The European Parliament adopted a decision on the adaptation of Parliament's Rules of Procedure to the Treaty of Lisbon. The amendments adopted in Plenary will enter into force on 1 December 2009.
It should be noted that at the Constitutional Affairs meeting on 24 November 2009, the vote only concerned amendments relating to the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. The other amendments were debated and put to the vote at a later stage, at the same time as other additional compromise amendments.
MEPs adopted changes to the EP's internal rules to reflect the arrival of 18 new MEPs, the increase in its legislative powers and a new budget procedure that puts Parliament on an equal footing with the Council.
Altogether, 18 new MEPs from 12 Member States will take their seats in Parliament after the new Treaty enters into force and a protocol confirming the addition of MEPs has been ratified by all Member States. Until then, the MEPs-designate will not enjoy voting rights but can have observer status, a possibility now added to the European Parliament' Rules of Procedure.
The rule changes also reflect the significant increase in Parliament's legislative powers. With the Lisbon Treaty, almost all issues fall under the "ordinary legislative procedure", in which Parliament and Council are equal as lawmakers.
Budget rules were also revised as Parliament will enjoy full parity with Council in deciding the EU budget. In this respect, MEPs introduced a number of amendments concerning: the multi-annual financial Framework (which has become a legislative act soliciting Parliament’s consent); working documents available to members; consideration of the draft budget (first stage); budgetary conciliation; financial trilogue; definitive adoption of the budget; provisional twelfths system; procedure to be applied when drawing up Parliament's estimates.
Further changes to the EP's Rules of Procedure concern, inter alia:
· respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
· examination of respect for the principle of subsidiarity;
· Parliament's right to propose treaty changes and the increased influence of national parliaments;
· the procedure for appointing the Commission President was modified as Parliament will have more power in this matter;
· the suppression of specific measures concerning the appointment of the High Representative for the common foreign and security policy;
· withdrawal from the Union;
· breach by a Member State of fundamental principles.