The Early Second Reading Agreement: A Guide for EU Policymakers

The European Union policymaking process is a complex and lengthy one. It involves multiple readings and negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. One of the crucial steps in this process is the Early Second Reading Agreement. In this article, we will introduce you to this agreement, its significance, and how it works.

What is the Early Second Reading Agreement?

The Early Second Reading Agreement is a procedure that is used in the European Union legislative process to speed up negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council. In this procedure, the European Parliament may agree to adopt the Council`s position at an early stage of the second reading. If the Council and the Parliament reach an agreement, the legislation is adopted without going through the third reading.

Usually, the process of getting a piece of legislation adopted takes three readings in both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. However, with the Early Second Reading Agreement, the process can be shortened to two readings.

Why is it significant?

The Early Second Reading Agreement is significant because it helps in expediting the legislative process. The procedure has been devised to achieve a more efficient and timely outcome in the policymaking process. It aims to reduce the time required between the first and second readings to ensure that the legislation is adopted at the earliest possible time.

The Early Second Reading Agreement also ensures that the legislative procedure is transparent and democratic. It provides all stakeholders with an opportunity to participate in the legislative process and provide their inputs. It ensures that the legislation is thoroughly debated and scrutinized before it is adopted.

How does it work?

The Early Second Reading Agreement begins when the Council has adopted its position at the first reading of a particular legislative proposal. The European Parliament then has four months to adopt its position at its first reading. If the Parliament fails to do so, the proposal is deemed to have lapsed.

If the European Parliament does adopt its position, the Council can then decide to adopt the Parliament`s position at an early stage of the second reading. If the Council approves the Parliament`s position, the legislation is deemed to have been adopted at the second reading, and the legislative process is complete.

Conclusion

The Early Second Reading Agreement is an important procedure in the European Union legislative process. It allows for a more efficient and timely outcome in the policymaking process. It ensures that the legislative procedure is transparent and democratic and provides all stakeholders with an opportunity to participate in the legislative process. Policymakers in the EU must be aware of this agreement and use it to their advantage to achieve better legislative outcomes.