The document discusses whether the European Parliament is a powerful European institution. It provides background on the EP, including that it represents over 375 million citizens across 28 member states. It outlines the EP's powers, such as passing legislation jointly with the Council, influencing policy through resolutions, controlling the budget, and supervising other EU institutions. The document also notes that while the EP has significant powers in some areas, there are also limits to its influence. Overall, the document explores perspectives on how much power the EP wields without reaching a definite conclusion.

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The European Parliament (EP) –
a powerful european institution?
Europäisches Parlament, Straßburg

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What means „powerful“ in political issues?
• Fully agreement: The EP has the power to decide on many
different political issues and influences european politics in
an all-embracing way.
• Partial agreement: There are powerful possiblities for
action in some policy areas but also areas which the EP
cannot influence.
• Little or no agreement: The EP has only little (or no) power
to decide an influence european politics.

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Structure
1. Introduction – general information on EP
2. History
3. Current composition of the Parliament
4. Election and members
5. Powers and functions
6. The EP on asylum and migration
7. Conclusion

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1. Introduction – general information on EP
• is based in three different cities with numerous buildings – in
Brussels (Belgium), the city of Luxembourg and Straßbourg
• second largest democratic electorate in the world
• 375 million eligible voters (in 2009) > largest trans-national
democratic parliament

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2. History
• first meeting on 10. September 1952 as
the “Common Assembly”
• In 1962 the body was renamed to the
current “European Parliament”.
• the parliament held its first session on
11 July 1979, electing Simone Veil as its
President
• the membership of the EP has simply
expanded whenever new nations have
joined (28 member states – in 2016)

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3. Current composition of the Parliament
• „degressive proportionality“ > the larger the state the more
citizens are represented (e.g. Germany 96 seats + Malta 6 seats)
• Italy 73 seats, Finland 13 seats, Austria 18 seats

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4. Election and important members
• Eight elections till today
• Largest simultaneous transnational elections ever held anywhere
2014 (from 22. to 25 May)
• Voter turnout has dropped consistently every year since election,
and from 1999 it has been below 50% (42.54% in 2014)
• Political parties field candidates for president of EP
• Martin Schulz (S &D) > president until January 2017

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5. Powers and functions
• Legislation > goals becoming law
• Great deal of indirect influence through non-binding resolutions
and committee herings
• Budget > financial power
• Control of the exekutive > elcting president + censure it if
they have two-third majority
• Supervisory power > call other institutions to answer questions
and if necessary to take them to court if they break EU law

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6. The EP on flight and migration
• EP and the Council have equal right to pass legislation
• additional budget of 728 million Euro to managing the crisis
(EU-budget 2017)
• parliament has the opportunity to send special delegations
from the internal committee to get an on-site impression of the
current situation
• agreement between the EU and Turkey: demanded to freeze
the EU-accession talks with Turkey because of the
“disproportional repressive measures and the violation of
human rights”
• may have serious consequences for the migration to the
European Union

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7. Conclusion
What do you think?
Is the European Parliament a
„powerful“ european institution?

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Website
• www.europarl.europa.eu