es he shall
neither seek nor take instructions from any body. The Ombudsman
may not, during his term of office, engage in any other occupation,
whether gainful or not.
4. The European Parliament shall, after seeking an opinion from the
Commission and with the approval of the Council acting by a qualified
majority, lay down the regulations and general conditions governing
the performance of the Ombudsman's duties."
7) Paragraph 3 of Article 21 shall be replaced by the following:
"3. The European Parliament shall draw up proposals for elections by
direct universal suffrage in accordance with a uniform procedure in all
Member States.
The Council shall, acting unanimously after obtaining the assent of the
European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its component
members, lay down the appropriate provisions, which it shall
recommend to Member States for adoption in accordance with their
respective constitutional requirements."
8) Article 24 shall be replaced by the following:
"ARTICLE 24
The European Parliament shall discuss in open session the general
report submitted to it by the Commission.
If a motion of censure on the activities of the Commission is tabled
before it, the European Parliament shall not vote thereon until at least
three days after the motion has been tabled and only by open vote.
If a motion of censure is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes
cast, representing a majority of the members of the European
Parliament, the members of the Commission shall resign as a body.
They shall continue to deal with current business until they are
replaced in accordance with Article 10. In this case, the term of office
the members of the Commission appointed to replace them shall
expire on the date on which the term of office of the members of the
Commission obliged to resign as a body would have expired."
9) The following Articles shall be inserted:
"ARTICLE 27
The Council shall consist of a representative of each Member State at
a ministerial level, authorized to commit the government of that
Member State.
The office of President shall be held in turn by each Member State in
the Council for a term of six months, in the following order of Member
States:
- for a first cycle of six years: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece,
Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
United Kingdom;
- for the following cycle of six years: Denmark, Belgium, Greece,
Germany, France, Spain, Italy,