(1)

The first subparagraph of Article 12(1) of the Council’s Rules of Procedure (1) provides that acts of the Council on an urgent matter may be adopted by a written vote where the Council or the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States (Coreper) unanimously decides to use that procedure.

(2)

With a view to ensuring continuity of Council decision-making in the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic whereby Council meetings could not be held regularly, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2020/430 (2) which introduced a temporary renewable derogation from the first subparagraph of Article 12(1) of the Council’s Rules of Procedure as regards decisions to use the ordinary written procedure, where those decisions are taken by Coreper. During the period of application of Decision (EU) 2020/430, a decision by Coreper to use the ordinary written procedure was to be taken in accordance with the voting rule applicable for the adoption of the Council act concerned. That derogation was extended by the Council twelve times, justified by the continuation of the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent extension, introduced by Council Decision (EU) 2022/321 (3), expired on 30 June 2022.

(3)

Notwithstanding the improvement of the overall situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use that was made of the derogation from the first subparagraph of Article 12(1) of the Council’s Rules of Procedure during the two last years, and the recent international events that have required urgent action, demonstrate that it is important for the Council to be able to continue to use such a tool in the future.

(4)

Therefore, building on the experience gained in successfully ensuring the continuity of Council decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic in an efficient manner, considering the high probability of situations requiring urgent action occurring in the future, and consistent with the role of Coreper in preparing the work in the Council and ensuring consistency of the Union’s policies and actions, it is appropriate to provide that decisions to use the ordinary written procedure, where those decisions are taken by Coreper, should be taken in accordance with the voting rule applicable for the adoption of the Council act concerned.

(5)

The ordinary written procedure decided by Coreper should only be used in circumstances that require urgent action and should always be preceded by a thorough preparation in Coreper, in order to ensure to the maximum extent possible, among others, national coordination, public transparency, and the involvement of national parliaments in accordance with the practices of Member States.

(6)

The Council’s Rules of Procedure should therefore be amended, in accordance with Article 240(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

(7)

In accordance with Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, Article 240 TFEU applies to the European Atomic Energy Community,