European Parliament

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European Parliament An elected institution of the European Union with its seat in Strasburg. Originally, its members were appointees of the parliaments of the EC member states, but since 1979 they have been elected directly every five years by universal suffrage. Treaties signed in 1970 and 1975 gave the European Parliament (EP) important powers over budgetary and constitutional matters, and through the Single European Act of 1986 it assumed greater powers through the cooperation procedure: accordingly, a number of decisions made by the European Council needed to have the assent of the EP. This right was extended by the Maastricht Treaty, which gave the European Parliament the right of co-decision in substantial areas of legislation. On issues affecting the common market, for instance, the EP now had the upper hand in its search for a compromise with the Council.

The EP's powers have been extended in the Treaties of Amsterdam and Nice. However, it was still hampered by the requirement that all decisions under the co-decision procedure had to be approved by an overall majority of members. This prevented the emergence of traditional political fault-lines, as the need for large majorities precluded the establishment of traditional opposition and governing camps. This, and the inability to impose taxation, have made the Parliament relatively obscure and seemingly insignificant to its voters. As a result, since 1979 voter participation in European elections has declined steadily. However, declining voter participation affected most mature democratic systems. Overall, EP continued to enjoy legitimacy as the only democratically elected organ of the EU.

The 2004 elections to the EP were the first to be held in an enlarged community of 25 member states. This posed great challenges, as the EP had to absorb a large number of new parties, which were not used to the EP's particular ways of working. More importantly, many post-communist parties were founded on very different ideals than the parties already established within the EP. This made the formation of cross-party parliamentary groups more difficult. Finally, since every Member of the EP had the right to speak in their own language, the EP elected in 2004 required a vastly inflated administrative apparatus, notably of translating staff.

http://www.europarl.eu.int

European integration

European Parliament an institution of the governing body of the European Union (EU). It convenes on a monthly basis in Strasbourg, France; most meetings of the separate parliamentary committees are held in Brussels, Belgium, and its Secretariat is located in Luxembourg.

The European Parliament was founded in 1958 as the European Parliamentary Assembly, and its members were chosen by the parliaments of the nations belonging to the three treaty organizations that were later merged to form what is now the EU. Since 1979, the members sent by each nation have been directly elected by its citizens for five-year terms. Once elected, members are grouped according to political party or faction rather than nationality. Its expansion over the years has followed that of the EU; the Treaty of Lisbon (ratified 2009) sets its membership at 751.

The parliament was for many years a consultative body, but its powers have been expanded. Those powers remain largely negative ones, exercised mainly through its ability to refuse to grant approval or otherwise act as required; it may not initiate legislation. The final vote on legislation proposed by the European Commission , as well as amendments proposed by the parliament, is shared with or belongs to the Council of the European Union . The aspect of EU government over which the parliament has the most direct influence is the EU budget, which it may amend or reject and on which it generally has the final vote. It also must approve the slate of nominees for the European Commission.

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.

European Parliament (EP) Institution of the European Community. The Parliament forms part of the permanent structure of the European Community, along with the Council of Ministers, the Commission, the Court of Justice, and the Court of Auditors. It meets in Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg. It has 626 members, representing the 15 member states, elected for five-year terms. It has limited legislative powers.