BETA


2006/2201(REG) EP Rules of Procedure, Rule 29: formation of political groups

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFCO CORBETT Richard (icon: PSE PSE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 237-p1

Events

2008/08/27
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/07/09
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2008/07/09
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 481 votes to 203, with 26 abstentions, a decision on the amendment of Rule 29 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (formation of political groups).

The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Richard CORBETT (PES, UK), on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.

At present, a group can be formed by a minimum of 20 Members (or 2.5% of EP's membership), who also represent at least one-fifth of the Member States (i.e. at least 6 countries). The Parliament decided to raise the minimum number to 25 Members (or 3.1% of EP's membership), representing at least one-quarter of the Member States (i.e. 7 countries).

An additional amendment introduces new rules on the possibility for a group to continue to exist until Parliament's next constitutive sitting, even if it does not meet the required minimum levels. In this case, the group must have been in existence for a period longer than one year and its Members must continue to represent at least one-fifth of the Member States. The President shall not apply this derogation where there is sufficient evidence to suspect that it is being abused.

Documents
2008/07/09
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2008/07/07
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2008/06/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2008/06/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2008/05/27
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report drafted by Richard CORBETT (PES, UK) on the amendment of Rule 29 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (formation of political groups).

At present, a group can be formed by a minimum of 20 Members (or 2.5% of EP's membership), who also represent at least one-fifth of the Member States (i.e. at least 6 countries). The rapporteur proposed an amendment to Parliament's rules of procedure to raise the threshold to 30 MEPs (4% of total membership), representing at least one quarter of the Member States (i.e. 7). However, this amendment was rejected by a majority of one vote, with 15 against and 14 in favour.

On the other hand, an amendment was approved to introduce new rules on the possibility for a political group to continue to exist if it falls below the required threshold, under certain conditions. This amendment stipulates that where a group falls below the required threshold, the President, with the agreement of the Conference of Presidents, may allow it to continue to exist until Parliament's next constitutive sitting, provided the following conditions are met: a) the members continue to represent at least one-fifth of the Member States; b) the group has been in existence for a period longer than one year.

The President shall not apply this derogation where there is sufficient evidence to suspect that it is being abused.

2008/04/25
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2008/01/28
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2007/05/02
   EP - CORBETT Richard (PSE) appointed as rapporteur in AFCO
2006/09/07
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament

Documents

Activities

Votes

Rapport Corbett A6-0206/2008 - am. 3 #

2008/07/09 Outcome: +: 492, -: 180, 0: 31
DE ES IT FR RO HU EL PT PL AT IE SK NL LV BE MT BG LT CY FI SE LU EE SI CZ DK GB
Total
92
49
63
69
31
22
21
21
49
17
12
13
26
9
22
5
18
12
6
14
16
5
6
5
20
13
67
icon: PSE PSE
201

Ireland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Czechia PSE

2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
259

Malta PPE-DE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Denmark PPE-DE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
36

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

Against (1)

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

Against (1)

3
icon: UEN UEN
41

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

Against (1)

2
3

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

2

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

5

Denmark GUE/NGL

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
15

France IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3

Ireland IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Italy NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2
2

Austria NI

2

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

3

Belgium NI

3

Bulgaria NI

3

Czechia NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (2)

6
icon: ALDE ALDE
91

Spain ALDE

Against (1)

2

Hungary ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

3

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia ALDE

2

Rapport Corbett A6-0206/2008 - am. 1 #

2008/07/09 Outcome: +: 411, -: 274, 0: 19
GB IT FR BE SE ES NL BG FI PT LT DK EE EL SK LV MT CY LU CZ DE IE AT PL SI HU RO
Total
67
64
69
22
16
51
26
18
14
20
13
12
6
21
13
9
5
6
4
19
92
13
17
49
5
22
31
icon: PSE PSE
198

Lithuania PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Czechia PSE

For (1)

1

Ireland PSE

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
92

Sweden ALDE

3

Denmark ALDE

Against (1)

4

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Hungary ALDE

Against (1)

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

France GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
35

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

3

Italy Verts/ALE

Against (1)

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1
icon: UEN UEN
42

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1

Ireland UEN

Against (1)

4
icon: NI NI
28

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (2)

6

Italy NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Belgium NI

3

Slovakia NI

Abstain (1)

3

Czechia NI

1

Austria NI

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
15

France IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Denmark IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
261

Lithuania PPE-DE

2

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Rapport Corbett A6-0206/2008 - décision #

2008/07/09 Outcome: +: 481, -: 203, 0: 26
DE ES FR IT RO HU PL EL PT BE IE AT NL LT FI SK MT LV LU BG CY SE EE SI DK CZ GB
Total
93
50
69
64
31
22
50
21
21
22
13
17
26
12
14
13
5
9
5
18
6
16
6
5
13
21
68
icon: PSE PSE
201

Ireland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

3

Czechia PSE

2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
262
2

Malta PPE-DE

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Denmark PPE-DE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
36

Spain Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

2

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

Against (1)

2

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (2)

3
icon: UEN UEN
43

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
35

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

Against (1)

2
3

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

3

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
15

France IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3

Greece IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Denmark IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Italy NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2
2

Belgium NI

3

Austria NI

2

Slovakia NI

3

Bulgaria NI

3

Czechia NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

6
icon: ALDE ALDE
90

Spain ALDE

Against (1)

2

Hungary ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

Abstain (1)

1

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

3

Estonia ALDE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia ALDE

2
AmendmentsDossier
2 2006/2201(REG)
2008/04/25 AFCO 2 amendments...
source: PE-405.880

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0/docs/0/url
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE400.568
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2008-07-09T00:00:00
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summary
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Rules of Procedure EP 237-p1
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 227-p1
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Constitutional Affairs
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AFCO
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AFCO
date
2007-05-02T00:00:00
rapporteur
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docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
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docs/3/body
EC
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-206&language=EN
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activities
  • date: 2006-09-07T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2007-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: PSE name: CORBETT Richard
  • date: 2008-05-27T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2007-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: PSE name: CORBETT Richard type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2008-06-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-206&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0206/2008 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2008-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080707&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-07-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15139&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-351 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0351/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees/0
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2007-05-02T00:00:00
rapporteur
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committees/0
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True
committee
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committee_full
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docs
  • date: 2008-01-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE400.568 title: PE400.568 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2008-04-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE405.880 title: PE405.880 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2008-06-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-206&language=EN title: A6-0206/2008 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2008-08-27T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=15139&j=0&l=en title: SP(2008)4891 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2006-09-07T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2008-05-27T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report drafted by Richard CORBETT (PES, UK) on the amendment of Rule 29 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (formation of political groups). At present, a group can be formed by a minimum of 20 Members (or 2.5% of EP's membership), who also represent at least one-fifth of the Member States (i.e. at least 6 countries). The rapporteur proposed an amendment to Parliament's rules of procedure to raise the threshold to 30 MEPs (4% of total membership), representing at least one quarter of the Member States (i.e. 7). However, this amendment was rejected by a majority of one vote, with 15 against and 14 in favour. On the other hand, an amendment was approved to introduce new rules on the possibility for a political group to continue to exist if it falls below the required threshold, under certain conditions. This amendment stipulates that where a group falls below the required threshold, the President, with the agreement of the Conference of Presidents, may allow it to continue to exist until Parliament's next constitutive sitting, provided the following conditions are met: a) the members continue to represent at least one-fifth of the Member States; b) the group has been in existence for a period longer than one year. The President shall not apply this derogation where there is sufficient evidence to suspect that it is being abused.
  • date: 2008-06-02T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-206&language=EN title: A6-0206/2008
  • date: 2008-07-07T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080707&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-07-09T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15139&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2008-07-09T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-351 title: T6-0351/2008 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 481 votes to 203, with 26 abstentions, a decision on the amendment of Rule 29 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (formation of political groups). The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Richard CORBETT (PES, UK), on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs. At present, a group can be formed by a minimum of 20 Members (or 2.5% of EP's membership), who also represent at least one-fifth of the Member States (i.e. at least 6 countries). The Parliament decided to raise the minimum number to 25 Members (or 3.1% of EP's membership), representing at least one-quarter of the Member States (i.e. 7 countries). An additional amendment introduces new rules on the possibility for a group to continue to exist until Parliament's next constitutive sitting, even if it does not meet the required minimum levels. In this case, the group must have been in existence for a period longer than one year and its Members must continue to represent at least one-fifth of the Member States. The President shall not apply this derogation where there is sufficient evidence to suspect that it is being abused.
  • date: 2008-07-09T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
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    Old
    AFCO/6/39117
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    • AFCO/6/39117
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure EP 227-p1
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 227-p1
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 8.40.01.08 Business of Parliament, procedure, sittings, rules of procedure
    New
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    Business of Parliament, procedure, sittings, rules of procedure
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    • date: 2006-09-07T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2007-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: PSE name: CORBETT Richard
    • date: 2008-05-27T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2007-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: PSE name: CORBETT Richard type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    • date: 2008-06-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-206&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0206/2008 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    • date: 2008-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080707&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
    • date: 2008-07-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15139&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-351 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0351/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
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    • body: EP responsible: True committee: AFCO date: 2007-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Constitutional Affairs rapporteur: group: PSE name: CORBETT Richard
    links
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      procedure
      dossier_of_the_committee
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      reference
      2006/2201(REG)
      title
      EP Rules of Procedure, Rule 29: formation of political groups
      legal_basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 227-p1
      stage_reached
      Procedure completed
      subtype
      Rules
      type
      REG - Parliament's Rules of Procedure
      subject
      8.40.01.08 Business of Parliament, procedure, sittings, rules of procedure