COMMISSION/EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: COMISSION ACKNOWLEDGES 50 CASES OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH COMITOLOGY RULES.

Parliament's powers have been progressively increased in the context of co-decision. Though limited in the context of committee procedure compared with what some MEPs described as the European Commission's "exorbitant" powers (the Commission holds full decision-making powers where the Council fails to achieve the necessary qualified majority), MEPs are determined to ensure their rights are respected.

Given that procedures have not been respected in some 50 cases relating to environment policy, it is not impossible that other dossiers have suffered the same fate: Environment Committee Chairman Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP-ED, Germany), has therefore announced his intention to hold talks on this issue with the Parliament's President Josep Borell, and the Presidents of other parliamentary committees. The Environment Committee has also demanded that Margot Wallstrom, the Commissioner responsible for Institutional Relations, offer a full explanation in person to Parliament.

The dispute erupted at the beginning of 2005 when, following its publication in the Official Journal, the...