European Parliament – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering institutions, powers, procedures and political dynamics of the European Parliament.

European Parliament (EP)

The directly elected legislative body of the European Union that represents EU citizens, sharing legislative, budgetary and supervisory powers with other EU institutions.

Member of the European Parliament (MEP)

An elected representative who serves a five-year term in the European Parliament; currently 720 seats post-Brexit.

Absolute Majority

A majority of all MEPs (half-plus-one of the total membership), whether present or not, required for many EP decisions.

Simple Majority

A majority of MEPs present and voting in the chamber at a given time.

Degressive Proportionality

Seat-allocation principle whereby larger member states have more MEPs than smaller ones, but smaller states are slightly over-represented relative to their population.

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)

Seven-year spending plan setting overall EU budget ceilings, negotiated by Commission, Council and Parliament.

Budgetary Powers (EP)

The Parliament’s authority to amend and approve the annual EU budget and, since Lisbon, to modify any expenditure within the MFF limits.

Supervisory Powers (EP)

Parliament’s role in monitoring other EU institutions through questions, reports, hearings, censure and committees of inquiry.

Legislative Powers (EP)

The authority to amend, approve or reject EU legislation—mainly exercised through the Ordinary Legislative Procedure with the Council.

Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP)

Post-Lisbon name for co-decision; a three-reading process in which Parliament and Council act as equal co-legislators.

Codecision

Former term (pre-Lisbon) for the legislative procedure that placed Parliament on equal footing with the Council; now called OLP.

First Reading (OLP)

Initial stage where Parliament adopts amendments to a proposal; most EU laws are agreed at this stage, often after trilogues.

Second Reading (OLP)

Parliament examines the Council’s position; it can approve, amend or reject, potentially triggering conciliation.

Conciliation Committee

Joint body of Council and Parliament that seeks a ‘joint text’ if agreement is not reached by second reading.

Trilogues

Informal negotiations among Parliament, Council and Commission that aim to reach early agreements on legislation.

Consultation Procedure

Older legislative route where Parliament gives a non-binding opinion; Council is not legally bound but must wait for the opinion.

Assent (Consent) Procedure

Parliament grants or withholds binding approval for certain acts (e.g., treaties, enlargement); no amendments allowed.

Committees of Inquiry

Temporary parliamentary bodies investigating alleged contraventions or maladministration within EU institutions.

European Ombudsman

Independent body appointed by Parliament to investigate complaints about EU administrative malpractice.

Spitzenkandidaten

Informal process linking EP elections to selection of the Commission President, whereby political groups name ‘lead candidates.’

President of the European Parliament

MEP elected to preside over plenary debates, assign proposals to committees, and represent Parliament externally.

Conference of Presidents

The EP President plus leaders of political groups; organises the work programme, agendas and committee assignments.

Bureau (EP)

Body comprising the President and 14 Vice-Presidents responsible for administrative, financial and organisational matters.

Secretariat (EP)

Civil-service body (≈5,000 officials) led by a Secretary-General; provides legal, research, translation and logistical support.

Directorate-General (DG)

Large administrative unit within the EP Secretariat specialising in areas like parliamentary work, translation or communication.

Political Group (EP)

Coalition of at least 23 MEPs from one-quarter of member states who share political affinities and receive resources and committee seats.

European People’s Party (EPP)

Centre-right, typically largest EP group; pro-integration but moderately cautious about deeper supranationalism.

Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D)

Centre-left group advocating workers’ rights and stronger EU federalism; prone to internal diversity.

Renew Europe (RE)

Centrist, liberal group strongly supporting EU integration and expanded supranational powers.

European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)

Right-wing, Eurosceptic group favouring an intergovernmental EU and national sovereignty.

The Left (GUE/NGL)

Far-left group critical of capitalism, supportive of welfare expansion and mildly Eurosceptic.

Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)

Environmental-focused group with members ranging from centre-left to socialist; pro-integration.

Patriots for Europe

Far-right, nationalist group including France’s Rassemblement National and Hungary’s Fidesz; strongly Eurosceptic.

European Sovereign Nations (ESN)

Hard-right, newly formed group containing parties like Germany’s AfD; advocates national sovereignty over EU powers.

Second-Order Election

Theory that EP elections attract lower turnout, more protest votes and fringe parties compared with national polls.

Citizens’ Initiative

Lisbon-era mechanism allowing one million EU citizens to request the Commission to propose legislation; hearings held by EP.

Rapporteur

MEP appointed by a committee to draft reports, amendments and explain positions to the plenary on specific proposals.

Committee Chair

MEP leading a parliamentary committee, selected mainly by size of political group and seniority.

Special Committee

Temporary EP body focused on a specific issue (e.g., BECA on cancer, AIDA on AI) distinct from standing committees.

Plenary Session

Formal gathering of all MEPs—12 in Strasbourg and 4-6 mini-plenaries in Brussels—to debate and vote on legislation.

Conference of Committee Chairpersons

Forum of all committee chairs advising on plenary agendas and legislative planning.

Single European Act (SEA)

1985 treaty that first granted Parliament real legislative influence via the cooperation procedure.

Treaty of Lisbon

2009 treaty expanding EP powers, renamed co-decision to OLP, created citizens’ initiatives and strengthened budgetary roles.

Neofunctionalism

Integration theory positing ‘spillover’ of powers to supranational institutions like the EP as integration deepens.

Intergovernmentalism

Theory emphasising member-state control over EU integration; views EP power increases as concessions by states.

Committee System (EP)

Structure of 24 standing committees that examine proposals, draft reports and play a central role in shaping legislation.

Budgetary Control Committee (CONT)

EP committee overseeing implementation of the EU budget and granting discharge to the Commission.

Ordinary Legislative Procedure – Three Stages

Sequence of First Reading, Second Reading (possible conciliation) and Third Reading (formal adoption) between EP and Council.