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Ordinary legislative procedure (co-decision)

Legislators: The Council of the EU and the European Parliament
Right of legislative initiative: The European Commission
Main elements of the procedure:
1. The European Commission submits a proposal to the Council and the European
Parliament
2. The Council and the Parliament adopt a legislative proposal either at the first reading or
at the second reading
3. If the two institutions do not reach an agreement after the second reading a conciliation
committee is convened
4. If the text agreed by the conciliation committee is acceptable to both institutions at the
third reading, the legislative act is adopted
If a legislative proposal is rejected at any stage of the procedure, or the Parliament and Council
cannot reach a compromise, the proposal is not adopted and the procedure ends.
Legal base: Articles 289 and 294 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Facts and figures:

the majority of EU legal acts are adopted at first reading

the procedure applies to around 85 EU policy areas, ranging from the fight against
discrimination to common immigration policy

See the list of policy areas in Annex III of the Guide to the ordinary legislative procedure

2. Special legislative procedures

Legislator: The Council is, in practice, the sole legislator. The European Parliament is required
to give its consent to a legislative proposal or be consulted on it.
Right of legislative initiative: The European Commission
Types of procedures:

Consent: the European Parliament has the power to accept or reject a legislative proposal
by an absolute majority vote, but cannot amend it

Consultation: the European Parliament may approve, reject or propose amendments to a

legislative proposal

Legal base: Article 289(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Rules: The treaties do not give a precise description of special legislative procedures. The rules
are therefore defined ad hoc, on the basis of the relevant treaty articles.