Ordinary Legislative Procedure in EU Legislation

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of publishing a Green Paper during the legislative proposal preparation phase?

To trigger public debate on specific topics. (correct)

To collect final opinions from stakeholders.

To provide the definitive legal framework.

To finalize a legislative proposal.

Which group is primarily responsible for drafting the legislative proposal in the European Commission (EC) after initial discussions?

The General Secretariat.

The Directorate-General (DGs). (correct)

The Council of the EU.

The national parliaments.

What occurs during the First Reading in the legislative process?

The EC submits the proposal to the public for feedback.

National parliaments finalize their opinions.

The Council of the EU votes first.

The European Parliament refers the proposal to committees. (correct)

What is the significance of the Inter Service Consultation (ISC) stage in the legislative proposal process?

It ensures a consensual agreement among various services of the Commission. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the European Parliament (EP) play during the legislative process after the proposal is submitted?

It works in parallel with the Council but votes on its report first. Signup and view all the answers

What follows a public consultation initiated by the European Commission after a proposal is adopted?

Feedback is collected and considered before moving forward. Signup and view all the answers

How can national parliaments express their opinions regarding a proposal in the Ordinary Legislative Procedure?

Through a reasoned opinion using the subsidiarity principle. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of the Open Public Consultation conducted by the European Commission?

To gather comprehensive feedback from the public and stakeholders. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method for adopting legislation in the European Union?

Ordinary Legislative Procedure Signup and view all the answers

Who holds the exclusive right to propose legislation within the EU framework?

European Commission Signup and view all the answers

What majority is required for the European Parliament to adopt the Council's opinion during the second reading?

Qualified majority Signup and view all the answers

During the conciliation phase, what is the composition of the Conciliation Committee?

Representatives from both the European Parliament and the Council Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the rapporteur in the legislative process within the European Parliament?

To draft a report including suggested amendments Signup and view all the answers

What happens if unresolved issues remain after the Council's second reading of the EP's amendments?

The Conciliation Committee is formed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of trilogues in the legislative process of the EU?

To facilitate agreement on contentious issues among institutions Signup and view all the answers

What is required for a legislative act to finally become law after the third reading?

Approval from both the Council and the European Parliament Signup and view all the answers

What type of majority is needed for the Committee to vote on amendments in the first reading?

Simple majority Signup and view all the answers

What checks are conducted before the final publication of an act?

Legal-linguistic checks by relevant directorates Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP) - EU Legislation

Initiation: The European Commission (EC) proposes legislation, publishing Green and White Papers to garner public input.
Impact Assessments: The EC conducts impact assessments to identify potential economic, social, and environmental impacts of the proposed legislation.
Public Consultations: The EC holds open public consultations to gather stakeholder feedback.
EC Proposal Development: The EC drafts the proposal through the Directorate-Generals (DGs), following commissioners' guidelines.
Inter-Service Consultation (ISC): The EC Legal Service and Secretary-General (Sec Gen) conduct internal consultations to achieve consensus. Actively seeking leaked drafts and engaging with officials involved are key to understanding the proposal.
Submission: Once adopted by the EC College, the proposal is formally submitted to the Parliament, Council, and other relevant bodies, such as national parliaments, CoR, ECOSOC.

First Reading

Parallel Action: The Parliament and Council work concurrently.
Parliament's Report: The Parliament assigns the proposal to committees, typically one or multiple, potentially using opinion committees, and joint committees, before a dedicated rapporteur prepares a report. Meetings and hearings are crucial for gaining influence and knowledge.
Amendments: The draft report includes potential amendments, voted on by a simple majority.
Council's Progress Report: The Council provides a summary on the progress.
Adoption or Negotiation: If the Council approves the text, the act is adopted. If not, interinstitutional negotiations proceed.

Second Reading

Parliament's Recommendation: The Parliament produces a recommendation for approval, rejection, or amendment of the Council's text.
Council's First Reading Position: The Council formally submits their first reading position. Key is to understand the Council's position and navigate the negotiating process. This typically means negotiations only take place with the lead committees.
Parliament's Vote: The Parliament votes on its recommendation, with a qualified majority required by the Council.
Adoption or Conciliation: If the Council approves the Parliament's amendments, the act is adopted. If not, the process moves to conciliation.

Conciliation and Third Reading

Conciliation Committee: Representatives from both institutions (EU Parliament and Council) are assigned to reach consensus on a single text.
Third Reading: Both institutions vote on the agreed text, with simpler majority in the Parliament and qualified majority in the Council.
Adoption or Failure: A successfully adopted joint text proceeds to adoption; otherwise, the procedure fails.

Final Steps

Quality Control: The final text is reviewed by legal and linguistic experts.
Publication: The adopted act is published and becomes law.
Trilogues: Informal negotiation meetings between the Commission, Council, and Parliament to facilitate agreement.

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Description

This quiz explores the Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP) used in the European Union for legislative processes. It covers the stages from the initiation of proposals by the European Commission to the submission of the final draft for approval. Key concepts such as impact assessments and public consultations are also examined.