Understanding how laws are made in the European Union can seem daunting. This article aims to clarify the process, specifically focusing on answering the question: “What Are The Stages Of The Ordinary Legislative Procedure?” By breaking down each step, we’ll shed light on how proposals become EU law, impacting the lives of millions across the continent.
Decoding The Ordinary Legislative Procedure A Step-by-Step Guide
The Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP), formerly known as co-decision, is the standard decision-making process used by the European Union for the vast majority of legislation. It ensures that both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have equal say in adopting new laws. This makes it a cornerstone of democratic accountability within the EU. The procedure involves multiple readings in both institutions, with the goal of reaching an agreement on a final text.
Here’s a breakdown of the key stages involved:
- Proposal: The European Commission submits a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and the Council. This proposal outlines the need for new legislation and suggests its content.
- First Reading in the European Parliament: Parliament examines the Commission’s proposal and can adopt, amend, or reject it.
- First Reading in the Council: If Parliament approves the proposal or adopts amendments, the Council then examines it. The Council can:
- Approve Parliament’s position, in which case the act is adopted.
- Amend Parliament’s position and send the amended proposal back to Parliament for a second reading.
The process continues if the Council amends Parliament’s position. This leads to further stages designed to bridge any remaining differences:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Second Reading in the European Parliament | Parliament examines the Council’s position. It can approve the Council’s position (the act is adopted), reject the Council’s position (the act is rejected), or amend the Council’s position. |
| Second Reading in the Council | If Parliament amends the Council’s position, the Council then examines Parliament’s amendments. |
| Conciliation Committee | If the Council does not approve all of Parliament’s amendments in the second reading, a Conciliation Committee is convened. This committee consists of representatives from both the Parliament and the Council, aiming to reach a compromise text. |
| Third Reading | If the Conciliation Committee agrees on a compromise, the compromise text is then put to a vote in both the Parliament and the Council. If both institutions approve the compromise, the act is adopted. |
For a more detailed explanation of each stage in the Ordinary Legislative Procedure and related topics, please consult the official EU website on legislative procedures.