Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament
8th parliamentary term - July 2014
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 INDEX
 NOTE TO THE READER

CONTENTS
TitlesIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIIIXIV   
AnnexesIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIIIXIVXVXVIXVIIXVIIIXIXXXXXI

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 : 
Defence of privileges and immunity

Rule 8 : 
Urgent action by the President to assert immunity

Rule 9 : 
Procedures on immunity

Rule 10 : 
Implementation of the Statute for Members

Rule 11 : 
Members' financial interests, standards of conduct, mandatory transparency register and access to Parliament

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

Rule 32 : 
Formation of political groups

Rule 33 : 
Activities and legal situation of the political groups

Rule 34 : 
Intergroups

Rule 35 : 
Non-attached Members

Rule 36 : 
Allocation of seats in the Chamber

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

Rule 37 : 
The Commission Work Programme

Rule 38 : 
Respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

Rule 39 : 
Verification of legal basis

Rule 40 : 
Delegation of legislative powers

Rule 41 : 
Verification of financial compatibility

Rule 42 : 
Examination of respect for the principle of subsidiarity

Rule 43 : 
Access to documents and provision of information to Parliament

Rule 44 : 
Representation of Parliament in Council meetings

Rule 45 : 
Rights of initiative conferred on Parliament by the Treaties

Rule 46 : 
Initiative pursuant to Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

Rule 47 : 
Consideration of legislative documents

Rule 48 : 
Legislative procedures on initiatives originating from Member States
CHAPTER 2: PROCEDURE IN COMMITTEE

Rule 49 : 
Legislative reports

Rule 50 : 
Simplified procedure

Rule 51 : 
Non-legislative reports

Rule 52 : 
Own-initiative reports

Rule 53 : 
Opinions of committees

Rule 54 : 
Procedure with associated committees

Rule 55 : 
Procedure with joint committee meetings

Rule 56 : 
Drafting of reports
CHAPTER 3: FIRST READING
Committee stage

Rule 57 : 
Modification of a proposal for a legislative act

Rule 58 : 
Commission and Council position on amendments
Plenary stage

Rule 59 : 
Conclusion of first reading

Rule 60 : 
Rejection of a Commission proposal

Rule 61 : 
Adoption of amendments to a Commission proposal
Follow-up procedure

Rule 62 : 
Follow-up to Parliament's position

Rule 63 : 
Renewed referral to Parliament
CHAPTER 4: SECOND READING
Committee stage

Rule 64 : 
Communication of the Council's position

Rule 65 : 
Extension of time limits

Rule 66 : 
Referral to and procedure in the committee responsible
Plenary stage

Rule 67 : 
Conclusion of second reading

Rule 68 : 
Rejection of the Council's position

Rule 69 : 
Amendments to the Council's position
CHAPTER 5: THIRD READING
Conciliation

Rule 70 : 
Convening of the Conciliation Committee

Rule 71 : 
Delegation to the Conciliation Committee
Plenary stage

Rule 72 : 
Joint text
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

Rule 73 : 
Interinstitutional negotiations in legislative procedures

Rule 74 : 
Approval of a decision on the opening of interinstitutional negotiations prior to the adoption of a report in committee

Rule 75 : 
First-reading agreement

Rule 76 : 
Second-reading agreement

Rule 77 : 
Requirements for the drafting of legislative acts

Rule 78 : 
Signing of adopted acts
CHAPTER 7: CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Rule 79 : 
Ordinary Treaty revision

Rule 80 : 
Simplified Treaty revision

Rule 81 : 
Accession treaties

Rule 82 : 
Withdrawal from the Union

Rule 83 : 
Breach by a Member State of fundamental principles

Rule 84 : 
Composition of Parliament

Rule 85 : 
Enhanced cooperation between Member States
CHAPTER 8: BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

Rule 86 : 
Multiannual financial framework

Rule 87 : 
Working documents

Rule 88 : 
Consideration of the draft budget - first stage

Rule 89 : 
Financial trilogue

Rule 90 : 
Budgetary conciliation

Rule 91 : 
Definitive adoption of the budget

Rule 92 : 
Provisional twelfths system

Rule 93 : 
Discharge to the Commission in respect of implementation of the budget

Rule 94 : 
Other discharge procedures

Rule 95 : 
Parliamentary control over implementation of the budget
CHAPTER 9: INTERNAL BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

Rule 96 : 
Estimates of Parliament

Rule 97 : 
Procedure to be applied when drawing up Parliament's estimates

Rule 98 : 
Power to incur and settle expenditure
CHAPTER 10: CONSENT PROCEDURE

Rule 99 : 
Consent procedure
CHAPTER 11: OTHER PROCEDURES

Rule 100 : 
Procedure for delivering opinions pursuant to Article 140 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

Rule 101 : 
Procedures relating to dialogue between management and labour

Rule 102 : 
Procedures for scrutiny of voluntary agreements

Rule 103 : 
Codification

Rule 104 : 
Recasting

Rule 105 : 
Delegated acts

Rule 106 : 
Implementing acts and measures

Rule 107 : 
Consideration under the procedure with associated committees or the procedure with joint committee meetings

TITLE III: EXTERNAL RELATIONS
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CHAPTER 1: INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Rule 108 : 
International agreements

Rule 109 : 
Procedures based on Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in the case of the provisional application or suspension of international agreements or the 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 110 : 
Special representatives

Rule 111 : 
International representation

Rule 112 : 
Consultation of, and provision of information to, Parliament within the framework of the common foreign and security policy

Rule 113 : 
Recommendations within the framework of the common foreign and security policy

Rule 114 : 
Breach of human rights

TITLE IV: TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS
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Rule 115 : 
Transparency of Parliament's activities

Rule 116 : 
Public access to documents

TITLE V: RELATIONS WITH OTHER BODIES
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CHAPTER 1: APPOINTMENTS

Rule 117 : 
Election of the President of the Commission

Rule 118 : 
Election of the Commission

Rule 119 : 
Motion of censure on the Commission

Rule 120 : 
Nomination of Judges and Advocates-General at the Court of Justice of the European Union

Rule 121 : 
Appointment of the Members of the Court of Auditors

Rule 122 : 
Appointment of the Members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank
CHAPTER 2: STATEMENTS

Rule 123 : 
Statements by the Commission, Council and European Council

Rule 124 : 
Statements explaining Commission decisions

Rule 125 : 
Statements by the Court of Auditors

Rule 126 : 
Statements by the European Central Bank

Rule 127 : 
Recommendation on the broad guidelines of economic policies
CHAPTER 3: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Rule 128 : 
Questions for oral answer with debate

Rule 129 : 
Question Time

Rule 130 : 
Questions for written answer

Rule 131 : 
Questions for written answer to the European Central Bank
CHAPTER 4: REPORTS OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Rule 132 : 
Annual and other reports of other institutions
CHAPTER 5: RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Rule 133 : 
Motions for resolutions

Rule 134 : 
Recommendations to the Council

Rule 135 : 
Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

Rule 136 : 
Written declarations

Rule 137 : 
Consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee

Rule 138 : 
Consultation of the Committee of the Regions

Rule 139 : 
Requests to European Agencies
CHAPTER 6: INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS

Rule 140 : 
Interinstitutional agreements
CHAPTER 7: REFERRALS TO THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Rule 141 : 
Proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union

TITLE VI: RELATIONS WITH NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS
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Rule 142 : 
Exchange of information, contacts and reciprocal facilities

Rule 143 : 
Conference of European Affairs Committees (COSAC)

Rule 144 : 
Conferences of parliaments

TITLE VII: SESSIONS
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CHAPTER 1: SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 145 : 
Parliamentary term, sessions, part-sessions, sittings

Rule 146 : 
Convening of Parliament

Rule 147 : 
Venue of sittings and meetings

Rule 148 : 
Attendance of Members at sittings
CHAPTER 2: ORDER OF BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 149 : 
Draft agenda

Rule 150 : 
Procedure in plenary without amendment and debate

Rule 151 : 
Short presentation

Rule 152 : 
Adopting and amending the agenda

Rule 153 : 
Extraordinary debate

Rule 154 : 
Urgent procedure

Rule 155 : 
Joint debate

Rule 156 : 
Time limits
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SITTINGS

Rule 157 : 
Access to the Chamber

Rule 158 : 
Languages

Rule 159 : 
Transitional arrangement

Rule 160 : 
Distribution of documents

Rule 161 : 
Electronic handling of documents

Rule 162 : 
Allocation of speaking time and list of speakers

Rule 163 : 
One-minute speeches

Rule 164 : 
Personal statements
CHAPTER 4: MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

Rule 165 : 
Immediate measures

Rule 166 : 
Penalties

Rule 167 : 
Internal appeal procedures
CHAPTER 5: QUORUM AND VOTING

Rule 168 : 
Quorum

Rule 169 : 
Tabling and moving amendments

Rule 170 : 
Admissibility of amendments

Rule 171 : 
Voting procedure

Rule 172 : 
Tied votes

Rule 173 : 
Principles governing voting

Rule 174 : 
Order of voting on amendments

Rule 175 : 
Committee consideration of plenary amendments

Rule 176 : 
Split voting

Rule 177 : 
Right to vote

Rule 178 : 
Voting

Rule 179 : 
Final vote

Rule 180 : 
Voting by roll call

Rule 181 : 
Electronic voting

Rule 182 : 
Voting by secret ballot

Rule 183 : 
Explanations of vote

Rule 184 : 
Disputes on voting
CHAPTER 6: INTERRUPTIVE AND PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

Rule 185 : 
Procedural motions

Rule 186 : 
Points of order

Rule 187 : 
Moving the inadmissibility of a matter

Rule 188 : 
Referral back to committee

Rule 189 : 
Closure of a debate

Rule 190 : 
Adjournment of a debate and vote

Rule 191 : 
Suspension or closure of the sitting
CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Rule 192 : 
Minutes

Rule 193 : 
Texts adopted

Rule 194 : 
Verbatim reports

Rule 195 : 
Audiovisual record of proceedings

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

Rule 196 : 
Setting-up of standing committees

Rule 197 : 
Setting-up of special committees

Rule 198 : 
Committees of inquiry

Rule 199 : 
Composition of committees

Rule 200 : 
Substitutes

Rule 201 : 
Duties of committees

Rule 202 : 
Committee responsible for the verification of credentials

Rule 203 : 
Subcommittees

Rule 204 : 
Committee bureaux

Rule 205 : 
Committee coordinators and shadow rapporteurs
CHAPTER 2: COMMITTEES - FUNCTIONING

Rule 206 : 
Committee meetings

Rule 207 : 
Minutes of committee meetings

Rule 208 : 
Voting in committee

Rule 209 : 
Provisions concerning plenary sittings applicable in committee

Rule 210 : 
Question Time in committee

Rule 211 : 
Public hearings on citizens’ initiatives
CHAPTER 3: INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

Rule 212 : 
Setting-up and duties of interparliamentary delegations

Rule 213 : 
Cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Rule 214 : 
Joint parliamentary committees

TITLE IX: PETITIONS
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Rule 215 : 
Right of petition

Rule 216 : 
Examination of petitions

Rule 217 : 
Notice of petitions

Rule 218 : 
Citizens' initiative

TITLE X: OMBUDSMAN
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Rule 219 : 
Election of the Ombudsman

Rule 220 : 
Activities of the Ombudsman

Rule 221 : 
Dismissal of the Ombudsman

TITLE XI: PARLIAMENT'S SECRETARIAT
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Rule 222 : 
Secretariat

TITLE XII: POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO POLITICAL PARTIES AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
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Rule 223 : 
Powers and responsibilities of the President

Rule 224 : 
Powers and responsibilities of the Bureau

Rule 225 : 
Powers and responsibilities of the committee responsible and of Parliament's plenary

TITLE XIII: APPLICATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
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Rule 226 : 
Application of the Rules of Procedure

Rule 227 : 
Amendment of the Rules of Procedure

TITLE XIV: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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Rule 228 : 
The symbols of the Union

Rule 229 : 
Unfinished business

Rule 230 : 
Arrangement of annexes

Rule 231 : 
Corrigenda

ANNEX I
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Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament with respect to financial interests and conflicts of interest

ANNEX II
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Conduct of Question Time with the Commission

ANNEX III
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Criteria for questions for written answer under Rules 130 and 131

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 135

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

ANNEX VI
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Powers and responsibilities of standing committees

ANNEX VII
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Confidential and sensitive documents and information

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

ANNEX IX
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Transparency register

ANNEX X
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Performance of the Ombudsman's duties

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

ANNEX XII
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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 XIII
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Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

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

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

ANNEX XVI
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Guidelines for the approval of the Commission

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

ANNEX XVIII
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Communicating Europe in partnership

ANNEX XIX
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Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 13 June 2007 on practical arrangements for the codecision procedure (Article 251 of the EC Treaty)

ANNEX XX
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Code of conduct for negotiating in the context of the ordinary legislative procedures

ANNEX XXI
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Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Central Bank on the practical modalities of the exercise of democratic accountability and oversight over the exercise of the tasks conferred on the ECB within the framework of the Single Supervisory Mechanism
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