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The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions The European Parliament (1). The presidency presents its programme to the EP at the beginning of its term of office At the end of the term, it reports to the Parliament on progress achieved.
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The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (1) • The presidency presents its programme to the EP at the beginning of its term of office • At the end of the term, it reports to the Parliament on progress achieved. • Each of these interventions is followed by a debate • Special preparation is needed • complexity coordination • huge overload to the staff • special training for the preparation • AGRI + FISH + ENVI = 3 x 2 occasions „during” the PRES
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (2) • The President of the European Council submits an oral report to the EP following the meeting of the EC • (Yearly written report) • Plenary sittings: MRD – no tasks. (MFA – yes) • Not compulsory occasions: • At formal sitting of the EP on the occasion of visits by Heads of State or Government, the Presidency may be represented • The President of the EC does not make any statement on these occasions, but is invited to the meal accompanies such visits • There may be private meetings between the PRES and the Heads of State or Government visiting the Parliament. • PRES is the chair of the CWG, not the representative of the Hungarian view. (Compromise or national interests?)
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (3) • Committees: • ??? Lisbon • Exchange of views (sectorial) – relevant EP committees • The PRES is invited to most EP committees • The minister makes a brief statement and answers questions on matters within his field. • The GSC assist in preparing these statements • Practice is one EoV, but increasingly some committees want two EoV’s
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (4) • Trialogues: • Linked to specific issues • PRES of the EC, Commissioner, president or vice president of the EP, and the chairperson of the relevant EP committee, as well as some officials. • budgetary matters, • horizontal issues, • management of procedures • The rule of co-decision procedure: the negotiation of compromise texts for reaching agreement on proposal for legislative acts • Strasbourg – periodically: informal tiralogue – to raise general policy questions, question of the operation of inter-institutional relations
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsGSC (1) • close cooperation • helping hand of the PRES • advisor • information source • experienced in tactics reaching consensus • represents the EC as well • it thinks that the position of the PRES is against the Treaty • obstruct the agreement (in case of weak majority)
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsGSC (2) • writes report from the meetings • spreading the documents to the EC and the COREPER • spreading the documents to the delegations • the PRES papers as well • involves itself and the PRES in the preparatory part of the papers • responsibility of the PRES (!) • without green-light, the GSC will not forward any documents
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsLegal service of the Council • EP, COM, EC has an own LS • sometimes they are in contrast with each other • PRES has to ask the LS to take part in a meeting if it is necessary • Personal relations are crucial better to discuss not in front of the other MS • Their opinion is decisive (better to take into consideration) • If the different LS’s views are in contrast HU legal experts
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsOther Institutions • Joint parliamentary committees in the context of agreements with third States (HR, IZL) • EC – draw up the programme • GSC • Court of Justice • Court of Auditors • Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee • PRES is often asked to participate at conferences • COP, COB-COSAC, COR • National Bodies
The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsMedia • The Presidency should be the first speaker in a press conference after a meeting • an expert has to write the press release during the meeting • fast overview from the speaker • no time for deeper evaluation • chairperson has to inform the media about the timing of the press conference
PRES in the decision making system of the EU • The role of the PRES has changed • chairmanship • agenda-setting • brokerage • representation • leadership • PRES: Separate Body in the Body • agreements • running the negotiations • daily functioning of the EU
The role of the PRES - Chairmanship • managing the agenda • chairing the meetings and the discussions • to call the Council Meetings • planning the timing of the meeting • preparing the aganda • spreading the papers efficient effective
The role of the PRES – Agenda setting • PRES sets up the agenda • Items are inherited from the previous PRES’s • priority areas / lists • 150-200 legislative acts are adopted (!) • to control the rhythm of the negotiations (speed up or slow down) • approach / focus / influence • items can be put on the freeze
The role of the PRES – Brokerage • MS avoiding the open confrontation • consensus finding • solidarity – „no” voting – no target • handling the minority • convincing or building in their approach • PRES = neutral - honest broker • special relations, special interest • in reality: PRES seems to be neutral • open support of the minority is sticky • PRES keeps certain information (!) • GSC summing up the positions of the MS, briefings etc. • helping hand in tactics, procedural and legal issues, • bilaterals to get know the borders of their compromise ability • complex information about the „team”
The role of the PRES – Representation • negotiation in the name of the MS’s • representing the MS • EC is represented by the MS (mainly in informal meetings) • PRES can negotiate with 3rd States (candidates) • Represent the MS’s approved positions • flexibility for success
Nándor Béki Ministry of Rural Development 1055. Budapest, Kossuth L. tér 11. E-mail: Nandor.Beki@vm.gov.huTel.: +36 1 795-2001 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!