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The European Parliament has been trying to strengthen its powers to conduct in-depth investigations into contraventions or maladministration in the implementation of European Union law since 2012, but has so far failed to gain the consent of the Commission or the Council for the modification of the legal framework applicable to its committees of inquiry. These powers were also discussed as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe. This paper updates a 2021 EPRS publication on the European Parliament's ...

In the context of ongoing investigations by Belgian authorities for alleged wrongdoing, on 13 December 2022 the European Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority to strip Eva Kaili of her post as vice-president. Parliament is expected to vote on the election of a new vice-president during its first plenary session of 2023.

During the June I plenary session, the Council and the European Commission are expected to answer oral questions put by the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) on the Parliament's proposal to repeal Decision 95/167/EC (which currently governs Parliament's right of inquiry) and adopt a new regulation to strengthen its investigative powers. Pointing out the Council's unwillingness to engage in political negotiations with Parliament on this file, the AFCO committee asks ...

One of Parliament’s main tools of political control vis-à-vis the EU executive is its capacity to establish Committees of inquiry. This possibility, now formally recognised in Article 226 TFEU, has existed since 1981 but it has been scarcely used by Parliament. This study provides an analysis of Parliament’s right of inquiry as it stands after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, and examines how it has evolved since it was first introduced. It also compares Parliament’s right of inquiry ...

This survey, provided by the Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, looks into the legal and administrative framework in which parliamentary committees of inquiry operate in the EU Member States. It focuses, in particular, in the investigative powers these committees have at hand to assist national parliaments in exercising parliamentary control. It also examines the role of Member States’ parliamentary committees of inquiry in guiding ...

Conducting in-depth investigations is an ancient and essential right of parliaments in Europe. Yet, despite a provision of the Lisbon treaty, the European Parliament still has a limited institutional capacity to conduct inquiries. This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, discusses the theoretical basis of parliamentary investigation, compares recent committees of inquiries and develops ...

On 24 September 2019, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California), announced the launch of an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, the fourth President in the history of the United States to face the prospect of such an inquiry. The US Constitution provides for an impeachment process, but interpretations of the relevant clauses vary, creating controversy.

The European Parliament's application of scrutiny prerogatives of political oversight of the European Commission increases the democratic legitimacy of the European Union, and the transparency and accountability of the European executive. The study examines the status quo of the European Parliament's powers of scrutiny of the European Commission. The cases examined pertain mainly to electoral and institutional issues, motions of censure, parliamentary questions, inquiry committees and special parliamentary ...

The European Parliament's 'Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion' (PANA committee) was established in June 2016. Its report and the recommendation submitted for adoption by the European Parliament's December plenary session now pave the way for further monitoring and follow-up actions.

De Europese Ombudsman verricht onderzoek naar gevallen van wanbeheer bij instellingen, organen, bureaus en agentschappen van de Europese Unie, hetzij op eigen initiatief, hetzij op basis van klachten die hem door burgers van de Unie zijn voorgelegd. De Ombudsman wordt door het Parlement voor de duur van de zittingsperiode benoemd.