The work of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) is crucial for maintaining the legal integrity, fairness and cohesion of the European Union's legislative process, demonstrating that even a relatively small committee of just 25 members can have an impact.
JURI addresses a wide range of legal issues, from intellectual property rights and company law to parliamentary immunity and the interpretation of EU law. The committee must ensure that legislative proposals are legally sound and conform to the principles of good law-making, subsidiarity and proportionality. We are also responsible for the legal protection of the European Parliament's rights and prerogatives, including its involvement in court actions.
In recent months, the committee has been scrutinising possible conflicts of interest held by the new commissioners-designate, an essential part of the Parliament’s process of confirmation hearings ahead of the approval of the European Commission. JURI will also play an active role in the confirmation hearings of the commissioners-designate whose portfolios fall within our areas of responsibility.
We are working on several pending legislative proposals related to legal affairs that have been carried over from the previous term. These include six legislative proposals comprising the EU patent package which, together with the proposal on insolvency, are important elements in the context of the European Union’s competitiveness.
A proposed directive on European cross-border associations aims to improve the legal framework for Europe’s civil society. Parliament has adopted its position on this legislation, and we anticipate engaging in discussions with the European Council soon.
The proposed AI Liability Directive, which aims to complement the legal framework regulating artificial intelligence, is also a priority for us, as it will enhance the committee’s role as an agenda-setter in the regulation of AI and robotics.
We will support the Commission in the drafting of other planned legislation, such as the need – announced in the portfolio of one of the commissioners-designate – to further improve the copyright framework and address new challenges raised by market and technology developments.
We will also review the Commission’s plans to develop a “28th regime” – an optional EU alternative to national rules – for company law. This initiative aims to establish an EU-wide legal status that helps start-ups grow by providing a simpler, more harmonised set of regulations.
JURI will also monitor the implementation of legislation aimed at limiting strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), adopted in the last term to support independent media and journalists. We will also follow up on the initiatives regarding third-party funding of litigation that were introduced in the last term.
Lastly, we will consider renewing JURI’s approach to monitoring EU law, with a focus on implementation and infringements. Additionally, we will look at safeguarding the rule of law in Europe, particularly judicial independence, and strengthening administrative and procedural law, which is indispensable in preventing the erosion of democratic institutions.
In a time of increasing political instability and challenges to democratic norms, the role of JURI – addressing contemporary challenges but also ensuring the integrity of the EU’s legislative process – is more important than ever.