On the enhancement of democratic legitimacy in the context of the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union

EXPLANATIONS OF VOTE:

The following spoke: Mr De Gucht, on behalf of the LDR Group, Mrs Ewing, on behalf of the RB Group, Mr Lalor, on behalf of the EDA Group, Mr Zeller, Mr Rothley, Mr I. Christensen, Mr Brok and Mr Prag, on behalf of the ED Group.

Parliament adopted the resolution by RCV (EPP):

Members voting : 221

For : 186

Against : 9

Abstentions : 26

Parliament adopted the resolution.

RESOLUTION

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its specific proposals for the Intergovernmental Conferences contained in its resolutions of 10 October and 25 October, 21 November and 22 November 1990, and its resolutions of 12 December 1990 and 24 January 1991,

- having regard to the Final Declaration of 30 November 1990 of the Conference of Parliaments of the European Community meeting in Rome,

- having regard to the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14 and 15 December 1990,

- having regard to the preparatory Interinstitutional Conferences and the Interinstitutional Conference of 5 March 1991,

1. Stresses that the Final Declaration of 30 November 1990 adopted, by a very large majority, by the Conference of Parliaments of the European Community, composed of the twelve national parliaments of the Member States and the European Parliament, lays down precise requirements in respect of the need to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Community and transform it into a federal European Union;

2. Notes that at its meeting in Rome on 14 and 15 December the European Council raised the matters discussed by the Conference of Parliaments and used them as a basis for the agenda of the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union, which might pave the way to the establishment of a genuine European Union, if the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Conference honour and give full effect to the European Council's solemn commitment towards the people of Europe;

3. Expresses satisfaction at the support of several governments as regards the principle of joint decision-making between Parliament and Council, particularly the proposals in the recent German-Italian Joint Declaration, but notes that other contributions to the Intergovernmental Conferences propose a substantial strengthening of cooperation of a purely intergovernmental nature and would thus entail a dramatic worsening of the democratic deficit at both national and Community level;

4. Considers that the improvement of parliamentary power of control over the activities of the Commission, in particular through the inquiry, petition and discharge procedures, should not be used as an excuse to evade the indispensable task of eliminating the deficit, in terms of democracy and efficacy, affecting legislative procedures and the appointment of the Commission;

5. Rejects the argument that democracy and efficiency are diametrically opposed and points out that efficiency is conditional upon the importance of the democratic dimension in decision-making procedures at national and Community level; also stresses that the delays that have occurred on certain issues are attributable, in almost every case, to the Council;

6. Considers that such arguments are totally unacceptable and reaffirms, on behalf of the peoples of the European Community which elected it, the following principles:

- any extension of the competences of the European Community and intergovernmental cooperation must respect the principle of subsidiarity and be subject to parliamentary involvement and scrutiny at the appropriate level,

- any revision of the Treaties requires the assent of the European Parliament before ratification by the national parliaments,

- all legislative acts require a joint decision by the European Parliament and the Council, acting by the requisite majority, throughout the legislative procedure, including, where appropriate, a conciliation procedure between them with the active involvement of the Commission,

- Parliament's assent shall apply to agreements modifying important provisions of Community law or having a substantial impact on the budget, or if Parliament has requested this before the opening of negotiations or at any other time, provided that the request is made jointly by the Council and Parliament,

- the Commission must be appointed democratically at the beginning of each electoral period, its President to be elected by Parliament, its other Members to be selected, in agreement with the Council, by the President thus elected and the Commission team and its political programme to be submitted to Parliament by the President for a vote of confidence,

- the Commission must carry out executive duties under the political supervision of the European Parliament, with the power of legislative retrieval ('pouvoir d'évocation') residing with the Council and Parliament,

- the Community must be endowed with a declaration of fundamental rights and freedoms and its citizens must enjoy specific rights and be subject to specific obligations which define their status and their participation in the political life of the Community,

7. Also disapproves of those of the Commission's contributions which depart from or run counter to the principles set out above and formally requests it to amend them accordingly;

8. Requests the Parliaments of the Member States to follow the example of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and to call upon their governments to comply with the demands set out in the Rome Final Declaration and to announce that they will not authorize ratification of the results of the Intergovernmental Conferences until they have been approved by the European Parliament;

9. Issues a warning that it will reject any Conference result which fails to apply the principles set out above;

10. Recalls its resolution of 16 February 1989, in which it decided not to approve any new accession treaties until institutional reforms had been adopted rendering the Community more efficient and democratic, and thus make decisive progress towards European Union;

11. Announces therefore that it will reject all draft agreements based on Article 238 of the EEC Treaty until substantial progress has been achieved with regard to the powers of the European Parliament in the Intergovernmental Conferences;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Intergovernmental Conferences and the Commission.