The European Parliament (EP) is one of the most important institutions of the European Union (EU). It represents the interests of the citizens of the member states and plays a crucial role in legislation and democratic control within the EU.

History and development

The European Parliament was originally established as the Joint Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community. Over the years, it developed into a full-fledged parliamentary institution. Since 1979, Members of the European Parliament have been directly elected by the citizens of the EU.

Role and functions

The European Parliament has three main functions:

1. Legislation: Together with the Council of the European Union, the Parliament is responsible for legislation within the EU. It has the right to adopt, amend or reject laws.
2. Budgetary control: Parliament has the power to scrutinize and adopt the EU budget. It plays a critical role in allocating funding for various programs and initiatives.
3. Democratic control: The Parliament exercises democratic control over the other EU institutions, especially the European Commission. It can make inquiries and conduct investigations.

Composition and elections

The European Parliament consists of members whose number is based on the population of the member states. Deputies are elected every five years in general, direct, free and secret elections. Each member state has a certain number of seats, with smaller countries having proportionately more seats than larger ones.

Mode of operation

The European Parliament has its official seat in Strasbourg, France, but meetings are also held in Brussels, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The work of the Parliament is divided into various committees and delegations dealing with specific issues.

Importance for citizens

The European Parliament is the only EU institution directly elected by citizens. It provides citizens with a voice at the European level and allows them to influence the decisions that affect their daily lives.

Challenges and criticism

The European Parliament faces various challenges, such as the need to increase the efficiency of its work, improve transparency and involve citizens more. It is often criticized for the high cost of switching the seat between Strasbourg and Brussels and for what is perceived as insufficient democratic legitimacy.