Socialists & Democrats in control of co-decision legislation?
The European Voice reported this morning that German MEPs have taken control of the Parliament’s legislative committees - but that is only half the story. Have the Socialists & Democrats pulled off something of a coup in their choice of committees?
If you look at co-decision legislation passed in the 2004-2009 parliament, and the committees through which it passed, the EPP Group’s Chairs will only handle 25% of co-decision dossiers. It has taken legal affairs and industry - and some politically important committees, such as foreign affairs and constitutional affairs - but it is, against the odds, the Socialists & Democrats who will be in charge of committees governing the majority of co-decision legislation.
Their choices - employment and social affairs, transport, agriculture, international trade, civil liberties and (crucially) environment - were responsible for 55% of co-decision legislation in the last parliament.
No two parliaments are the same, of course, and crucial issues such as the new financial perspectives and structural funds will be the responsibility of EPP-chaired committees. However, but the Socialists & Democrats, from a position of weakness, may have got more power than they bargained for - especially with agriculture and trade due to come under co-decision with the Lisbon Treaty.
David Earnshaw and David O’Leary
Ralf Grahn Said,
July 10, 2009 @ 05:36
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I haven’t followed the developments closely enough to have a clear picture of the whole, but the Socialists & Democrats may have managed to strike a good deal despite their weakened position. On the other hand, the EPP and ALDE groups may have felt that economic affairs and financial regulation are going to be the decisive battles during the next years, and that they deserve more attention than ‘bread and butter’ co-decision.