The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning consideration in committee of written questions that have not been answered (interpretation of Rule 117(3) of the Rules of Procedure).

Parliament decided to append the following interpretation to Rule 117(3):

“Since the chair of a committee is empowered by Rule 193(1) to convene a meeting of that committee, it is up to him, in the interest of the proper organisation of proceedings, to determine the draft agenda of the meeting he has convened. This prerogative is without prejudice to his obligation under Rule 117(3) to place a written question, at the request of its author, on the draft agenda for the next meeting of the committee. However, the chair has the discretionary power to propose, in the light of political priorities, the agenda and procedural arrangements for the meeting (e.g. a procedure without debate, possibly with the adoption of a decision on action to be taken, or, where appropriate, a recommendation to carry over the item to a subsequent meeting)”.