By Martin Banks - 2nd February 2010
Discussions were intense
Klaus-Heiner Lehne
Parliament has thrashed out a groundbreaking deal designed to put the assembly on a more equal footing with other EU institutions.
The agreement outlines how parliament and the commission will work together in the coming five years.
It follows discussions between a working party made up of five senior MEPs and commission president José Manuel Barroso.
The deal includes an agreement that Barroso and parliament president Jerzy Buzek will attend high-level meetings of the other institution.
Barroso also agreed to strengthen the way the commission deals with legislative initiative requests by parliament.
The draft resolution includes a number of measures designed to improve the commission's accountability.
This includes a commitment by the commission to support parliament in future negotiations on the European external action service.
The commission also recognises the enhanced role of parliament in international negotiations that are commission-led, such as WTO discussions.
Not all of parliament's demands were met, including that the assembly be given a say in the appointment of heads of overseas EU delegations.
But, even so, the MEP who chaired the parliamentary working party said that the renewed framework agreement was still "very positive".
German centre-right MEP Klaus-Heiner Lehne said, "I am happy that a common understanding could be found on these principles.
"Discussions were intense and sometimes quite difficult over the last few weeks. They have shown, though, the value of an in-depth political discussion on our future relationship.
"The result of this dialogue is a very positive one and I consider the draft resolution an important step forward for the relationship between our institutions, reflecting adequately the new position of parliament under Lisbon."
The agreement will be voted on by MEPs in Strasbourg next week.
