Chapter 4 a
Consideration of the Affairs of the European Union
Section 54 a
(31 December 1994/1551)
The Prime Minister shall inform the Grand Committee, and in respect of the common foreign and security policy of the European Union, the Foreign Affairs Committee in advance on matters that will be considered in a meeting of the European Council.
The Prime Minister shall without delay inform Parliament or the competent committee on matters that have been discussed at meetings of the European Council.
When necessary, the competent committee may deliver an opinion to the Council of State on the basis of the information received.
Section 54 b
(31 December 1994/1551)
The Council of State shall without delay send to the Speaker a communication on any proposal which has come to its notice for an act, agreement or other measure to be decided by the Council of the European Union and which otherwise pursuant to the constitution would fall within the competence of Parliament. Unless special constitutional provisions provide otherwise, such matter shall be considered in Parliament as hereinafter prescribed in this chapter and in the Procedure of Parliament.
Paragraph 1 shall also apply to any matter referred to in paragraph 1 upon which the Commission or another organ decides in the European Union pursuant to powers delegated to it by the Council, or on the basis of an agreement with a third State or with an international organisation.
Section 54 c
(31 December 1994/1551)
The Speaker’s Council may decide on the taking up of a matter referred to in section 54 b for debate in a plenary sitting at which, however, Parliament shall make no decision on the matter.
Section 54 d
(31 December 1994/1551)
The Speaker shall submit a communication received from the Council of State and the proposal referred therein for consideration by the Grand Committee and generally by one or more specialized committees which shall deliver an opinion to it. If the matter concerns the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, then the communication with the proposal shall be submitted for consideration by the Foreign Affairs Committee instead of the Grand Committee. The consideration may also be continued, regardless of parliamentary elections held meanwhile, until the matter has been decided in the European Union.
The Council of State shall inform the committees participating in the consideration on the stage of consideration of the matter in the European Union. The Grand Committee or the Foreign Affairs Committee shall also be notified of the position of the Council of State on the matter. When necessary the Grand Committee or the Foreign Affairs Committee may deliver an opinion to the Council of State.
Section 54 e
(31 December 1994/1551)
With the exception of those matters referred to in paragraph 2 of section 48, the Grand Committee shall, on request and otherwise when circumstances warrant, receive a report from the Council of State concerning the preparation of matters in the European Union. When necessary the Committee may deliver an opinion to the Council of State. The Speaker’s Council may decide on the taking up of the report for debate in a plenary sitting at which, however, Parliament shall make no decision on the matter.
Section 54 f
(31 December 1994/1551)
Members of the committees participating in the consideration of the European Union matters shall observe the confidentiality which the Committee, after hearing the Council of State, deems to be required by the nature of the matter. The provisions of section 48, paragraph 4 shall apply in respect of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Section 54 g
(31 December 1994/1551)
The provisions of sections 54 a and 54 f shall correspondingly apply to matters that vill be considered and that have been discussed at conferences of the representatives of the governments of the Member States of the European Union considering the amendment of the Treaties on which the European Union is founded.