A new agreement for relations between Parliament and the Commission

Strengthens Parliament’s role in shaping and revising EU legislation

Clarifies treaty conditions for use of emergency powers by the Commission

Reinforces democratic accountability by ensuring Commissioners’ presence in plenary and committee debates

On Wednesday, MEPs approved the revision of the so-called “Framework Agreement” governing relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The updated text builds on an existing 2010 agreement and reflects more than a decade of institutional practice, as well as how Parliament’s role has evolved in that time. The revised agreement reinforces Parliament’s democratic prerogatives by ensuring a more comprehensive, timely and detailed flow of information from the Commission. It strengthens parliamentary scrutiny of legislative and international processes, and clarifies rules on urgent procedures. The text also strengthens the Commission’s political accountability by ensuring the presence of responsible Commissioners in plenary and committee debates and enhances the follow-up to Parliament’s right of initiative, including requests to amend or repeal existing legislation.

The agreement was approved with 446 votes in favour, 100 against, and 72 abstentions. More information on key improvements are available in the press releases for the provisional agreement reached in September 2025 and an ensuing committee vote in February 2026.

Quotes

President Metsola said: “Europe works best when our institutions pull in the same direction. The European Parliament and the European Commission are natural allies in delivering for our citizens. This agreement strengthens our partnership which is built on trust, transparency and democratic accountability. It will improve the effectiveness and credibility of our actions and ultimately serve all Europeans.”

Rapporteur and co-negotiator Sven Simon (EPP, DE) commented: “This agreement is a success for the European Parliament. The key now is that Parliament makes full use of the rights it has. This means using its de facto right of initiative, particularly to request the amendment or repeal of existing legislation. It also means asking the Commission to justify when it relies on a legal basis that leaves Parliament aside. The agreement does not fix the shortcomings of the Treaties, but it is an important step forward. Now Parliament must use its rights wisely and consistently.”

Next steps

A signing ceremony with Presidents Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen is foreseen for the March II plenary session (25-26 March), so that the revised framework agreement enter into force.

Background

The Parliament–Commission framework agreement lays down rules for cooperation between the two institutions in legislative, budgetary, and political matters. The revision process was launched in October 2024 by Presidents Metsola and von der Leyen.

Since the Treaty of Lisbon, the founding treaties have enshrined the practice of potentially legally binding interinstitutional agreements that can be concluded between the EU’s institutions. These organise and facilitate certain aspects of cooperation by establishing a form of “joint rules of procedure”.