Conciliation Committee

Under the ordinary legislative procedure (codecision), a Conciliation Committee may be set up, as provided for in Article 294 (10) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), where necessary, to reach an agreement on proposed legislation between the European Parliament and the Council.

The Committee is composed of the members of the Council (or their representatives) and an equal number of members of the European Parliament.

It is co-chaired by the Presidents of the Parliament and of the Council, and has the task of reaching an agreement on a joint text on the basis of the positions of both institutions at second reading of a legislative procedure.

The European Commission takes part in its proceedings with a view to reconciling the different positions.

This Committee has to adopt a joint text within 6 weeks following its convening, otherwise the proposed legislation shall be deemed not to have been adopted. If approved by the Committee, the joint text has thereafter to be adopted:

• by an absolute majority of the Parliament’s votes;
• by a qualified majority of the Council’s votes.

If the European Parliament and the Council fail to adopt the joint text approved by the Committee, the proposed legislation is deemed not to have been adopted.

Specific rules exist if a Conciliation Committee is convened for budgetary matters.

SEE ALSO

• Council of the European Union
• European Parliament
• European Commission
• European institutions
• Ordinary legislative procedure (co-decision)
• Qualified majority
• The Council of the European Union (summary)
• The European Parliament (summary)
• Legislative procedures (summary)
• Conciliation: the final stage of the ordinary legislative procedure (European Parliament)
• Step 4: Conciliation (Council).