Once every 5 years, the European Commission is forced to slow up passing new laws. They have no choice. The European elections puts them into a short legislative coma.
The deep sleep is fleeting. The Commission won’t formally transmit any delegated acts or final draft RPS measures to the European Parliament and the Council from 15 March 2019.
They can start work again soon after the new European Parliament starts work. The Commission will be able to start transmitting again from:
- 10 July 2019 for final draft RPS measures
- 18 July for delegated acts
For implementing acts, the Commission can continue the flow of draft and final implementing acts.
The ‘legislative thaw’ likely covers hundreds of RPS measures and delegated acts.
This general rule not to transmit during Parliament’s recess has exceptions. The most important of those exceptions being measures that need to be passed to deal with Brexit. There we can expect a lot of unexpected measures.
It’s not too bad for the Commission. The new Parliament will be in rush. Many new MEPs won’t realise for a few years that one of their main roles is scrutinising secondary legislation. It’s hard and lonely work. Most MEPs don’t like it.
The Council are extra adverse at their job of scrutinising secondary legislation. They seem more focused on the empty gestures of pretending that RPS measures are not delegated acts.