Commission Report (2002): Czech Republic
The overall operation
of the Parliament has remained smooth, including during the pre-electoral
period. Since the 2001 Regular Report, there has been an acceleration in the
legislative process as regards EU-related acts.
The procedures mentioned in the previous Regular Report which aim at
streamlining co-operation between the Parliament and the Government on EU
affairs remain in place. The Committee for European Integration of the
Chamber of Deputies continues to hold discussions with ministers on
legislative proposals prior to submission by the Government to the
Parliament. As in previous years, the government avoided using the fast track
procedure for the adoption of EU-related legislative proposals.
With a view to EU accession, new mechanisms for enhanced communication
between the Government and the Parliament are being introduced, such as the
one contained in the amendment to the Constitution which entered into effect
in June 2002. It requires the Government to inform the Parliament on a
regular basis -- and in advance -- of issues concerning the obligations
stemming from the Czech Republic`s membership of the EU.
A second amendment to the electoral law was passed in January 2002
following the abrogation by the Constitutional Court of a previous amendment
which, the Court ruled, violated the constitutional guarantee of proportional
representation. The new amendment sought to strike a compromise by reducing
the majoritarian elements of the original proposal.
As regards non-legislative EU-related matters, both Houses selected, in
good time, their representatives and alternates to the Convention on the
future of Europe.
© European Commission
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