An obscure working group of MEPs and civil servants spent months last year deliberating ways to, er, sex up the Parliament‘s plenary chamber to make it a more attractive environment for MEPs, citizens and journalists.
The new document, which is not yet public, was sent by the heads of the political groups — who approved a sweeping set of institutional reforms in December — to the constitutional affairs committee, where lawmakers decide on the functioning of the institution.
But the rule tweak on attendance requires “further deliberation,” according to a letter seen by POLITICO and sent to constitutional affairs committee boss Salvatore de Meo by Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who instigated the reforms.
According to the planned new rule, 38 MEPs would have to request a check on how many of their colleagues are present. MEPs are still vacillating between making it mandatory or optional for the speaker presiding over the debate to end it if not enough lawmakers are present.
A similar rule already applies to votes.
MEPs aren’t the only ones avoiding the hemicycle. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has established a pattern of making a speech, listening to only the most senior MEPs, and then departing the chamber, leaving another member of her Commission to sit through the rest of the debate.
Camille Gijs contributed reporting.
