Senate and European Union

The Senate, like the Chamber of Deputies and other national Parliaments in EU Member States, is involved in the process of shaping the policies of the European Union. It debates and delivers opinions on European legislative proposals before they have been approved in the Council of the EU. The Senate deals also with other strategic documents submitted by European institutions. Thereby it gets involved in the European legislative process, be it via its relationship to the government or through direct communication with the European Commission. Moreover, it participates in exchange of information among the national Parliaments and the European Parliament.

The role of the national Parliaments in the EU decision-making process changed significantly after the Lisbon Treaty entered into force in December 2009. Attempts to involve the national Parliaments more intensively in EU affairs are aimed at bringing the EU closer to the citizens. At the same time it enables the communication of positions of national legislators on European proposals at early stage of negotiations.

In the process of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the Rules of Procedure of both Czech parliamentary chambers were amended, in order to implement new powers entrusted to the national Parliaments and develop them further.

Expert background for discussing the European agenda in the Senate is provided by the Department for the EU, which includes a representative of the Senate Chancellery in Brussels.