cooperation procedure


cooperation procedure

introduced by the Single European Act 1986, a procedure which provides for greater influence by the European Parliament within the legislative process of the EUROPEAN UNION by allowing the Parliament ‘two readings’. The scope of the cooperation procedure was extended by the Treaty of Maastricht whereas the Treaty of Amsterdam encouraged the co-decision procedure. Instead of issuing a decision, as in the past, where this procedure operates the Council of the European Union adopts a common position that is then communicated to the European Parliament. The Parliament can then approve it or take no decision after which the Council adopts the Act in accordance with the common position, or propose amendments by an absolute majority whereupon the Commission re-examines its original proposal in the light of those amendments, the Commission forwards its proposal to the Council along with the amendments of Parliament which it has not accepted accompanied by an opinion on them. The Council then takes its final decision. Parliament can also reject the common position, in which case, if the Council wishes to press on regardless, it must do so unanimously.