Suggestion for amendment of Article 17

02.12.2014. 19:09

Suggestions for amendments to the text of the Articles of the Treaty

AMENDMENT FORM

Suggestion for amendment of Article 17:

By Mr. Péter Balázs, Mr. Hannes Farnleitner, Ms. Sandra Kalniete, Mr. Jan Kohout, Mr. Ivan Korčok, Mr. Rytis Martikonis, Mr. Lennart Meri, Mr. Dimitrij Rupel, Ms. Teija Tiilikainen

Status : - Members.


Article 17: The Council of Ministers

  1. The Council of Ministers shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, jointly with the European Parliament, enact legislation and be the budgetary authority jointly with the European Parliament, and shall carry out policy-making and co-ordinating functions, as laid down in the Constitution.
  • 1a. With a view to ensure the consistency and continuity of Union policies and actions, the Council shall recommend to the European Council for adoption a multiannual strategic programme for the three years to come, drawn up in close cooperation with the Commission. In the light of that multiannual strategic programme, and following appropriate consultations, the Presidencies due to hold office in the following year shall jointly submit a draft annual operational programme of Council activities during that year.
  • The Council of Ministers shall consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the government of that Member Statefor each of its formations. Only this representative may commit the Member State in question, and cast its vote. Where a vote is taken, any Member of the Council may also act on behalf of not more than one other member.
  • Except where the Constitution provides Save as otherwise provided in the Constitution, decisions of the Council shall be taken act by a qualified majority of its Members. When the Council takes decisions by a qualified majority, the votes of the Members shall be weighted as set out in Article Y of Part Two.[1] Decisions of the Council on matters of procedure shall be taken by a majority of its Members.
  • The Council shall adopt its Rules of Procedure with a majority of its Members. The Council shall unanimously decide on the formations in which it shall meet.
  • The Council and the European Council shall be assisted by a General Secretariat, under the responsibility of a Secretary-General responsible for the running of the General Secretariat. The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the Council acting by a qualified majority.

  • [1] Figures for EU-25 according to the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Accession. Should the Convention wish to open the Nice provisions, another acceptable option would be to introduce simple double majority where a decision would require the support of both the majority of the population and the majority of the Member States.