournment of a debate or vote

Rule 201 : 
Suspension or closure of the sitting
CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Rule 202 : 
Minutes

Rule 203 : 
Texts adopted

Rule 204 : 
Verbatim reports

Rule 205 : 
Audiovisual record of proceedings

TITLE VIII: COMMITTEES AND DELEGATIONS
Top of pageNextPrevious
CHAPTER 1: COMMITTEES

Rule 206 : 
Setting-up of standing committees

Rule 207 : 
Special committees

Rule 208 : 
Committees of inquiry

Rule 209 : 
Composition of committees

Rule 210 : 
Duties of committees

Rule 211 : 
Questions of competence

Rule 212 : 
Subcommittees

Rule 213 : 
Committee bureaux

Rule 214 : 
Committee coordinators

Rule 215 : 
Shadow Rapporteurs

Rule 216 : 
Committee meetings

Rule 217 : 
Minutes of committee meetings

Rule 218 : 
Voting in committee

Rule 219 : 
Provisions concerning plenary sittings applicable in committee

Rule 220 : 
Question Time in committee

Rule 221 : 
Procedure for the consultation by a committee of confidential information in a committee meeting in camera

Rule 222 : 
Public hearings and debates on citizens’ initiatives
CHAPTER 2: INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

Rule 223 : 
Setting-up and duties of interparliamentary delegations

Rule 224 : 
Joint parliamentary committees

Rule 225 : 
Cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

TITLE IX: PETITIONS
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 226 : 
Right of petition

Rule 227 : 
Examination of petitions

Rule 228 : 
Fact-finding visits

Rule 229 : 
Notice of petitions

Rule 230 : 
Citizens' initiative

TITLE X: OMBUDSMAN
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 231 : 
Election of the Ombudsman

Rule 232 : 
Activities of the Ombudsman

Rule 233 : 
Dismissal of the Ombudsman

TITLE XI: PARLIAMENT'S SECRETARIAT
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 234 : 
Parliament's Secretariat

TITLE XII: POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES AND EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 235 : 
Powers and responsibilities relating to European political parties and European political foundations

TITLE XIII: APPLICATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 236 : 
Application of the Rules of Procedure

Rule 237 : 
Amendment of the Rules of Procedure

TITLE XIIIa: EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 237 a : 
Extraordinary measures

Rule 237 b : 
Disturbance of the political balance in Parliament

Rule 237 c : 
Remote participation regime

Rule 237 d : 
Holding of a part-session or a sitting in separate meeting rooms

TITLE XIV: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Top of pageNextPrevious

Rule 238 : 
The symbols of the Union

Rule 239 : 
Gender Mainstreaming

Rule 240 : 
Unfinished business

Rule 241 : 
Corrigenda

ANNEX I
Top of pageNextPrevious
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

ANNEX II
Top of pageNextPrevious
CODE OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN EXERCISING THEIR DUTIES

ANNEX III
Top of pageNextPrevious
CRITERIA FOR QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER UNDER RULES 138, 140 AND 141

ANNEX IV
Top of pageNextPrevious
GUIDELINES AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN CHOOSING THE SUBJECTS TO BE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE DEBATE ON CASES OF BREACHES OF HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW PROVIDED FOR UNDER RULE 144

ANNEX V
Top of pageNextPrevious
PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF DECISIONS ON THE GRANTING OF DISCHARGE

ANNEX VI
Top of pageNextPrevious
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

I. : 
Committee on Foreign Affairs

II. : 
Committee on Development

III. : 
Committee on International Trade

IV. : 
Committee on Budgets

V. : 
Committee on Budgetary Control

VI. : 
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

VII. : 
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

VIII. : 
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

IX. : 
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

X. : 
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

XI. : 
Committee on Transport and Tourism

XII. : 
Committee on Regional Development

XIII. : 
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

XIV. : 
Committee on Fisheries

XV. : 
Committee on Culture and Education

XVI. : 
Committee on Legal Affairs

XVII. : 
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

XVIII. : 
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

XIX. : 
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

XX. : 
Committee on Petitions

ANNEX VII
Top of pageNextPrevious
APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION AND MONITORING OF COMMITMENTS MADE DURING THE HEARINGS

ANNEX VIII
Top of pagePrevious
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DRAFTING OF ACTS ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
Last updated: 20 April 2023Legal notice - Privacy policy