Page 50 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 1

IPS55 Maria João S. et al.
positive benefits for the reputation of the statistical office, its general culture
(a culture of excellence), the transparency of its decision-making procedures,
risk management, etc.

2. The European Parliament's role in the EU
The European Parliament (EP) is an important actor within the governance
established by the European Union (EU) for the development and production
of official statistics, as a key forum for political debate and decision-making at
the EU level. The Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by
voters in all Member States to represent people’s interests and to make sure
that EU institutions work democratically.
Apart from its legislative power as co-legislator, the EP also has budgetary
powers, both shared with the representatives of EU governments in the
Council. In this regard, Parliament and Council decisions about annual
expenditure and revenue must fall within the annual spending limits laid down
in the EU’s long-term financial plan, the Multiannual Financial Framework
(MFF), negotiated once every seven years.
Once the EU budget is adopted, the European Commission is responsible
for its implementation (other institutions are in charge of their own
administrative budgets). The European Parliament exercises democratic
oversight to make sure that the Commission and the other institutions deal
properly with European funds: on a recommendation from the Council of the
European Union, it decides whether to grant the ‘discharge’, i.e. final approval
of how the budget for a specific year has been implemented. The Parliament
may also make recommendations to the Commission on the execution of the
budget. In fact, it deals in a similar manner with the approval of the accounts
of other institutions, including its own administrative budget.
Moreover, the EP has a range of supervisory and control powers, which
allow it to exercise oversight over other institutions, to monitor the proper use
of the EU budget and to ensure the correct implementation of EU law.
Regarding the European Commission (the guardian of the treaties and the
EU’s executive arm), the EP has the right to approve and dismiss it. Since 1994,
commissioners-designate have been required to appear before the EP hearing
and upon appointment.
The EP ensures democratic control over the Commission, which regularly
submits reports to Parliament including an annual report on EU activities and
on the implementation of the budget. Once a year, the Commission President
gives a State of the Union address at a plenary parliamentary session. The EP
regularly invites the Commission to initiate new policies and the Commission
is required to reply to oral and written questions from Members of the EP.

39 | I S I W S C 2 0 1 9