The Commission and the European Parliament have signed an agreement to promote closer cooperation

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen,and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, signed the revised Framework Agreement between the two institutions. This agreement reinforces cooperation between the Commission and the European Parliament, strengthens representative democracy, improves dialogue and ensures greater transparency. It establishes an updated framework for cooperation to ensure smooth collaboration between the Commission and the European Parliament, whilst fully respecting the institutional balance and the prerogatives conferred by the European Treaties. The agreement will enter into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This revision responds to the commitment made by Presidentvon der Leyenin herpolitical guidelinesand tothe set of principlesagreed betweenherand the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. The latest version of the agreement was signed in 2010, following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.

President Ursulavon der Leyenstated:“When citizens look to Europe for answers, they look to the European Union as a whole. To provide the best possible service to all our citizens, the EU institutions must work even more closely together. This agreement underlines our commitment and cooperation to achieve this common goal.”

The Commission agreed to continue to follow up on legislative initiatives adopted by the European Parliament. To this end, the Commission will strictly adhere to the principles of proportionality, subsidiarity and better regulation. When drafting such resolutions, the Parliament will provide detailed reports on the necessity, financial implications and burdens associated with these initiatives.

The Commission will continue to ensure even clearer and more transparent information for Parliament. When proposing legislative acts under the EU’s ‘Emergency Clause’, which allows the EU to bypass the usual legislative procedures on an exceptional basis in the event of a crisis, the Commission will provide a full justification and explanation to the European Parliament immediately after the adoption of its proposal. The Commission also undertook to inform Parliament and its committees in a timely and comprehensive manner when proposing initiatives not provided for in its work programme.

Under the revised agreement, the Commission undertook to encourage the attendance of Commissioners at plenary and committee meetings when requested by Parliament. The European Parliament undertook to assess periodically how to improve the attendance of its Members during plenary debates.

The European Parliament will be duly informed of international agreements. The Commission will inform Parliament and justify its decision as soon as possible when it intends to apply international agreements provisionally. In such cases, Parliament will endeavour to expedite the consent procedure.

Background

The President of the European Commission, Ursulavon der Leyen, prioritised strengthening cooperation between the European Commission and the European Parliament. In herPolitical Guidelines for the period 2024–2029, Presidentvon der Leyencommitted to reviewing the Framework Agreement between the European Commission and the European Parliament. This agreement is based on theprinciplesagreed between Presidentvon der Leyenand the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in October 2024 to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions.

More information: European Commission.