Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament
7th parliamentary term - July 2009
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 NOTE TO THE READER

CONTENTS
TitlesIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIII   
AnnexesIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIIIXIVXVXVIXVIIXVIIIXIXXX

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

Rule 1 : 
The European Parliament

Rule 2 : 
The 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 : 
Procedures on immunity

Rule 8 : 
Implementation of the Statute for Members

Rule 9 : 
Members' financial interests, standards of conduct and access to Parliament

Rule 10 : 
Internal investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

Rule 11 : 
Observers
CHAPTER 2: OFFICERS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 12 : 
Provisional Chair

Rule 13 : 
Nominations and general provisions

Rule 14 : 
Election of President - opening address

Rule 15 : 
Election of Vice-Presidents

Rule 16 : 
Election of Quaestors

Rule 17 : 
Term of office of Officers

Rule 18 : 
Vacancies

Rule 19 : 
Early termination of an office
CHAPTER 3: BODIES AND DUTIES

Rule 20 : 
Duties of the President

Rule 21 : 
Duties of the Vice-Presidents

Rule 22 : 
Composition of the Bureau

Rule 23 : 
Duties of the Bureau

Rule 24 : 
Composition of the Conference of Presidents

Rule 25 : 
Duties of the Conference of Presidents

Rule 26 : 
Duties of the Quaestors

Rule 27 : 
Conference of Committee Chairs

Rule 28 : 
Conference of Delegation Chairs

Rule 29 : 
Accountability of the Bureau and the Conference of Presidents
CHAPTER 4: POLITICAL GROUPS

Rule 30 : 
Formation of political groups

Rule 31 : 
Activities and legal situation of the political groups

Rule 32 : 
Intergroups

Rule 33 : 
Non-attached Members

Rule 34 : 
Allocation of seats in the Chamber

TITLE II: LEGISLATIVE, BUDGETARY AND OTHER PROCEDURES
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CHAPTER 1: LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Rule 35 : 
Commission's legislative and work programme

Rule 36 : 
Examination of respect for fundamental rights, the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, the rule of law, and financial implications

Rule 37 : 
Verification of legal basis

Rule 38 : 
Verification of financial compatibility

Rule 39 : 
Access to documents and provision of information to Parliament

Rule 40 : 
Representation of Parliament in Council meetings

Rule 41 : 
Rights of initiative conferred on Parliament by the Treaties

Rule 42 : 
Initiative pursuant to Article 192 of the EC Treaty

Rule 43 : 
Consideration of legislative documents

Rule 44 : 
Consultation on initiatives originating from a Member State
CHAPTER 2: PROCEDURE IN COMMITTEE

Rule 45 : 
Legislative reports

Rule 46 : 
Simplified procedure

Rule 47 : 
Non-legislative reports

Rule 48 : 
Own-initiative reports

Rule 49 : 
Opinions of committees

Rule 50 : 
Procedure with associated committees

Rule 51 : 
Procedure with joint committee meetings

Rule 52 : 
Drafting of reports
CHAPTER 3: FIRST READING
Committee stage

Rule 53 : 
Modification of a Commission proposal

Rule 54 : 
Commission and Council position on amendments
Plenary stage

Rule 55 : 
Conclusion of first reading

Rule 56 : 
Rejection of a Commission proposal

Rule 57 : 
Adoption of amendments to a Commission proposal
Follow-up procedure

Rule 58 : 
Follow-up to Parliament's position

Rule 59 : 
Renewed referral to Parliament

Rule 60 : 
Conciliation procedure contained in the 1975 joint declaration
CHAPTER 4: SECOND READING
Committee stage

Rule 61 : 
Communication of the Council's common position

Rule 62 : 
Extension of time limits

Rule 63 : 
Referral to and procedure in the committee responsible
Plenary stage

Rule 64 : 
Conclusion of second reading

Rule 65 : 
Rejection of the Council's common position

Rule 66 : 
Amendments to the Council's common position
CHAPTER 5: THIRD READING
Conciliation

Rule 67 : 
Convening of the Conciliation Committee

Rule 68 : 
Delegation to the Conciliation Committee
Plenary stage

Rule 69 : 
Joint text

Rule 70 : 
Interinstitutional negotiations in legislative procedures
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

Rule 70 : 
Interinstitutional negotiations in legislative procedures

Rule 71 : 
First-reading agreement

Rule 72 : 
Second-reading agreement

Rule 73 : 
Requirements for the drafting of legislative acts

Rule 74 : 
Signature of adopted acts
CHAPTER 7: BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

Rule 75 : 
General Budget

Rule 76 : 
Discharge to the Commission in respect of implementation of the budget

Rule 77 : 
Other discharge procedures

Rule 78 : 
Parliamentary control over implementation of the budget
CHAPTER 8: INTERNAL BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

Rule 79 : 
Estimates of Parliament

Rule 80 : 
Power to incur and settle expenditure
CHAPTER 9: ASSENT PROCEDURE

Rule 81 : 
Assent procedure
CHAPTER 10: ENHANCED COOPERATION

Rule 82 : 
Procedures in Parliament
CHAPTER 11: OTHER PROCEDURES

Rule 83 : 
Procedure for delivering opinions pursuant to Article 122 of the EC Treaty

Rule 84 : 
Procedures relating to dialogue between management and labour

Rule 85 : 
Procedures relating to scrutiny of voluntary agreements

Rule 86 : 
Codification

Rule 87 : 
Recasting

Rule 88 : 
Implementing measures
CHAPTER 12: TREATIES AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Rule 89 : 
Accession treaties

Rule 90 : 
International agreements

Rule 91 : 
Procedures based on Article 300 of the EC Treaty in the case of provisional application or the suspension of international agreements or the establishment of the Community position in a body set up by an international agreement
CHAPTER 13: EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNION AND COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

Rule 92 : 
Appointment of the High Representative for the common foreign and security policy

Rule 93 : 
Appointment of special representatives for the purposes of the common foreign and security policy

Rule 94 : 
Statements by the High Representative for the common foreign and security policy and by other special representatives

Rule 95 : 
International representation

Rule 96 : 
Consultation of and provision of information to Parliament within the framework of the common foreign and security policy

Rule 97 : 
Recommendations within the framework of the common foreign and security policy

Rule 98 : 
Breach of human rights
CHAPTER 14: POLICE AND JUDICIAL COOPERATION IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

Rule 99 : 
Provision of information to Parliament in the fields of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters

Rule 100 : 
Consultation of Parliament in the fields of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters

Rule 101 : 
Recommendations in the fields of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
CHAPTER 15: BREACH BY A MEMBER STATE OF FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Rule 102 : 
Determination of a breach

TITLE III: TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS
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Rule 103 : 
Transparency of Parliament's activities

Rule 104 : 
Public access to documents

TITLE IV: RELATIONS WITH OTHER BODIES
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CHAPTER 1: APPOINTMENTS

Rule 105 : 
Election of the President of the Commission

Rule 106 : 
Election of the Commission

Rule 107 : 
Motion of censure on the Commission

Rule 108 : 
Appointment of the Members of the Court of Auditors

Rule 109 : 
Appointment of the Members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank
CHAPTER 2: STATEMENTS

Rule 110 : 
Statements by the Commission, Council and European Council

Rule 111 : 
Statements explaining Commission decisions

Rule 112 : 
Statements by the Court of Auditors

Rule 113 : 
Statements by the European Central Bank

Rule 114 : 
Recommendation on the broad guidelines of economic policies
CHAPTER 3: QUESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSION AND THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

Rule 115 : 
Questions for oral answer with debate

Rule 116 : 
Question Time

Rule 117 : 
Questions for written answer to the Council or the Commission

Rule 118 : 
Questions for written answer to the European Central Bank
CHAPTER 4: REPORTS OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Rule 119 : 
Annual reports and other reports of other institutions
CHAPTER 5: RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Rule 120 : 
Motions for resolutions

Rule 121 : 
Recommendations to the Council

Rule 122 : 
Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

Rule 123 : 
Written declarations

Rule 124 : 
Consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee

Rule 125 : 
Consultation of the Committee of the Regions

Rule 126 : 
Requests to European Agencies
CHAPTER 6: INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS

Rule 127 : 
Interinstitutional agreements
CHAPTER 7: REFERRALS TO THE COURT OF JUSTICE

Rule 128 : 
Proceedings before the Court of Justice

Rule 129 : 
Consequences of the Council failing to act following approval of its common position under the cooperation procedure

TITLE V: RELATIONS WITH NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS
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Rule 130 : 
Exchange of information, contacts and reciprocal facilities

Rule 131 : 
Conference of European Affairs Committees (COSAC)

Rule 132 : 
Conference of Parliaments

TITLE VI: SESSIONS
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CHAPTER 1: SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 133 : 
Parliamentary term, sessions, part-sessions, sittings

Rule 134 : 
Convening of Parliament

Rule 135 : 
Venue of sittings and meetings

Rule 136 : 
Attendance of Members at sittings
CHAPTER 2: ORDER OF BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 137 : 
Draft agenda

Rule 138 : 
Procedure in plenary without amendment and debate

Rule 139 : 
Short presentation

Rule 140 : 
Adopting and amending the agenda

Rule 141 : 
Extraordinary debate

Rule 142 : 
Urgent procedure

Rule 143 : 
Joint debate

Rule 144 : 
Time-limits
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SITTINGS

Rule 145 : 
Access to the Chamber

Rule 146 : 
Languages

Rule 147 : 
Transitional arrangement

Rule 148 : 
Distribution of documents

Rule 149 : 
Allocation of speaking time and list of speakers

Rule 150 : 
One-minute speeches

Rule 151 : 
Personal statements
CHAPTER 4: MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

Rule 152 : 
Immediate measures

Rule 153 : 
Penalties

Rule 154 : 
Internal appeal procedures
CHAPTER 5: QUORUM AND VOTING

Rule 155 : 
Quorum

Rule 156 : 
Tabling and moving amendments

Rule 157 : 
Admissibility of amendments

Rule 158 : 
Voting procedure

Rule 159 : 
Tied votes

Rule 160 : 
Principles governing voting

Rule 161 : 
Order of voting on amendments

Rule 162 : 
Committee consideration of plenary amendments

Rule 163 : 
Split voting

Rule 164 : 
Right to vote

Rule 165 : 
Voting

Rule 166 : 
Final vote

Rule 167 : 
Voting by roll call

Rule 168 : 
Electronic voting

Rule 169 : 
Voting by secret ballot

Rule 170 : 
Explanations of vote

Rule 171 : 
Disputes on voting
CHAPTER 6: INTERRUPTIVE AND PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

Rule 172 : 
Procedural motions

Rule 173 : 
Points of order

Rule 174 : 
Moving the inadmissibility of a matter

Rule 175 : 
Referral back to committee

Rule 176 : 
Closure of a debate

Rule 177 : 
Adjournment of a debate and vote

Rule 178 : 
Suspension or closure of the sitting
CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Rule 179 : 
Minutes

Rule 180 : 
Texts adopted

Rule 181 : 
Verbatim reports

Rule 182 : 
Audiovisual record of proceedings

TITLE VII: COMMITTEES AND DELEGATIONS
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CHAPTER 1: COMMITTEES - SETTING-UP AND POWERS

Rule 183 : 
Setting-up of standing committees

Rule 184 : 
Setting-up of special committees

Rule 185 : 
Committees of inquiry

Rule 186 : 
Composition of committees

Rule 187 : 
Substitutes

Rule 188 : 
Duties of committees

Rule 189 : 
Committee responsible for the verification of credentials

Rule 190 : 
Subcommittees

Rule 191 : 
Committee bureaux

Rule 192 : 
Committee coordinators and shadow rapporteurs
CHAPTER 2: COMMITTEES - FUNCTIONING

Rule 193 : 
Committee meetings

Rule 194 : 
Minutes of committee meetings

Rule 195 : 
Voting in committee

Rule 196 : 
Provisions concerning plenary sittings applicable in committee

Rule 197 : 
Question Time in committee
CHAPTER 3: INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

Rule 198 : 
Setting-up and duties of interparliamentary delegations

Rule 199 : 
Cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Rule 200 : 
Joint parliamentary committees

TITLE VIII: PETITIONS
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Rule 201 : 
Right of petition

Rule 202 : 
Examination of petitions

Rule 203 : 
Notice of petitions

TITLE IX: OMBUDSMAN
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Rule 204 : 
Appointment of the Ombudsman

Rule 205 : 
Activities of the Ombudsman

Rule 206 : 
Dismissal of the Ombudsman

TITLE X: PARLIAMENT'S SECRETARIAT
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Rule 207 : 
Secretariat

TITLE XI: POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO POLITICAL PARTIES AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
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Rule 208 : 
Powers and responsibilities of the President

Rule 209 : 
Powers and responsibilities of the Bureau

Rule 210 : 
Powers and responsibilities of the committee responsible and of Parliament’s plenary

TITLE XII: APPLICATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
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Rule 211 : 
Application of the Rules of Procedure

Rule 212 : 
Amendment of the Rules of Procedure

TITLE XIII: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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Rule 213 : 
The symbols of the Union

Rule 214 : 
Unfinished business

Rule 215 : 
Arrangement of annexes

Rule 216 : 
Corrigenda

ANNEX I
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Provisions governing the application of Rule 9(1) - Transparency and Members' financial interests

ANNEX II
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Conduct of Question Time under Rule 116

ANNEX III
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Guidelines for questions for written answer under Rules 117 and 118

ANNEX IV
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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 122

ANNEX V
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Implementing procedures for examination of the general budget of the European Union and supplementary budgets

ANNEX VI
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Procedure for the consideration and adoption of decisions on the granting of discharge

ANNEX VII
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Powers and responsibilities of standing committees

ANNEX VIII
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Confidential and sensitive documents and information

ANNEX IX
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Detailed provisions governing the exercise of the European Parliament's right of inquiry

ANNEX X
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Provisions governing the application of Rule 9(4) - Lobbying in Parliament

ANNEX XI
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Performance of the Ombudsman's duties

ANNEX XII
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Prevention of fraud, corruption and any illegal activity detrimental to the Communities' interests

ANNEX XIII
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Agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission on procedures for implementing Council Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC

ANNEX XIV
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Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission

ANNEX XV
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Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on public access to documents

ANNEX XVI
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Guidelines for the interpretation of the standards of conduct of Members

ANNEX XVII
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Guidelines for the approval of the Commission

ANNEX XVIII
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Procedure for granting authorisation to draw up own-initiative reports

ANNEX XIX
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Communicating Europe in partnership

ANNEX XX
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Code of conduct for negotiating in the context of codecision procedures
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