Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Kalle Palling today sent a letter in support of increasing the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative drafting to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk. The chairmen of the EU Affairs Committees of the Seimas of Latvia, the Saeima of Lithuania, the Senate of Poland and the Parliament of Cyprus also joined the letter.

Increasing the role of national parliaments is one of United Kingdom’s proposals the Brits wish to negotiate in their relations with the EU at the meeting of the European Council beginning today.

“It is the so-called red card initiative, according to which the Council of the EU should stop the legislative proceedings on a draft legislation if more than 55% of national parliaments are against it. Also, the European Commission should analyse the legislative drafting initiatives more than it has done so far, and introduce them to the Member States,” Palling explained, and added that this way it would be possible to check the relevance of the draft legislation and avoid unnecessary legislative obstacles to citizens and entrepreneurs.

At the European Council, which begins today, negotiations will be held with the UK over a new agreement with the European Union concerning the mutual relations between the euro area and the Members States that do not belong to it, the improving of the competitiveness of the EU, sovereignty, and the free movement of persons.

The European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu discussed the issue and authorised Kalle Palling to sign the letter at its sitting on 12 February.

Riigikogu Press Service
Kati Varblane
Phone: +372 631 6353, +372 51 69 152
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