You don't have the right to propose new laws, EU countries tell MEPs in harsh rebuke

The European Parliament's long-awaited dream to gain the right to propose new laws has been met with a scathing rebuke from the 27 member states, who in a joint letter denounced the move for what they perceive to be power overreach.

"The Treaties exhaustively define the respective powers conferred on the institutions which may not be modified or supplemented by the institutions themselves, either unilaterally or by agreement between them," the capitals said on Tuesday.

The letter came in response to a joint statement published last month by Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, aimed at improving relations between the two institutions, which for the past five years have been plagued by tension and various accusations.

MEPs have often complained that the Commission favours the Council at the expense of the Parliament, leaving the lawmakers out of the loop for crucial decisions. The Commission's lack of transparency and the absence of Commissioners in plenary sessions related to their portfolios have been a recurring point of contention.

In a bid to patch up their differences, Metsola and von der Leyen committed to "greater transparency and better dialogue" with a nine-point statement that aims to form the basis for an updated framework agreement between the two institutions.

Among the points is "the strengthening of Parliament's right of initiative" under Article 225 of the Treaties, which allows MEPs to invite the executive to submit a new law.

For member states, this promise is unacceptable as it "constitutes an attempt to erode the right of initiative which the Treaties confer on the Commission."

Under current rules, the Commission is the only