THE EUROPEAN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTPARLIAMENT

Gema Tarin

HOW WAS THE EP CREATED?HOW WAS THE EP CREATED? It was 19 March, 1958, when delegates first assembled as It was 19 March, 1958, when delegates first assembled as

the European Parliamentary Assembly. A Parliamentary the European Parliamentary Assembly. A Parliamentary

Assembly had been set up by under the European Coal and Assembly had been set up by under the European Coal and

Steel Community (ECSC), created by the 1951Treaty of Steel Community (ECSC), created by the 1951Treaty of

Paris. When the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, Paris. When the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957,

founding the European Economic Community (EEC) and the founding the European Economic Community (EEC) and the

European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), it set up a European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), it set up a

European Parliamentary Assembly common to the three European Parliamentary Assembly common to the three

communities, communities, which evolved into today's EP.which evolved into today's EP.

HOW IS THE PARLIAMENT HOW IS THE PARLIAMENT ORGANISED? (1)ORGANISED? (1)

The European Parliament is composed of The European Parliament is composed of 626 members626 members, , Democratically elected by direct universal suffrage in EU-wide elections for five-year Democratically elected by direct universal suffrage in EU-wide elections for five-year

terms. The President of the Parliament is elected for a two-and-a-half year term. terms. The President of the Parliament is elected for a two-and-a-half year term. The Parliament holds plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels. Its 20 committees, The Parliament holds plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels. Its 20 committees,

which prepare the work for plenary meetings, and its political groups normally meet in which prepare the work for plenary meetings, and its political groups normally meet in Brussels.Brussels.

The Parliament acts as the EU's public forum:The Parliament acts as the EU's public forum:

1. It can question the Commission and the Council; 1. It can question the Commission and the Council;

2. amend or reject the EU budget;2. amend or reject the EU budget;

3.Dismiss the entire Commission through a vote of censure, a power it has 3.Dismiss the entire Commission through a vote of censure, a power it has never used. never used.

The European Parliament cannot enact laws like national parliaments. However, its The European Parliament cannot enact laws like national parliaments. However, its

legislative role has been strengthened over the years. The Maastricht Treaty provides legislative role has been strengthened over the years. The Maastricht Treaty provides

for a co-decision procedure which empowers Parliament to veto legislation in certain for a co-decision procedure which empowers Parliament to veto legislation in certain

policy areas. policy areas.

HOW PARLIAMENT IS ORGANISED? (2)

LEGISLATIVE POWERLEGISLATIVE POWER

Member of the European Parliament, working in one Member of the European Parliament, working in one of the parliamentary committees, draws up a report on of the parliamentary committees, draws up a report on

a proposal for a ‘legislative text’ presented by the a proposal for a ‘legislative text’ presented by the European Commission, the only institution empowered European Commission, the only institution empowered

to initiate legislation. The parliamentary committee to initiate legislation. The parliamentary committee votes on this report and when the text has been votes on this report and when the text has been revised and adopted in plenary, Parliament has revised and adopted in plenary, Parliament has

adopted its position. adopted its position.

In the adoption of legislative acts, a distinction is In the adoption of legislative acts, a distinction is made between the ordinary legislative procedure made between the ordinary legislative procedure

(codecision), and the special legislative procedures, (codecision), and the special legislative procedures, which apply only in specific cases where Parliament which apply only in specific cases where Parliament

has only a consultative role.has only a consultative role.

CODECISION-1st readingCODECISION-1st readingThe The codecision procedurecodecision procedure was introduced by the Maastricht was introduced by the Maastricht

Treaty on European Union (1992), and extended and made Treaty on European Union (1992), and extended and made more effective by the Amsterdam Treaty (1999). more effective by the Amsterdam Treaty (1999).

1. The Commission presents a legislative proposal to Parliament and the Council simultaneously.

2. Parliament adopts amendments and submits them to the Council

3. If the Council agrees with the outcome of Parliament’s first reading : the legislative text is adopte

CODECISION- 2nd readingCODECISION- 2nd reading

1.If the (1) Council does not accept Parliament’s first reading vote, it draws 1.If the (1) Council does not accept Parliament’s first reading vote, it draws up a (2) common position.up a (2) common position.

2.Parliament may approve the common position or take no decision, and the legislative text is adopted in the form of the common position

3.Or Parliament may table amendments to the common position (subject to certain restrictions). In this case : either the Council approves Parliament’s amendments, and the legislative text is adopted or the Council rejects them.

4.Parliament may reject the common position by an absolute majority of its members, in which case the legislative text is rejected

CODECISION- 3rd readingCODECISION- 3rd reading

1.If the Council and 1.If the Council and (3) (3) Parliament Parliament approve the ‘joint text’ approve the ‘joint text’ in its entirety, the in its entirety, the actact is adopted. is adopted.

2.If the Conciliation Committee If the Conciliation Committee cannot agree on a ‘joint text’, or if cannot agree on a ‘joint text’, or if Parliament or the Council does not Parliament or the Council does not approve it, the approve it, the act act is deemed not to is deemed not to have been adoptedhave been adopted

The principle of ‘annuality’ of the budget means that the budget is adopted for one year (the The principle of ‘annuality’ of the budget means that the budget is adopted for one year (the budget year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December).budget year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December).

The Commission prepares a preliminary draft budget, which it submits to the Council of the The Commission prepares a preliminary draft budget, which it submits to the Council of the European Union.European Union.

On this basis the Council draws up a draft budget, which it forwards to the European On this basis the Council draws up a draft budget, which it forwards to the European Parliament for first readingParliament for first reading

Parliament amends the draft in the light of its political priorities and returns it to the Council, Parliament amends the draft in the light of its political priorities and returns it to the Council, which can amend it in its turn before returning it to the European Parliament.which can amend it in its turn before returning it to the European Parliament.

Parliament adopts or rejects the amended budget at second reading Parliament adopts or rejects the amended budget at second reading

It is the President of the European Parliament who finally adopts the budget.It is the President of the European Parliament who finally adopts the budget.

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BUDGETARY POWER• The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union together constitute the Union’s budgetary authority, which decides each year on its expenditure and revenue. The procedure of examining, then adopting, the budget takes place between June and late December.

THE 2006 EP

BUDGET IS €1.32

BILLION