The European Parliament is one of the seven institutions of the European Union (EU). It is a directly elected body of the EU and represents the interests of the EU citizens. The Parliament is composed of 705 members, who are elected every five years through a system of proportional representation in the EU member states. The main functions of the European Parliament include:
Legislative function: The Parliament shares the legislative function of the EU with the Council of the European Union. It has the power to adopt, amend, or reject EU legislation, together with the Council. The Parliament also has the power to initiate legislation, in the form of reports, resolutions, and proposals.
Budgetary function: The Parliament is responsible for adopting the EU budget, together with the Council. It has the power to amend or reject the budget proposed by the European Commission.
Supervisory function: The Parliament has the power to conduct inquiries and investigations into the activities of the EU institutions, including the European Commission and the Council. It also has the power to hold the European Commission accountable and to vote on the appointment of the Commission President and the other members of the Commission.
Representation function: The Parliament represents the interests of the EU citizens and has the power to receive petitions from EU citizens and to hold public hearings on issues of interest to the citizens.
The European Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping the policies and legislation of the EU. It is a key player in the EU decision-making process, along with the other EU institutions, and represents the voice of the EU citizens in the EU policy making.
You can learn more about this topic and relevant case law with our EU Law notes.
