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Cooperation procedure

With the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, the "cooperation" procedure is only applied within the fields of economic and monetary union. The cooperation procedure is set out in the Treaty of Rome, article 189c, and was introduced in the Single European Act in 1986 as a way of increasing the European Parliament's power. It allows for the Parliament to be consulted twice before a legislative measure is adopted.

Under the cooperation procedure, the European Commission drafts a proposal and forwards to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, which examines the proposal and forwards its Opinion to the Council. The Council´s conclusion (or common position) is adopted by Qualified Majority Voting and is sent back to the Parliament with an explanation of views of the Council and the Commission. The Parliament may then:

  • adopt the common position by simple majority or fail to take action: the Council may then adopt its common position,
  • reject the common position by absolute majority in which case the Council may only adopt its common position by unanimity,
  • amend the common position in which case the European Commission has the opportunity the re-examine its proposal in the light of these amendments. The Council may adopt the amendments not adopted by the Commission by unanimity.