The European Parliament Can Censure the European Commission
The European Parliament has a powerful political faculty: it can present and debate a motion of censure against the European Commission. This procedure, if approved by the MEPs by an absolute majority, forces the entire college of commissioners to resign. It is an exceptional mechanism that the chamber uses to show deep disagreement with how the policy is directed or the Union is administered. 🏛️
When and Why This Mechanism Is Activated
Normally, European legislators raise this motion when they perceive that the Commission breaches European legislation, manages the community budget deficiently, or takes highly controversial political decisions. It serves as a last-resort pressure tool to question its actions and force it to rectify its course or render detailed accounts before the Parliament.
Common Reasons for Raising It:- Breaching the fundamental laws and treaties of the EU.
- Mismanaging the Union's funds and budget.
- Taking political decisions that generate widespread and sustained controversy.
It is more of a deterrent weapon than a loaded gun, but everyone knows the trigger exists.
A Complex and Rarely Used Instrument
Although this option is always available, in practice it is very rare for it to be presented and even rarer for it to succeed. Achieving the necessary absolute majority implies building a very broad and cross-cutting political consensus, something extremely complex in a plural and diverse chamber. Therefore, the mere threat or debate of the motion already functions as a strong political message.
Key Characteristics of Its Application:- Requires an absolute majority of MEPs to be approved.
- Its mere discussion exerts significant political pressure.
- Historically, it is a procedure that is almost never fully carried out.
Practical Functionality in the Political System
In the institutional dynamic, the motion of censure operates mainly as a deterrent element. Its existence forces the Commission to negotiate with the Parliament and can lead it to rectify its positions to avoid a serious institutional crisis. Thus, it fulfills a supreme political control function, although it is rarely executed. Its value lies in the ability to set limits and demand accountability. ⚖️