A background to the European Parliament

The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary body of the European Union. Together with the Council of the European Union (the Council), it forms the bicameral legislative branch of the Union's institutions and has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world. The Parliament and Council form the highest legislative body within the Union. However their powers as such are limited to the competencies conferred upon the European Community by member states. Hence the institution has little control over policy areas held by the states and within the other two of the three pillars of the European Union. The Parliament is composed of 785 MEPs (Member of the European Parliament) representing the 27 Member States who serve the second largest democratic electorate in the world (after India) and the largest trans-national democratic electorate in the world (492 million).

Although the European Parliament has existed since the creation of the European Community soon after the Second World War, the first direct elections by universal suffrage only took place in 1979. Since, the European Parliament has been directly elected every five years by universal suffrage.

The European Parliament has two meeting places: in the EP buildings in Strasbourg, France, which serves for plenary sessions; and in Brussels, Belgium, the smaller of the two, which serves for preparatory meetings and complementary, non-plenary sessions.

The Role of the European Parliament

Parliament today plays an active role in drafting and, through the procedure of codecision, amending legislation which has an impact on the daily lives of its citizens - from environmental protection, consumer rights, equal opportunities, transport, and the free movement of workers, capital, services and goods. Parliament also has joint power with the Council over the annual budget of the European Union. It also has a veto of the appointment on the European Commission.

Legislation is tackled in the 20 specialised policy committees, which frequently question Commissioners as well as representatives of the Council. European Parliamentary committees combine the powers of the select and standing committees of the House of Commons.

Parliament may veto about three quarters of the Union's significant legislation, as well as propose amendments. Where there is disagreement between the Parliament, representing the peoples of Europe, and the Council, representing the states, a formal process of conciliation takes place. This procedure of co-decision affects all single market, environmental and consumer affairs legislation.

The European Parliament's Political Groups

The European Parliament organises itself within multi-national political groups. There are currently eight political groups: the European People's Party (Conservative); the Socialist Group; the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe; the Union for Europe of the Nations Group; the Greens/European Free Alliance; the Confederal Group of the European United Left; and the Independece Democracy Group. Graham is the current leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Group, the third largest Group in the European Parliament.

For more about ALDE.

For more about the European Parliament.