European Parliament

European Parliament

The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union (the

Council) and the European Commission, it exercises the legislative

function of the EU.

It has been directly elected every five years by universal suffrage since 1979.

The President of the European Parliament is Martin Schulz (S&D), elected in January 2012. Previously he was leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

On July 1, 2014, Martin Schulz was re-elected as European Parliament President.

The most recent Union-wide elections to the European Parliament were the European elections of 2014, held from 22 to 25 May 2014.

President of European Parliament

Martin Schulz

German Socialist Democrat

The European Parliament has three places of work. Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg and Strasbourg (France).

Luxembourg is home to the administrative offices (the 'General Secretariat').

Meetings of the whole Parliament ('plenary sessions') take place in Strasbourg and in Brussels.

Committee meetings are held in Brussels.

European Parliament, Strasbourg, France.

European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium.

General Secretariat of the European Parliament, Luxembourg.

The Parliament has no the power of legislative initiative. In Community matters, this is a power uniquely reserved for the European Commission (the executive). Parliament can amend and reject legislation. To make a proposal for legislation, it needs the Commission to draft a bill before anything can become law.

With each new treaty, the powers of the Parliament, in terms of its role in the Union's legislative procedures, have expanded.

The legislative branch officially holds the Union's budgetary authority.

The President of the European Commission is proposed by the European Council on the basis of the European elections to Parliament. That proposal has to be approved by the Parliament (by a simple majority) who "elect" the President according to the treaties. Following the approval of the Commission President, the members of the Commission are proposed by the President in accord with the member-states.

The Parliament also has the power to censure the Commission if they have a two-thirds majority

which will force the resignation of the entire Commission from office.

So, basically, The Parliament is the legislative institution of the European Union. Members of the European Parliament are voted and choosen by European Union member states’ public and they are discussing the laws which is needed by the public

The Parliament is a well cooperated and strong istitute of European Union

Political Groups. EPP - European People's Party (Christian Democrats) S&D - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in

Europe (centre-left) ALDE - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

(liberal) EUL/NGL - European United Left-Nordic Green Left (left-

wing) Greens/EFA - Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens and

regionalists/nationalists) ECR - European Conservatives and Reformists Group

(right-wing) EFD - Europe of Freedom and Democracy (Eurosceptic) NA - Non-attached (MEPs not part of any group)