The European Parliament

The European Parliament is the only multinational parliamentary assembly in the world, and the only EU institution directly elected by Europe’s citizens. It represents approximately 500 million people in the EU’s 27 Member States. Elections are held every fi ve years. The June 2009 election marked the 30th anniversary of elections by universal suff rage. Following the election, 736 Members were elected to Parliament. They join together in political groups on the basis of political affiliation rather than nationality.

The European Parliament’s official seat is in Strasbourg, on the border between France and Germany, a city that symbolises the reconciliation of Europe after the two world wars. As decided by the Member States of the EU, every year Parliament holds 12 plenary sessions in Strasbourg. Its Members meet in parliamentary committees in Brussels, where additional plenary sessions are also held. Debates are conducted in all the EU’s offi cial languages, refl ecting its commitment to a varied and multicultural Union which is ‘united in diversity’.The European Parliament is the only multinational parliamentary assembly in the world elected by universal suffrage and, since June 1979, the European Unions only directly elected institution. Elections are held every five years and the number of Members has increased in line with the successive enlargements of the EU.

Since 1979, successive European treaties have increased the powers of the European Parliament when it comes to drafting the EU budget and laws. MEPs’ political control of the EU’s other institutions and bodies has also been strengthened.

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, extends Parliament’s budgetary powers to cover all EU expenditure, including common agricultural policy spending, on which the Council (representing the Member States’ governments) previously had the last word. Parliament’s legislative role has grown considerably: it now has as much weight as the Council when it comes to lawmaking in almost all of the European Union’s areas of responsibility. Previously, MEPs adopted laws designed principally to facilitate the movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the EU or to protect the environment and consumers. Now their approval is also required for laws to be adopted in areas such as agriculture, fi sheries, energy, tourism, control of the external borders, police and judicial cooperation and civil protection.

A candidate for the position of European Commission President is proposed by the Member States’ governments on the basis of the results of the European elections. That candidate is then elected by Parliament. The Commission as a whole, including the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Aff airs and Security Policy as its Vice-President, is then subject to a vote of approval by Parliament. The Commission can be forced to resign if MEPs adopt a motion of censure.

Parliament also brings its infl uence to bear on the Union’s foreign policy. All international agreements and any EU enlargement now requires the approval of MEPs. Decisions on the implementation of trade policy, development cooperation policy and humanitarian aid policy must be
taken jointly by Parliament and the Council. MEPs regularly debate human rights issues and send monitors around the world to check that elections are conducted freely and fairly.

© European Communities

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