EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Source: EURACTIVE

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Context: Election to European Parliament to be held on June 6.

Details

European Parliament

• The European Parliament (EP) is the only EU institution directly elected by European citizens. Its main role is to ensure the democratic legitimacy of the European law. It is composed of representatives of the Union’s citizens elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year period. The EU Parliament’s members ensure the democratic functioning of the EU institutions and represent the citizens’ interests in the European legislative process.
• Unlike national parliaments, the EP does not have the right to propose laws but can only negotiate those proposed by the executive European Commission. The EP comprises 720 Members (MEPs) elected every five years. The MEPs then elect their president for a term of two and a half years.

Elections

Voters

• All EU citizens have the right to vote and stand as candidates in their Member State of residence.
• In 21 member states, people aged 18 and above can vote. In Belgium, Germany, Austria and Malta, the minimum voting age is 16. In Greece, people who turn 17 during the election year can vote, and in Hungary, married individuals can vote regardless of age.
• Citizens living in another EU country can choose to vote for candidates either from their country of origin or from their country of residence.

How is voting done?

• In some member states, voters can only choose closed lists that do not allow change of order for preferred candidates, while in others they can select individual candidates in a preferential system.
• Depending on national laws, some electors abroad can vote at their national embassies, via mail or electronically.
• All candidates must be EU citizens. Voters may choose from individual candidates or political parties’ delegates, depending on the country.
• Once elected, politicians from each nation will flow into the European groups that form the Parliament, based on political orientations.
• Elected individuals cannot hold functions in national governments or other political bodies such as the EU Commission.

The Parliament has 3 main roles:

Legislative

• Passing EU laws, together with the Council of the EU, based on European Commission proposals.
• Deciding on international agreements.
• Deciding on enlargements.
• Reviewing the Commission's work programme and asking it to propose legislation.

Supervisory

• Democratic scrutiny of all EU institutions.
• Electing the Commission President and approving the Commission as a body. Possibility of voting a motion of censure, obliging the Commission to resign.
• Granting discharge, i.e. approving the way EU budgets have been spent.
• Examining citizens' petitions and setting up inquiries.
• Discussing monetary policy with the European Central Bank.
• Questioning Commission and Council.
• Election observations.

Budgetary

• Establishing the EU budget, together with the Council
• Approving the EU's long-term budget, the "Multiannual Financial Framework"

Composition

• The number of MEPs for each country is roughly proportionate to its population, but this is by degressive proportionality: no country can have fewer than 6 or more than 96 MEPs and the total number cannot exceed 750 (plus the President). MEPs are grouped by political affiliation, not by nationality.
• The President represents Parliament to other EU institutions and the outside world and gives the final go-ahead to the EU budget.

How does the Parliament work?

Parliament's work comprises two main stages:

Committees :  to prepare legislation.

• The Parliament numbers 20 committees and three subcommittees, each handling a particular policy area. The committees examine proposals for legislation, and MEPs and political groups can put forward amendments or propose to reject a bill. These issues are also debated within the political groups.

Plenary sessions : to pass legislation.

• This is when all the MEPs gather in the chamber to give a final vote on the proposed legislation and the proposed amendments. Normally held in Strasbourg for four days a month, but sometimes there are additional sessions in Brussels.

Sources:

IndianExpress

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