MEP celebrates 50 years of Parliament connecting with Europe's citizens

1.13.00pm GMT Tue 11th Mar 2008

On 12th March 2008 the European Parliament will celebrate its 50th Anniversary, and Graham Watson MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar, who has served in this unique institution since 1994, and who now leads the third largest force in the European Parliament has commented on its success and evolution.

Mr Watson said;

"Since the Constituent Assembly first met in 1958 with its right to be consulted by the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament has significantly evolved, with parliamentarians being directly elected since 1979.

As such the European Parliament directly connects Europe's citizens with the decision making process - and it is important therefore that Parliament's role in the decision making process is widened further under the Treaty of Lisbon.

Already however, Parliament is working for Europe's citizens legislating on important issues as diverse as the outlawing of animal testing on cosmetics products to ensuring lower mobile phone roaming charges.

Today I am proud to serve in this successful democratic supra-national institution that serves the second largest electorate in the world."

Editors note:-

Together with the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament forms the bicameral legislative branch of the EU. Together they form the highest legislative body within the Union. However the Parliament's powers as such are limited to the competences conferred upon the European Community by member states. On the 19 March 1958 the first constituent session of the European Parliamentary Assembly had 142 MEPs, speaking 4 languages. Today the Parliament is composed of 785 MEPs speaking 23 official languages and representing almost 500 million citizens. Once the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, the European Parliament, following the elections in June 2009, will be composed of 751 MEPs with its powers once more enlarged.