European Parliament

European Parliament One of the constituent institutions of the EUROPEAN UNION (formerly the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY), meeting in Strasbourg or Luxembourg. Set up in 1952 under the terms of the treaty which established the European Steel and Coal Community (ECSC), the Parliament was replaced and extended in 1958 to serve two new communities, the EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). From 1958 to 1979 it was composed of representatives drawn from the Assemblies of the member states. However, quinquennial direct elections have taken place since 1979, and it is now made up of 518 seats, distributed among member states, according to the size of their populations. Its powers have increased, and it is now consulted on all major EU issues, including the annual budget, and it advises on legislation. Under the European Cooperation Procedure formalized under the Single European Act (1987), the Parliament was given a greater say over the proposals for the completion of a single European market, and under the Maastricht Treaty (1992) the powers of the Parliament were enhanced to include the right of veto on some bills, further budgetary control, and a say in the membership of the Commission.