edure 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 provision, which it shall
recommend to Member States for adoption in accordance with their
respective constitutional requirements."
41) The following Article shall be inserted:
"ARTICLE 138a
Political parties at European level are important as a factor for
integration within the Union. They contribute to forming a European
awareness and to expressing the political will of the citizens of the
Union.
ARTICLE 138b
In so far as provided in this Treaty, the European Parliament shall
participate in the process leading up to the adoption of Community
acts by exercising its powers under the procedures laid down in
Articles 189b and 189c and by giving its assent or delivering advisory
opinions.
The European Parliament may, acting by a majority of its members,
request the Commission to submit any appropriate proposal on
matters on which it considers that a Community act is required for the
purpose of implementing this Treaty.
ARTICLE 138c
In the course of its duties, the European Parliament may, at the
request of a quarter of its members, set up a temporary Committee of
Inquiry to investigate, without prejudice to the powers conferred by
this Treaty on other institutions or bodies, alleged contraventions or
maladministration in the implementation of Community law, except
where the alleged facts are being examined before a court and while
the case is still subject to legal proceedings.
The temporary Committee of Inquiry shall cease to exist on the
submission of its report.
The detailed provisions governing the exercise of the right of inquiry
shall be determined by common accord of the European Parliament,
the Council and the Commission.
ARTICLE 138d
Any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or
having his registered office in a Member State, shall have the right to
address, individually or in association with other citizens or persons,
a petition to the European Parliament on a matter which comes within
the Community's fields of activity and which affects him, her or it
directly.
ARTICLE 138e
1. The European Parliament shall appoint an Ombudsman empowered
to receive complaints from any citizen of the Union or any natural or
legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State
conc