SUMMARY SHEET OF THE PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL ON THE ROLE OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (CONV 579/03, ANNEX III)

I. Analysis of amendments by theme - summary

1. Four main themes emerge among the proposed amendments to the Protocol on the role of national parliaments in the European Union:

a) The role of national parliaments and the manner in which it is reflected in the protocol as well as the way in which the national parliaments are involved in the activities of the Union;
- The issues raised concern the way in which the role of national parliaments in the life of the Union in general is reflected in the protocol as well as the specific roles that national parliaments should assume. In the second case, the inclusion of several additional roles are proposed, such as the right to comment on substance of legislative proposals in addition to the specific issue of subsidiarity, the organisation of debates on the annual work programme, and the preparation and ratification of amendments to the Constitution. Proposed amendments also concern the definition of national parliaments in the context of the protocol and include proposals for references to each chamber as well as the sub-national level (regions with legislative powers).

b) The scope of the information transmitted to national parliaments (and by which institution);
- Proposed amendments concern the broadening of the scope of information referred to in the draft Protocol or the addition of further elements related to areas covered in the draft text. Proposed additions include the transmission of the multi-annual policy strategy, the annual report of the Ombudsman, records of Council public debates, and the information contained in legislative proposals on their financial and regulatory implications.

c) The timeframes applicable to various aspects of the protocol;
- Proposed amendments concern among other the specification of the timeframe for the transmission of documents by the Commission, additional restrictions pertaining to the period between the transmission of a proposal and its being put on a Council agenda for adoption, the formalisation of a set period between Coreper and the adoption of a common position by the Council, and timeframes for the transmission of agendas and outcomes of the Council.

d) Interparliamentary cooperation, including the role of COSAC.
- Proposed amendments concern the general reference to interparliamentary cooperation and its promotion by the European parliament and national parliaments, as well as the role of COSAC. With regard to the latter, several proposals are made concerning a more detailed description of its tasks and the areas in which it can make contributions.

2. A more detailed review of proposed amendments under headings a)-d), as well as a summary of proposals formulated on other aspects, is to be found in section II below.

To see the full analysis, click: http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/cv00/cv00611en03.pdf.