EP Rules of Procedure, Rule 90: international agreements

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted the report by David MARTIN (S&D, UK) on the amendment of Rule 90 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on international agreements.

Members proposed authorising the presentation of opinions in the context of the scrutiny of international agreements by the Parliament: by extending the scope of application of Rule 90(4) from the duration of the negotiations to the duration of the entire procedure from the beginning of the negotiations to the conclusion of the agreement, Parliament could intervene at any moment in order to clarify its position in view of the consent which it is required to give.

Rule 90 – paragraph 5 of the Rules should be amended so as to provide that requests by the Council for Parliament's consent or opinion should be referred by the President to the committee responsible for consideration in accordance with Rule 81 or Rule 43(1).

Before the vote is taken, the committee responsible, a political group or at least one-tenth of the Members may propose that Parliament seek an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility of an international agreement with the Treaties.