Revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

Further information:

Members of the European Parliament highlight in this report that the 'Spitzenkandidaten' process, in which European political parties designate one candidate each for the position of European Commission President ahead of the European elections, cannot be overturned. The report states that the European Parliament stands ready to reject any candidate who has not been nominated in this way.

By establishing a link between the choice of Commission President and the outcome of the European elections, MEPs also consider that the 2014 'Spitzenkandidaten' process proved to be a success, and stress that the 2019 elections should be the occasion to cement the use of the same practice.

The revision of the Framework Agreement allow serving EU Commissioners to run for election to the European Parliament, and to be designated by European political parties as so-called 'lead candidates', without first having to take an unpaid leave of absence. It also obliges the Commission President to inform MEPs of measures to ensure that Commissioners standing in electoral campaigns for the EP elections respect rules on independence and integrity. Finally, it requires that Commissioners do not use the human or material resources of the Commission for any activities linked to electoral campaigns.

The European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs committee put forward a Report setting out a position relating to the revision of the Framework Agreement on the relations between this institution and the European Commission.

The plenary session approved this position on 7 February 2018.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Press Release, 07.02.18: 'Spitzenkandidaten' process cannot be overturned, say MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180202IPR97026/

Politico, 06.02.18: Juncker urges EU leaders to support Spitzenkandidat process https://www.politico.eu/article/jean-claude-juncker-commission-president-urges-eu-leaders-to-support-spitzenkandidat-process/

Politico, 01.02.18: Commission’s Spitzenkandidat process at risk https://www.politico.eu/article/spitzenkandidat-jean-claude-juncker-race-with-no-rules-eu-leaders-brace-for-clash-over-2019-elections/

EurActiv, 07.02.18: MEPs and EU leaders on collision course over Spitzenkandidaten process https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/meps-and-eu-leaders-on-collision-course-over-spitzenkandidaten-process/

EUObserver, 23.01.18: Spitzenkandidat system here to stay, MEPs warn capitals https://euobserver.com/institutional/140656

EUObserver, 18.01.18: Spitzenkandidat system 'difficult to get rid of', hopes lead MEP https://euobserver.com/institutional/140615

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