Democratic control

Parliament exerts democratic checks over the activities of the European Commission as well as the Council of Ministers. For this purpose it has a number of instruments. Parliament, for example, has the right to set up inquiry committees as it has done in the case of the crisis over BSE (mad cow disease). Moreover, Parliament holds public hearings with candidate commissioners before they start their term of office and has to give a vote of confidence before installation of the new Commission.

Parliament also has the right to force the European Commission to step down by using the weapon of a motion of censure. Although Parliament has never used this weapon, in 1999 Parliament forced the Commission in an indirect way to resign. In day-to-day practice Parliament discusses matters with the European Commission and individual Members put written and oral questions to Commissioners which they are obliged to answer. In its reports, Parliament comments on and amends Commission proposals.

The democratic character of the Union has been strengthened considerably with the introduction of the co-decision procedure in which Council and Parliament operate as equals during the legislative process.

The presidency of the Council rotates every 6 months. At the start and the end of such a semester, the Presidency, usually the Head of government, is called to the European Parliament to present the programme or the results of the Presidency. Regarding the different policy fields, the specialised ministers appear in committee meetings of the European Parliament.