The European Parliament

The task of the European Parliament, which is elected every five years by direct universal suffrage, lies in exercising democratic control over the decision-making process in the European Union on behalf of Europe's citizens.


Composition: There are 785 Members of the European Parliament, representing 493 million Europeans:

	Member State	European Parliament	EPP-ED Group
	Belgium	24	6
	Bulgaria	18	5
	Czech Republic	24	14
	Denmark	14	1
	Germany	99	49
	Estonia	6	1
	Ireland	13	5
	Greece	24	11
	Spain	54	24
	France	78	18
	Italy	78	24
	Cyprus	6	3
	Latvia	9	3
	Lithuania	13	2
	Luxembourg	6	3
	Hungary	24	13
	Malta	5	2
	Netherlands	27	7
	Austria	18	6
	Poland	54	15
	Portugal	24	9
	Romania	35	18
	Slovenia	7	4
	Slovakia	14	8
	Finland	14	4
	Sweden	19	6
	United Kingdom	78	27
	TOTAL	785	288

Powers: Parliament's powers have increased appreciably since the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957.

The power to legislate
The European Parliament approves, amends or rejects the majority of legislative proposals submitted by the Commission. The Treaty of Amsterdam increased Parliament's powers by extending the so-called codecision procedure, which places Parliament and the Council on an equal footing in the drawing-up of legislation.
Parliament's assent is required before important agreements concluded between the EU and third countries can be adopted or new Member States are admitted to the EU.

The power of the purse
The European Parliament and the Council decide on the EU budget each year. Parliament's budgetary powers have been extended to virtually every field, although the Council still has the final say on spending on agriculture. Parliament has exercised its ultimate right to reject the draft budget on three occasions (in 1979, 1982 and 1984).
Parliament monitors the proper use of EU funds through its Committee on Budgetary Control, with a view to preventing and detecting potential fraud. Once a year, Parliament assesses the implementation of the budget and grants the European Commission a 'discharge' on its use of funds.

The power of democratic supervision
The Treaty of Amsterdam gave Parliament wider supervisory powers. Parliament now enjoys the right to veto the candidates put forward as would-be Commissioners, and in addition to this it may submit a motion of censure against the Commission.

The Members of the European Parliament supervise every aspect of European Union activity, chiefly by means of the questions they put to the Commission and the Council of Ministers.
Parliament can also set up special committees of inquiry.

The European Parliament has its official seat in Strasbourg (France), where it meets in plenary for one week a month. Additional two-day plenary sittings are held in Brussels (Belgium), which is also where the 20 parliamentary committees generally meet.