EU 7 - European Parliament

European Parliament

• President of the European Parliament → Roberta Metsola

• Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)

• Total: 720 MEPs

• MEPs primarily sit in political groups, not as national delegations

• Most members from Germany (96), France (81) & Italy (76)

• Fewest members from Cyprus, Luxembourg & Malta (all 6)

European Parliament - Powers & Functions (Legislative Powers)

• Legislative Powers:

  • In Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP), the EP is a co-legislator with the Council

  • In Special Legislative Procedure (SLP), the Council has more power than the European Parliament, EP is required to give its consent to a legislative proposal or be consulted on it („Consent“ & „Consultation“ procedures

  • Special Legislative Procedure: Consultation or Consent

  • Consent: The EP must give its consent (yes/no) to the agreements/policies adopted by the Council, it cannot amend, but just the veto power (e.g.: international agreements, EU enlargements & the EU budget/MFF)

  • Consultation: The EP gives its opinion - may approve, reject or propose amendments, but the Council is not obliged to take it into account

European Parliament - Powers & Functions

• Budgetary Powers: Equal footing with the Council, can accept, amend or reject the budget proposal

• Role in EU foreign policy: limited role, CFSP/CSDP - consultative role, external action & the internal policies with an external dimension - two major instruments: consent procedure & budgetary powers

• Appointment function: „Spitzenkandidat“ procedure: Before European Parliament elections, the major European party groups nominate a lead candidate for Commission President (traditionally largest party makes its candidate Commission president, European Council formally nominates the candidate, approved when an absolute majority of the EP‘s members vote in favor

European Parliament - Checks & Balances

• Scrutiny of the Commission

  • The Commission submits its annual work programme to the EP

  • Holds the European Commission accountable

  • Motion of Censure: Right to dismiss the European Commission

Biggest Political Groups in EP

• EPP (European People‘s Party)

• S&D (Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats)

• PfE (Patriots for Europe)

European Parliament in action

• Committees: repositories of policy expertise, responsible for appointing teams of negotiators who can engage in intra- & inter-institutional negotiations

  • MEPd are selected as rapporteurs to draft reports & Shadow rapporteurs aid their work

  • They are the central members of the team responsible for negotiating with the Council under the OLP & play a central role in shaping the position adopted by their political groups

• Decision-making: Majority of the votes cast

European Parliament vs National Parliaments

• Bicameral or unicameral → Functionally bicameral (though the EP & the Council are separate institutions)

• Significant influence on policy formulation (in OLP) than most parliaments in parliamentary systems but not a full co-legislator in all policy areas

• No right of legislative initiative

• No taxation powers

• Lower party group cohesion than national parliaments

European Parliament (Nature, Legislative Power, Initiative Power, Executive Control, Election System, Committee Work, Transparency, Public Engagement)

Nature: Supranational, represents EU citizens

Legislative Power: Shared with Council, limited to EU competences

Initiative Power: Cannot initiate legislation

Executive Control: Oversees European Commission

Election System: Proportional representation, closed/open list depending on country

Committee Work: Strong influence in EP policymaking

Transparency: Debates & votes are public

Public Engagement: Lower due to complexity & distance from citizens

EP elections as „Second Order Elections“

• First-order elections

  • determine the government/distribution of executive power in a political system, usually national-level main elections

  • Highest importance given by parties, voters & the media → high turnout

• Second-order elections

  • national distribution of power not at stake (local, regional, European)

  • Parties invest less resources

  • Lower media attention

  • Voters often express dissatisfaction with the incumbent government

  • Higher incentive for protest voters to turn out