**Executive Summary:**
Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/555, adopted on April 22, 2020, amends the Commission's Rules of Procedure to ensure smooth decision-making in exceptional circumstances. The decision allows for participation in Commission meetings via telecommunication systems and modifies authentication procedures for adopted acts. It enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Remote Participation in Meetings:**
* In exceptional circumstances, the President may invite Commission members to participate in meetings via telecommunication systems if they cannot attend in person.
* Members participating via telecommunication systems are considered present for quorum purposes.
* Designated individuals may attend meetings via telecommunication systems when the President authorizes remote participation for Commission members.
* **Authentication of Adopted Acts:**
* When the President authorizes remote participation and circumstances prevent the signing of the summary note, written consent from the President and Secretary-General may replace their signatures.
* This written consent must be attached to the summary note.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **The Commission President:**
* *Impact:* Gains the authority to invite members to participate remotely and to approve alternative authentication methods for meeting minutes.
* *Action Required:* To invoke the new procedures as required.
* **Commission Members:**
* *Impact:* May be invited to participate in meetings remotely under exceptional circumstances, ensuring continued involvement in decision-making.
* *Action Required:* To participate via telecommunication systems when invited and to provide written consent if required.
* **Secretary-General of the Commission:**
* *Impact:* Is required to provide written consent as an alternative to signing the summary note in specific circumstances.
* *Action Required:* To provide written consent when required.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
European Commission: An institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
Treaty on European Union: One of the primary treaties forming the constitutional basis of the European Union.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the two treaties that form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU).
European Atomic Energy Community: An international organisation established by the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 1957 with the original purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe.
Rules of Procedure of the Commission: The internal rules governing the operation and decision-making processes of the European Commission.
Brussels: The capital of Belgium and a major center of European politics, where the Commission Decision was made.
Ursula VON DER LEYEN: The President of the European Commission.
22.4.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 127 I/1
II
(Non-legislative acts)
DECISIONS
COMMISSION DECISION (EU, Euratom) 2020/555
of 22 April 2020
amending its Rules of Procedure
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 249 thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Commission should be able to ensure that its decision-making process runs smoothly, even in exceptional
circumstances.
(2) In exceptional circumstances, if part or all of the Members of the Commission are prevented from attending a
meeting of the Commission in person, the President may invite them to participate by means of telecommunication
systems allowing for their identification and effective participation.
(3) The Members participating in a Commission meeting by means of telecommunication systems should be deemed to
be present for the purposes of the quorum.
(4) For the authentication of the acts adopted in such a meeting the signature of the summary note by the President and
the Secretary-General of the Commission could be replaced by their written consent,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Rules of Procedure of the Commission(1) are amended as follows:
(1) in Article 5(2), the following subparagraph is added:
‘In exceptional circumstances, if part or all of the Members of the Commission are prevented from attending a meeting
of the Commission in person, the President may invite them to participate by means of telecommunication systems
allowing for their identification and effective participation.’;
(2) in Article 7, the following subparagraph is added:
‘When the President makes use of the second subparagraph of Article 5(2), the Members of the Commission who
participate in the deliberations by means of the telecommunication systems referred to therein shall be deemed to be
present for the purposes of the quorum.’;
(3) in Article 10, the following paragraph is added:
‘4. When the President makes use of the second subparagraph of Article 5(2), the persons referred to in paragraphs
1 to 3 above may attend the meetings by means of the telecommunication systems referred to in the said
subparagraph.’;
(1) OJ L 308, 8.12.2000, p. 26.L 127 I/2 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 22.4.2020
(4) in Article 17(1), the following subparagraph is added:
‘When the President makes use of the second subparagraph of Article 5(2), and when the circumstances prevent the
summary note from being signed, the express written consent of the President and that of the Secretary-General of the
Commission may exceptionally replace their respective signature and shall be attached to this note.’
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 22 April 2020.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN