EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
HISTORY, COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS
Leonor Silva, Agrupamento de Escolas Camilo Castelo Branco - Portugal
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S ORIGINS
The European Parliament has its origins in the Common Assembly of the
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), established in 1952, later
becoming the common assembly for the three european supranational
communities existing at the time: ECSC, the European Economic Community
(EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). With 142
members, this new assembly known as the European Parliamentary
Assembly met for the first time on 19 March 1958 in Strasbourg. On 30
March 1962, its name was changed to European Parliament.
ELECTIONS BY DIRECT UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
At first, Members of the European Parliament were appointed by the national parliaments of
each Member State and had a dual mandate. But on the Summit Conference held in Paris,
on 9 and 10 December, 1974, it was determined that direct elections should take place. In
January 1975, the Parliament adopted a new draft convention, replacing the original draft
convention of 1960, on the basis of which the Heads of State and Government, overcoming
a number of differences, reached an agreement at their meeting on July 12 and 13, 1976.
On 20 September 1976, in Brussels, the Decision and Act on European elections by direct
universal suffrage were signed. Following ratification by all Member States, the Act entered
into force on July 1978, with the first elections taking place on 7 and 10 June, 1979.
Georges Spénale said: “We
are perfectly aware that in
Europe today there are many
things which can seem
infinitely more urgent than an
institutional problem. We
know very well that we are
encircled by inflation,
unemployment, monetary
disorder... This date of
September 20th marks out a
big date for the Communities,
the one where the way is
opened from now on to the
Europe of citizens, alongside
the Europe of the States.”
ENLARGEMENTS
With more and more countries joining the European Communities,
the number of Members of the European Parliament gets
progressively larger. In 2009, the number of members decreases
and then suffers several reviews and adaptations. Today, there are
705 members.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
The President is elected for a renewable term of two and a half years, half the
lifetime of a Parliament. The President represents the European Parliament to the
outside world and in its relations with the other EU institutions.
The President oversees the work of the Parliament and its constituent bodies as
well as the debates in plenary and ensures that Parliament’s Rules of Procedure are
adhered to.
At the beginning of every European Council meeting, the President of the European
Parliament sets out Parliament’s point of view and its concerns as regards the items
on the agenda and other subjects.
After the European Union’s budget has been adopted by Parliament, the President
signs it, rendering it operational. The European Parliament President and the
President of the Council both sign all legislative acts adopted under ordinary
legislative procedure.
David-Maria Sassoli, president
since 3 July 2019
MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
There are 705 Members the European Parliament (MEPs), elected in 27
Member States by direct universal suffrage for a five-year period.
Each country decides on the form its election will take, but must guarantee
equality of the sexes and a secret ballot. EU elections are by proportional
representation.
Seats are allocated on the basis of population of each Member State. MEPs
are grouped by political affinity, not nationality.
DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS IN THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
THE POLITICAL GROUPS OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
25 Members are needed to form a political group, and at least one-quarter of the Member States must
be represented within the group. Members may not belong to more than one political group.
Some Members do not belong to any political group and are known as non-attached Members.
Each political group care of its own internal organisation by appointing a chair (or two cochairs in the
case of some groups), a bureau and a secretariat.
The places assigned to Members in the Chamber are decided by political affiliation, from left to right, by
agreement with the group chairmen.
Before every vote in plenary the political groups scrutinise the reports drawn up by the parliamentary
committees and table amendments to the.
The position adopted by the political group is arrived at by discussion within the group. No Member can
be forced to vote in a particular way.
THE COMMITTEES OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
In order to do the preparatory work for Parliament’s plenary sittings, the Members are divided
up among a number of specialised standing committees. There are 20 parliamentary
committees. A committee consists of between 25 and 81 MEPs, and has a chair, a bureau
and a secretariat. The political makeup of the committees reflects that of the plenary
assembly.
The parliamentary committees meet once or twice a month in Brussels. Their debates are
held in public.
The committees draw up, amend and adopt legislative proposals and own-initiative reports.
They consider Commission and Council proposals and, where necessary, draw up reports to
be presented to the plenary assembly.
THE DELEGATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
The European Parliament’s delegations maintain relations and exchange information
with parliaments in non-EU countries. Through its delegations, the European
Parliament helps to represent the European Union externally and to promote in third
countries the values on which the European Union is founded, namely the principles
of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the
rule of law.
There are several types of delegations: joint parliamentary committees,
parliamentary cooperation committees, other interparliamentary delegations and
delegations to multilateral parliamentary assemblies.
THE POLITICAL BODIES OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
There are different political bodies in the European Parliament responsible for the organisation of
Parliament’s business and legislative planning or for Parliament rules as well as administrative,
financial, staff and organisational matters.
Conference of Presidents The Bureau
The Conference of Presidents is the political body in The Bureau is the body that lays down rules for
Parliament responsible for: Parliament.
- the organisation of Parliament’s business and legislative It draws up Parliament’s preliminary draft budget and
planning decides all administrative, staff and organisational
- deciding the responsibilities and membership of matters.
committees and delegations
-relations with other EU institutions, the national
parliaments and non-EU countries.
College of Quaestors Conference of The Conference of
The College of Quaestors is the Committee Chairs Delegation Chairs
European Parliament body
The Conference of Committee The Conference of Delegation
responsible for administrative and
Chairs is the political body in Chairs is the political body in
financial matters directly concerning
Parliament that works for better Parliament that periodically
Members and their working
cooperation between the considers all matters concerning the
conditions.
committees. smooth running of interparliamentary
delegations and delegations to the
joint parliamentary committees.
THE INTERGROUPS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Intergroups can be formed by Members from any political group and any
committee, with a view to holding informal exchanges of views on
particular subjects and promoting contact between Members and civil
society. Intergroups are not Parliament bodies and therefore may not
express Parliament's opinion.
Examples: Anti-corruption, Anti-racism and diversity, Cancer, Children’s
rights, Green New Deal, etc.
FUNCTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
LEGISLATIVE POWERS BUDGETARY POWERS SUPERVISORY POWERS
A Member of the European Parliament, Parliament has 42 days either to approve The European Parliament has a range of
working in one of the parliamentary the Council's position, or, by an absolute supervisory and control powers. These
committees, draws up a report on a majority of its members, to amend it. allow it to exercise oversight over other
proposal for a ‘legislative text’ presented If Parliament approves Council's position, institutions (the European Council, the
by the European Commission, the only or declines to state a position, the budget Council of the EU, the European
institution empowered to initiate is deemed adopted. However, Parliament Commission, the Court of Justice, the
legislation. The parliamentary committee normally adopts amendments and the European Central Bank, the European
votes on this report and, possibly, amends amended text is forwarded to the Council. Court of Auditors, the European
it. When the text has been revised and In this case, the President of the Ombudsman and Petitions, committees of
adopted in plenary, Parliament has Parliament immediately convenes a inquiry), to monitor the proper use of the
adopted its position. This process is meeting of the Conciliation Committee. EU budget and to ensure the correct
repeated one or more times, depending The committee does not meet if the implementation of EU law.
on the type of procedure and whether or Council informs Parliament within 10 days
not agreement is reached with the that it has approved all of its amendments.
Council.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS
Brussels hosts the main offices of
the MEPs and some of
Parliament's plenary sessions are
held here.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN STRASBOURG
Strasbourg is the official seat of the
European Parliament. Each month,
Members gather here for four days
to vote and debate in a series of
meetings known as plenary sessions.
Whether rejecting, amending or
adopting proposals, this week is a
high-point in the EU's law-making
process.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg is the site of the
first administrative seat of the
European Parliament.
