The European Parliament (EP) is the directly elected legislative body of the EU — the only institution chosen directly by EU citizens. It has grown from a consultative assembly to a powerful co-legislator with equal powers to the Council in most areas.
1. Composition and Elections
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MEP (Member of the European Parliament)s (since 2024)
MEPs are elected by direct universal suffrage every 5 years. The most recent elections were in June 2024. Seats are allocated to member states on the basis of degressive proportionality — larger countries get more seats, but smaller countries are over-represented relative to their population.
- Minimum seats per member state: 6 (Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus)
- Maximum seats per member state: 96 (Germany)
- MEPs sit in political groups, not national delegations
- At least 23 MEPs from at least 7 member states needed to form a political group
Main Political Groups in the EP (approximate, 2024–2029)
EPP
Centre-right
186 seats
S&D
Centre-left
136 seats
Patriots
Right-nat.
84 seats
Greens/EFA
Greens
53 seats
2. The President and Internal Structure
- The EP elects its President from among its members for a 2.5-year renewable term (mid-term renewal)
- The President chairs plenary sessions, represents the EP externally, and signs the EU budget into law
- The EP has 20+ standing committees that prepare legislation and conduct oversight (e.g. ECON, LIBE, AFET, ENVI)
- The EP sits in Strasbourg (plenary, 12 sessions/year) and Brussels (committee work and additional plenary sessions)
- The Secretariat-General is based in Luxembourg
The "travelling circus": The EP's split between Strasbourg and Brussels is enshrined in the treaties (Protocol No. 6). It costs approximately €200 million per year and is frequently criticised, but changing it requires unanimous treaty amendment.
3. The Three Powers of the European Parliament
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Legislative Power
Co-legislator with the Council under the Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP) for most EU legislation.
Right to request legislation from the Commission (indirect initiative).
Consent required for: enlargement, withdrawal agreements, international agreements, multiannual financial framework.
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Budgetary Power
Co-decides the annual EU budget with the Council.
Approves (or rejects) the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework)).
Discharge procedure: EP grants discharge to the Commission for budget implementation, based on Court of Auditors report.
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Supervisory Power
Investiture: approves the College of Commissioners (can reject the whole College).
Motion of censure: can force the Commission to resign (2/3 majority of votes cast, majority of MEPs).
Questions, hearings, committees of inquiry, Ombudsman.
4. How the Commission is Appointed — EP's Role
1
The European Council proposes the candidate for Commission President (by QMV (Qualified Majority Voting), taking into account EP elections results).
2
The European Parliament elects the Commission President by majority of its members.
3
Each Commissioner-designate appears before the relevant EP committee for a hearing.
4
The EP votes to approve the entire College of Commissioners (consent — majority of votes cast).
5
The European Council formally appoints the Commission by QMV.
5. Key EP Powers at a Glance
| Power | Procedure / Majority |
|---|
| Adopt legislation (OLP) | Simple majority (majority of votes cast) |
| Elect Commission President | Majority of component members (absolute majority) |
| Approve College of Commissioners | Majority of votes cast |
| Motion of censure (remove Commission) | 2/3 of votes cast + majority of all MEPs |
| Consent to MFF | Majority of component members |
| Consent to enlargement / withdrawal | Majority of component members |
| Discharge of EU budget | Simple majority |
Spitzenkandidat process: Since 2014, European political parties put forward a lead candidate (Spitzenkandidat) before EP elections. The candidate of the largest group is typically proposed by the European Council for Commission President. However, this is not legally binding — the European Council retains formal power of proposal.
Key Terms
Degressive proportionality
System of seat allocation: larger countries get more seats, but each MEP from a smaller country represents fewer citizens than one from a larger country.
Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP)
The standard EU lawmaking process where Parliament and Council act as equal co-legislators. Also called co-decision. See Chapter 9 for details.
Motion of censure
Art. 234 TFEU: the EP's nuclear option against the Commission. Requires 2/3 of votes cast AND majority of all MEPs. Forces the entire College to resign.
Discharge
The EP's annual approval of how the Commission implemented the EU budget. Can be delayed or refused, creating political pressure.
Plenary
The full session of all MEPs. Held in Strasbourg (12 times/year) and Brussels (additional sessions). Formal decisions are taken in plenary.
Committee
EP has 20+ permanent committees that specialise in policy areas, scrutinise legislation, and hold hearings. Key: ECON, LIBE, AFET, ENVI, ITRE.