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European Parliament Elections 2019

  • Text
  • European
  • Parliament
  • Elections
  • Meps
  • Parliamant
  • Brussels
  • Strasbourg
  • Russia
  • Plenary
  • Euobserver
It is difficult to acknowledge you don't know something. A few months ago, several thousand Europeans were asked hundreds of questions for the Eurobarometer poll. One of those questions was: "Do you agree with the statement: 'I understand how the EU works'." Only 10 percent totally disagreed with that statement. Another 29 percent "tended to disagree". Peculiarly, three percent said they did not know whether to agree or disagree.

What is the

What is the European Parliament? The parliament has asserted its position as a co-legislator in the EU Photo: European Parliament While domestic political parties often use the European Parliament as a dumping ground for unwanted politicians - and a majority of citizens don't bother to vote - the parliament, over the years, has become a dominant force in the EU. By Eszter Zalan The European parliament takes pride in being the only EU institution whose members are elected directly by the European people. That has been the case since 1979. WHO ARE ITS MEMBERS? The parliament consists of 751 MEPs from the 28 member states. After Brexit and the departure of the UK's MEPs, the parliament will number 705 members. The parliament has used this political legitimacy to claim more and more legislative power over the years, sometimes irking member states that have to negotiate rules with parliamentarians. Yet paradoxically, despite gaining influence, the parliament has at the same time been losing the interest and votes of EU citizens - of whom only 42.6 percent participated in the last European election in 2014. The number of MEPs elected from an EU country depends on the size of the population, with the largest (Germany) having 96 members, down to Cyprus, Estonia, Luxembourg and Malta sending six members each. They are elected for five-year terms. MEPs form political groups that can secure financial funding, important seats in committees, and their members can be tasked with overseeing and guiding legislative files. 04 — EUROPEAN PARLIAMANT ELECTIONS 2019

Currently, the largest political group is the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) with 217 members. Centre-left socialists sit in the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group, the second largest, while right-wing conservatives, liberals, greens, the far-left and far-right parties also have their own smaller groups to represent them. MEPs earn almost €8,800 per month before taxes (that is EU taxes, with favourable rates compared to national ones), and in addition get generous funding for expenses and office costs. WHERE IS IT REALLY? It has been the focus of ongoing controversy and has fed eurosceptic arguments against the EU's 'bureaucracy' for decades that the parliament divides itself between Brussels and Strasbourg. Each month, thousands of parliament staff and a massive amount of paperwork travels from the Belgian capital to the French city for the plenary sessions, with special trains commissioned from Brussels. Dubbed the 'travelling circus', the moves are said to cost EU taxpayers over €100m each year. In 2013, MEPs themselves voted to back a single seat for the parliament, but - sadly and perhaps peculiarly - it is not up to them to decide. In 1992 EU governments agreed to lay down in a treaty that the parliament's official seat is in Strasbourg, and since France is not willing to give that up, the circus will keep on rolling. WHAT IS IT DOING? The parliament has the right to adopt and amend legislation in tandem with member states and also participates in negotiating the EU budget. The vast majority of EU legislation happens in the so-called "ordinary legislative procedure". Under this procedure, the commission makes a proposal, the parliament appoints an MEP responsible for the file, and negotiations start with the member states once both parliament and the member states represented in the council of the EU agree their own initial position. Klaus Welle is the all-powerful behind-the-scenes leader of the parliament's administration Photo: European Parliament 05 — EUROPEAN PARLIAMANT ELECTIONS 2019

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