Political Groups

The Parliament does not form a government in the traditional sense of parties, however while two of the three Northern Ireland MEPs, who represent their citizens, also sit in political groups, these groups are not organised by nationality, but by political affiliation and are  loose coalitions with a set of core principles.

Some MEPS – Diane Dodds – do not belong to any political group and are  independent – and known as non-attached Members or in European speak ‘non inscrits’.

Before every vote in the Parliament, the political groups scrutinise the reports drawn up by parliamentary committees and then table amendments to them.

The position adopted by the political group is arrived at by discussion within the group.

However no MEP can be forced to vote in a particular way.

Diane Dodds is an non-attached member.

James Nicholson belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) – www.ecrgroup.eu

Bairbre de Brún belongs to the Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) – www.guengl.eu

“On balance, one-third of an MEP’s voting behaviour is determined by his or her European political group and two-thirds is determined by his or her national party.” Source: European Parliament Political Groups

How It Works

Well the European Parliament and the workings of Europe Union is a myriad of rules – legislation – procedures – institutions.  If you have a few hours and some headache tablets for afterwards, you can view how the European Parliament is organised by Clicking Here

In all seriousness, this is where a lot of legislation begins which finally reaches the shores of Northern Ireland.  The European Parliament has powers to pass laws on a range of issues that affect our daily lives.

A tale of three countries – The main monthly sittings take place in Strasbourg in France, most of the day-to-day parliamentary work is done in Brussels in Belgium and most of the Parliament’s administrative work is based in Luxembourg.

While our elected representatives are very important, MEPs have the right to make policy initiatives by suggesting to the European Commission that it should submit a legislative proposal on a particular subject, or to develop existing policies or devise new ones, but it is the European Commission that proposes and presents EU legislation.

However the commission must take account of the changes called for by Parliament (MEPs), it must give an account of its policies when called upon to do so by an MEP and is required to answer MEPs written and oral questions and explain and defend its legislative proposals to the parliamentary committees and in parliament. .

The Council of the European Union, or the Council of Ministers is the European Union’s other legislative body. The council is made up of ministers from the Member States, it exercises legislative power in co-decision procedures with the European Parliament.

If a European regulation or directive is to come into being, Parliament and the Council must first agree on its content in a procedure known as ‘co-decision’.

Co Decision Procedure

Co-decision is the legislative procedure currently used for the vast majority of European laws.

The co-decision procedure is divided into three stages. The general outline of this procedure is as follows:

First Reading

The Commission submits a legislative proposal to Parliament and the Council.

At the first reading (the first stage of deliberation on the text by MEPs) Parliament adopts or does not adopt amendments (changes) to the Commission proposal.

If Parliament does not adopt amendments and if the Council accepts the Commission proposal, the legislative proposal is adopted.

It is also adopted if the Council accepts Parliament’s amendments.

The new law can then enter into force.

If the Council does not approve all the MEPs’ amendments, it proposes an alternative text, which is known as the common position of the Member States.

The proposal is then returned to Parliament for a second reading.

The legislative process is completed if the MEPs approve or reject the Council’s common position.

Second Reading

If the Council does not approve all the MEPs’ amendments, it proposes an alternative text, which is known as the common position of the Member States.

The proposal is then returned to Parliament for a second reading.

The legislative process is completed if the MEPs approve or reject the Council’s common position.

Third Reading

If, on the other hand, MEPs propose amendments to the Common Position, consensus must be reached in a third reading.

This task is given to a special committee, known as a Conciliation Committee, composed of representatives of the two institutions.

The Commission is involved throughout the procedure.

If agreement is reached, the draft can become law, if not then the proposal falls.

This a general outline and does not delve into the detailed workings of COREPER – Rapporteurs and Shadow Rapporteurs.

Source: The European Parliament Working For You pdf 3mb

European Commission and Motorcycling

At Right To Ride we consider the monitoring and contact with the European Commission, in particular with certain Directorate-General or Departments, of great importance.

These include but not limited to:

European Commission – Mobility and Transport

In particular – Road Safety – Motorcycles, mopeds and road safety.

Click Here

European Commission – Enterprise and Industry

Automotive Industry Sector – Working Groups and Committees.

The working groups related to the work of the automotive industry unit are:

• Motor Vehicles Working Group

• Motorcycle Working Group

• Motor Vehicle Emissions Group (MVEG)

• MVEG Motorcycles

These working groups are set up by the Commission to assist it in proposing EU legislation or exercising tasks of monitoring and coordination/cooperation in relation with EU policies/Directives and provide expert advice to the Commission.

The documents related to the work of the committees and working groups above are available in a dedicated CIRCA Group – Automotive Industry Committees and Working Groups.

Access to the group is open to all and does not require registration.

Global

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Now if that is not enough, the European Commission has proposed to sweep away existing European and amending Directives and replace them with one single Regulation. This aims to be replaced where possible by references to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulations.

For motorcycling these UNECE Regulations are set at the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) which includes:

World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicles Regulations (WP.29) and also a  Working Party on Road Traffic Safety (WP.1).

The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) includes working parties on: Noise (GRB) – Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling (GRE) – Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) – Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear (GRRF) -  Working Party on General Safety Provisions (GRSG) – Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP)

Working Party on Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) initiates and pursues actions aimed at reinforcing and improving road safety, developing and harmonizing traffic regulations and rules for road signs and signals, while also taking account notably the environment and strengthening relations between countries.

United Nations Road Safety Collaboration

And then there is the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration the World Health Organisation (WHO), now being the “representive” body on global World safety. “The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration was mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, in which WHO (World Health Organisation) and the United Nations Regional Commissions are invited to act as coordinators for road safety across the United Nations system.

In 2009 the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety took place in Russia. The event represented a historic opportunity to make progress on tackling a leading cause of death and disability. As many as 1500 participants including ministers; representatives of UN agencies, civil society organizations and private companies attended the meeting.

Our little corner of the world in Northern Ireland is part of the Global road safety debate.

Read Right To Ride’s report regarding: The First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety – Time for Action – which took place in Moscow in 2009  Click Here

We have concerns that riders are not represented at this level due the apparent collapse of the Riders’ International co-operation, officially set up to ensures that motorcyclists’ interests are efficiently represented and promoted, between FEMA – Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations and its sister organisations: MRF (Motorcycle Riders Federation) – AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) – FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme).

However this is a whole other chapter, to be written on motorcycles legislation and safety on a global scale.

About This Information

The information has been sourced from various sources including the various European websites – European Parliament – European Commission – BBC Democracy Live – and our own knowledge of working in Europe and at the UNECE.

The information, believe it or not is basic and reflects as voters concerned with motorcycling, what we should know and where Right To Ride is placing itself to promote and protect motorcycling.

Published 3rd April 2010