- Consultation procedure
The Consultation procedure is one of the legislative procedures of the
European Community , the 1st of thethree pillars of the European Union .Under this procedure the
European Commission sends its proposal to both theCouncil of the European Union and theEuropean Parliament , but it is the Council that officially consults Parliament and other bodies such as theEconomic and Social Committee and theCommittee of the Regions . The Council is notbound by Parliament's position or by any other consulted body, but only by the obligation to consult the Parliament. In some cases, consultation is because the legal basis requires it and the proposal cannot become law unless Parliament has given its opinion, however there is no time limit for giving it's opinion, in these cases the procedure is more then just polite advice(keep in mind,that opinion is given before council has decided). If the Council amends a Commission proposal it must do sounanimous ly.The procedure applies in particular to the
Common Agriculture Policy .In its opinion on the
Intergovernmental Conference in February 2000,theEuropean Commission argued in favour of extending the procedureto the conclusion oftrade agreement s between the Community and oneor more countries or international organisations.Consultation can be optional and the Commission will simply suggestthat the Council consult Parliament.
In all cases, Parliament can:
* the Commission proposal;
* it;
* ask for s.
* abstain from giving an opinion.The areas covered by the consultation procedure are:
* Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
*Revision of the Treaties
* Discrimination on grounds of sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or political conviction, disability, age or sexual orientation
* EUcitizenship
* Agriculture
* Visas, asylum, immigration and other policies associated with the free movement of persons
* Transport (where it is likely to have a significant impact on certain regions)
*Competition s
* Tax arrangements
* Economic policy
* "Enhanced co-operation " - i.e. the arrangement allowing a group of member states to work together in a particular field even if the others do not wish to join in yet.In some areas, such as
taxation , the Council's decision has to be unanimous.See also:
Cooperation procedure ,codecision procedure .References
[http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/consultation_procedure_en.htm Europa Glossary]
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