European Parliament facts for kids

Quick facts for kids European Parliament Bulgarian: Европейски парламент Croatian: Europski parlament Czech: Evropský parlament Danish: Europa-Parlamentet Dutch: Europees Parlement English: European Parliament Estonian: Euroopa Parlament Finnish: Euroopan parlamentti French: Parlement européen German: Europäisches Parlament Greek: Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο Hungarian: Európai Parlament Irish: Parlaimint na hEorpa Italian: Parlamento europeo Latvian: Eiropas Parlaments Lithuanian: Europos Parlamentas Maltese: Parlament Ewropew Polish: Parlament Europejski Portuguese: Parlamento Europeu Romanian: Parlamentul European Slovak: Európsky parlament Slovene: Evropski parlament Spanish: Parlamento Europeo Swedish: Europaparlamentet
9th European Parliament
Type
Type	De facto lower house of bicameral legislature
Term limits	No
History
Founded	10 September 1952; 72 years ago (1952-09-10)
Preceded by	Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community
Leadership
President	Roberta Metsola, EPP Since 18 January 2022
Vice-Presidents	First Vice-President: Othmar Karas, EPP other Vice-Presidents: See List since 18 January 2022
Secretary-General	Alessandro Chiocchetti Since 1 January 2023
Structure
Seats	705
Political groups	EPP (177)      S&D (140)      RE (102)      G/EFA (72)      ECR (68)      ID (59)      GUE/NGL (37)      NI (50)
Committees	22 Budgets Budgetary Control Economic & Monetary Affairs Employment & Social Affairs Environment, Public Health & Food Safety Industry, Research & Energy Internal Market & Consumer Protection Transport & Tourism Regional Development Agriculture & Rural Development Fisheries Culture & Education Legal Affairs Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs Constitutional Affairs Women's Rights & Gender Equality Petitions Foreign Affairs Human Rights Security & Defence Development International Trade
Length of term	5 years
Salary	€8,932.86 monthly
Elections
Voting system	Chosen by member state. Systems include: Party list PR STV in Ireland and Malta de facto FPTP/SMP (only in the German-speaking electoral college in Belgium)
Last election	23–26 May 2019
Next election	6–9 June 2024
Motto
In varietate concordia (United in diversity)
Meeting place
Louise Weiss Building Strasbourg, France
Espace Léopold Brussels, Belgium
Constitution
Treaties of the European Union

The European Parliament (EP) is one of the main law-making bodies of the European Union (EU). It works with the Council of the European Union to create new European laws. The Parliament is made up of 705 members, called MEPs. This number will increase to 720 after the June 2024 European elections. It represents the second-largest group of voters in the world, with about 375 million people able to vote.

Since 1979, people living in the EU have directly elected their MEPs every five years. This means citizens get to choose who represents them. The voting age is 18 in most EU countries. However, in Malta, Belgium, Austria, and Germany, you can vote at 16, and in Greece, you can vote at 17.

The European Parliament has important powers to make laws. New EU laws usually need its approval, as well as the approval of the Council. Even though it doesn't usually start new laws itself (that's the job of the European Commission), it can ask the Commission to propose laws.

The Parliament is considered the "first institution" of the EU. It shares equal power with the Council over making laws and managing the EU's money. The European Commission, which is like the EU's government, has to answer to the Parliament. The Parliament can approve or reject the person chosen to lead the Commission. It can also approve or reject the entire group of Commissioners. If needed, the Parliament can even force the Commission to resign.

The President of the European Parliament leads the Parliament's meetings. The five biggest political groups in the Parliament are the European People's Party Group (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), and Identity and Democracy (ID). The last EU-wide election was held in 2019.

The Parliament's main office is in Strasbourg, France. Its administrative offices are in Luxembourg City. Most of the Parliament's committee meetings happen in Brussels, Belgium. Full meetings (called "plenary sessions") are usually held in Strasbourg for four days each month. Sometimes, extra sessions are held in Brussels.

How the European Parliament Started

The Parliament, like other EU bodies, wasn't always as it is today. It first met on 10 September 1952. It began as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). Back then, it was a group of 78 appointed members from national parliaments. They didn't have the power to make laws.

Over time, the European Union's structure has grown and changed. Even the Parliament's three working locations have changed several times. Most MEPs would prefer to work only in Brussels, where most of the work is done. However, in 1992, France made sure that Strasbourg remained the official seat of the European Parliament.

From Advice to Law-Making

The Common Assembly was created to keep an eye on the executive branch and make sure decisions were democratic. It was even given the job of writing a draft treaty for a European Political Community.

In 1958, the European Economic Community and Euratom were set up. The Common Assembly was used by all three communities and changed its name to the European Parliamentary Assembly. Its first meeting was on 19 March 1958. Members decided to sit together based on their political ideas, not their home country. Many see this as the start of the modern European Parliament.

The three communities later joined together to form the European Communities in 1967. The body's name officially changed to the "European Parliament" in 1962. In the 1970s, the Parliament gained more control over the EU's money.

When Citizens Started Voting for MEPs

A meeting in the Palace of Europe in April 1985, in Strasbourg, France. This was the EP's main meeting room until 1999.

In 1979, people across Europe voted directly for their MEPs for the first time. This was a big step, making the Parliament unique among similar international bodies. After this first election, the Parliament held its first session on 17 July 1979. Simone Veil MEP was elected as its President, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

As an elected body, the Parliament started to suggest ideas for how the EU should work. For example, in 1984, it drafted a treaty to create a "European Union." Many of its ideas were later used in other important treaties. The Parliament also began voting on who should be the head of the European Commission in the 1980s, even before it had the official power to do so.

The number of MEPs has grown as new countries have joined the EU. The Treaty of Lisbon set the maximum number of MEPs at 751.

Parliament's Growing Influence

The Parliament gained more power with new EU treaties. This included more say in making laws and the right to approve international agreements.

In 1999, the Parliament showed its strength by forcing the Santer Commission to resign. This happened after there were concerns about fraud and mismanagement in the Commission. This was the first time the Parliament had ever forced a Commission to step down.

Holding the Commission Accountable

The Parliament has always had the power to dismiss the European Commission. But at first, it had no say in choosing who joined the Commission. The Treaty of Maastricht (1992) gave the Parliament the right to approve or reject a new Commission. The Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) gave it the right to approve or reject the person chosen to lead the Commission.

In 2004, the Parliament showed its power again. It raised concerns about some people chosen for the Commission. One person, Rocco Buttiglione, was rejected by a parliamentary committee. This was the first time the Parliament had ever opposed a Commissioner. This led to changes in the proposed Commission before the Parliament finally approved it.

The Parliament's changes to the Bolkestein directive showed its growing importance.

The Parliament also became more active in changing proposed laws. A good example is the Bolkestein directive in 2006. The Parliament voted for over 400 changes, completely altering the law's main idea. This showed that MEPs were becoming a serious and effective EU institution.

What the European Parliament Does

The Parliament and the Council are often compared to the two parts of a bicameral legislature (a law-making body with two chambers). However, there are some differences from national parliaments. For example, neither the Parliament nor the Council can usually start new laws on their own. This power belongs to the European Commission. So, while the Parliament can change or reject laws, it needs the Commission to propose a law first.

The Parliament also has a lot of indirect influence. It can pass non-binding resolutions and hold committee hearings. It acts as a "pan-European soapbox," meaning it's a place where important discussions happen and are heard by many journalists. It also influences foreign policy, as it must approve all development grants, including those for other countries.

How Laws Are Made

Over time, the Parliament's power in making EU laws has grown. The main way laws are made is through the "ordinary legislative procedure" (also called "codecision procedure"). In this process, the Commission suggests a law to both the Parliament and the Council. The law can only pass if both agree on the text.

This process can involve up to three readings. In the first reading, the Parliament can suggest changes to the Council. The Council can either accept these changes or send back its own version. If the Parliament doesn't agree with the Council's version, or wants to make more changes, a "Conciliation Committee" is formed. This committee, made up of Council members and MEPs, tries to find a compromise. Once they agree, the Parliament must approve it.

Most laws are actually agreed upon in the first reading. This happens through talks between the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission.

In some special areas, different law-making procedures apply. These include justice, home affairs, budget, and taxes. In these cases, either the Council or the Parliament makes the law after getting advice or approval from the other.

There are different types of EU laws:

• Regulations: These are laws that apply directly and fully in all member states.
• Directives: These set goals for member states, who then create their own national laws to reach those goals.
• Decisions: These apply to a specific person or group.
• Recommendations and opinions: These are just suggestions and are not legally binding.

Managing the EU's Money

The Parliament and the Council are in charge of the EU's budget. Since 2009, the Parliament has equal power with the Council over the entire budget. If they disagree on the budget, a conciliation committee tries to find a solution. If the Council doesn't approve the final budget, the Parliament can still pass it with a three-fifths majority vote.

The Parliament also checks how past budgets were spent, based on a report from the European Court of Auditors. It has only refused to approve the spending twice. One time, in 1998, this led to the resignation of the Santer Commission, showing how much power the Parliament has over the Commission.

Checking the Executive Branch

The President of the European Commission is suggested by the European Council, taking into account the results of the European elections. The Parliament must approve this person by a majority vote. After the President is approved, the members of the Commission are suggested. Each person chosen to be a Commissioner has a public hearing with a relevant parliamentary committee. Then, the Parliament votes to approve or reject the entire group of Commissioners.

The Parliament has never actually voted against a President or their Commission. However, the threat of doing so has led to changes in who is chosen or what policies are promised. For example, when the Barroso Commission was first proposed, the Parliament forced changes to make it more acceptable. This showed that the Parliament was becoming more powerful and could truly hold the Commission accountable.

The Parliament can also force the entire Commission to resign with a two-thirds majority vote. This power has never been used directly, but when faced with such a vote, the Santer Commission chose to resign on its own.

Other ways the Parliament checks the executive include:

• The Commission must give reports to the Parliament and answer questions from MEPs.
• The head of the Council must present their plans at the start of their term.
• The President of the European Council must report to Parliament after each meeting.
• MEPs can ask the Commission to propose new laws or policies.
• MEPs can question members of other EU institutions.

Supervising and Scrutinizing Powers

The Parliament also has other powers to oversee things. It can set up special committees to investigate issues, like the one for mad cow disease. It can ask other institutions to answer questions and even take them to court if they break EU law.

The Parliament also approves the people chosen for the Court of Auditors and the leaders of the European Central Bank. The head of the ECB must also give an annual report to the Parliament.

The European Ombudsman is chosen by the Parliament. This person handles complaints from the public about bad administration by any EU institution.

Any EU citizen can send a petition to the Parliament about something within the EU's responsibilities. The Parliament's Committee on Petitions hears these cases. They try to help solve problems, sometimes even going to court if needed.

Who Are the Members of Parliament?

Moment of silence for victims of Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel, October 2023

The members of the European Parliament are called Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). They are elected every five years by people across the EU. They sit in the Parliament based on their political group. About 40% of MEPs are women. Before 1979, MEPs were chosen by their national parliaments.

After the United Kingdom left the EU, there are now 705 MEPs. This number will go up to 720 after the 2024 elections. Each country gets a certain number of seats based on its population. No country can have more than 96 seats or fewer than 6 seats. This system means that smaller countries have more representation per person than larger countries. For example, Malta has 6 seats for about 0.4 million people, while Germany has 96 seats for about 80.9 million people.

Each country holds elections for the European Parliament using different forms of proportional representation. This means that parties get seats based on the percentage of votes they receive.

Salaries and Expenses

Since 2009, all MEPs receive the same monthly pay, which was about €8,484.05 in 2016. This pay is taxed by the EU and can also be taxed by their home country. MEPs also get money for office costs, living expenses, and travel. They also have certain privileges and immunities to help them do their job freely. For example, they have immunity from arrest or legal action while doing their parliamentary duties, unless the Parliament decides to remove that immunity.

Political Groups in Parliament

MEPs in the Parliament are organized into seven different parliamentary groups. There are also some members who don't join any group, called non-inscrits. The two largest groups are the European People's Party (EPP) and the Socialists & Democrats (S&D). These two groups have usually held most of the seats. No single group has ever had a majority on its own.

Political groups are often based on a single European political party. However, some groups can include more than one European party, as well as national parties and independent members. To be recognized as a group, there must be at least 23 MEPs from seven different countries. Groups receive money from the Parliament to help with their work.

Working Together: Coalitions

Since the Parliament doesn't form a government in the usual way, majorities are built for each issue. Often, the European People's Party and the Socialist and Democrat Group work together to find compromises. This is sometimes called a "grand coalition." However, they don't always agree, and each group might try to form alliances with other parties. The Liberal (Renew Europe) Group often plays a key role in these situations.

Sometimes, there are strong disagreements between parties. For example, when the Santer Commission resigned, the two main parties had a big political fight. This kind of political debate has become more common over time.

After the 2019 European Parliament election, the EPP-S&D coalition lost its majority. This means they now need support from at least one other political group, usually the liberal Renew Group or the Greens, to pass laws.

How European Elections Work

Elections for the European Parliament have been held every five years since 1979. The most recent elections were in 2019. When a new country joins the EU, a special election is held for their representatives.

Elections take place over four days, from Thursday to Sunday. Each country chooses its own voting day. Countries also choose their own voting system, but it must be a form of proportional representation. This means that parties get seats in proportion to the votes they receive.

European political parties are allowed to campaign during the elections. In 2014 and 2019, these parties announced their candidates for President of the European Commission before the elections. This idea, called Spitzenkandidaten (German for "leading candidates"), was meant to make the elections more interesting to the public. However, the European Council (made up of national leaders) doesn't have to choose one of these candidates. They only need to consider the election results.

In 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker (from the EPP) was chosen as President of the Commission after his party won the most seats. In 2019, there was no clear agreement among parties. The European Council proposed Ursula von der Leyen, and the Parliament elected her. For the 2024 elections, Ursula von der Leyen is again the EPP's candidate, and Nicolas Schmit is the candidate for the Party of European Socialists.

Voter turnout for European elections used to drop consistently, falling below 50% from 1999 to 2014. However, in the 2019 election, turnout increased by 8% across the EU, reaching 50.6%. This was the highest turnout since 1994.

How Parliament Meetings Work

These "relocation boxes" of the European Parliament, called "cantines," are moved between Strasbourg and Brussels. The Parliament travels between cities to hold meetings in Strasbourg, as required by EU treaties.

The European Parliament has an annual "session," which is divided into monthly "part-sessions" and daily "sittings." This means there's a monthly cycle:

• Two weeks for committees to discuss topics.
• One week for political groups to meet.
• One week (3.5 days) for full Parliament meetings in Strasbourg.
• Six extra 2-day meetings are held in Brussels each year.
• Four weeks are set aside for MEPs to work in their home areas.
• No meetings are planned during the summer.

The Parliament can meet whenever it needs to. Its meetings are partly set by treaties and partly by its own rules.

During meetings, MEPs can speak after the President calls on them. Members of the Council or Commission can also attend and speak. Because of the need for interpretation into many languages, debates are usually calmer than in some other parliaments. Voting is mostly done by a show of hands. If requested, electronic voting can be used. Votes are recorded when there's a "roll-call ballot," which is required for final votes on laws. All recorded votes and laws are published online.

MEPs sit in a semicircle based on their political groups, from left to right. Each desk has microphones, headphones for translation, and electronic voting equipment. The leaders of the groups sit at the front. The President and staff sit in the center, with the Council on the left and the Commission on the right. Both the Brussels and Strasbourg meeting rooms follow this design.

Ushers control access to the meeting room and help MEPs. They can also enforce the President's rules, like removing an MEP who is causing a disturbance (though this is rare).

The President and How Parliament is Organized

Roberta Metsola, the current President of the European Parliament

The President is like the speaker of the Parliament. They lead the full meetings and must sign all laws passed by the Parliament, including the EU budget. The President also represents the Parliament to the outside world. The President is elected for a two-and-a-half-year term. The current President is Roberta Metsola, elected in January 2022.

The Parliament is considered the first institution of the EU. This means its President ranks higher in official ceremonies than other European or national leaders.

Many important people have been President of the Parliament, including Paul-Henri Spaak, Alcide De Gasperi, and Robert Schuman, who are considered founding fathers of the EU. Three women have been President: Simone Veil (the first President of the elected Parliament in 1979), Nicole Fontaine (1999), and Roberta Metsola (2022).

When a President is elected, the previous President (or a Vice-President) leads the meeting. Before 2009, the oldest member did this, but the rule was changed.

The Parliament also elects 14 Vice-Presidents who lead debates when the President is not there. There are two main groups that help run the Parliament:

• The Bureau: This group, made up of the President and Vice-Presidents, handles money and administration.
• The Conference of Presidents: This is the political governing body, made up of the President of the Parliament and the leaders of each political group.

Five Quaestors look after the financial and administrative interests of MEPs.

Committees and Delegations

A Committee room

The Parliament has 20 Standing Committees. Their size varies, but each committee reflects the political make-up of the whole Parliament. They include a chair, a bureau, and staff. Committees meet twice a month in public to prepare, change, and approve proposed laws and reports to be voted on by the full Parliament. The people in charge of a report for a committee (called rapporteurs) are supposed to present the committee's view.

The Parliament can also set up smaller sub-committees (like the Subcommittee on Human Rights) and temporary committees to focus on specific topics. The chairs of all the committees work together in the "Conference of Committee Chairmen."

The Parliament also has delegations that handle relationships with parliaments outside the EU. There are 44 delegations, most of them small. They include "Interparliamentary delegations" (for relations with non-EU parliaments) and "joint parliamentary committees" (for relations with countries that want to join the EU). MEPs also take part in other international activities, like observing elections in other countries.

Intergroups: Informal Discussions

Jože Pučnik conference room

The Intergroups in the European Parliament are informal groups where MEPs from different political groups can discuss any topic. They don't represent the official view of the European Parliament. They are useful for talking about topics that cross over several committees or for less formal discussions. These groups are now strictly regulated. Any financial support they receive must be officially declared. Intergroups are set up or renewed at the start of each new Parliament term.

Annual Costs of the Parliament

In 2021, the European Parliament's budget was about €2.064 billion. This is about 1.2% of the total EU budget. The main costs are:

• 45% for staff (salaries, language services).
• 22% for running costs (buildings, IT).
• 26% for political activities (MEPs' work, political groups).
• 6% for communications.

Having two main locations (Strasbourg and Brussels) adds extra costs. A 2013 study estimated that the Strasbourg seat costs an extra €103 million per year. The Court of Auditors also found an additional €5 million in travel expenses because of the two seats.

Some people have pointed out that the European Parliament costs more than the British, French, and German parliaments combined. A large part of the costs (about €460 million) is for translation and interpretation. The two seats are estimated to add another €180 million per year.

Where the Parliament Meets

Seats of the European Parliament

Espace Léopold building in Brussels,  Belgium

Konrad Adenauer building in Luxembourg City,  Luxembourg (seat of the Secretariat-General)

The Parliament has offices and meeting places in three different cities. EU treaties require 12 full meetings (plenary sessions) to be held in Strasbourg, France, which is the Parliament's official seat. However, extra meetings and committee meetings are held in Brussels, Belgium. Luxembourg City is home to the Parliament's administrative offices. The European Parliament is one of the few parliaments in the world that cannot choose its own location.

The Strasbourg seat is seen as a symbol of peace between France and Germany. However, many people question the cost and inconvenience of having two seats. While Strasbourg is the official seat, Brussels is where almost all other major EU institutions are located. Critics call the two-seat arrangement a "travelling circus." There's a strong movement to make Brussels the only seat.

Many MEPs prefer Brussels as a single base. A poll showed that 89% of MEPs wanted one seat, and 81% preferred Brussels. In 2011, a majority of MEPs voted for a single seat. However, changing the seat requires all member states to agree, and France has said it would veto any move from Strasbourg.

Talking to Citizens and Civil Society

MEPs are the main way citizens can connect with the Parliament. They usually have an office in their home area and travel back regularly to meet with voters, businesses, and local groups.

The Parliament also has a detailed website and streams its debates and committee meetings online. It receives about one million visitors each year.

EU institutions are committed to being open and transparent. This means making information about their work available to the public. This openness helps make the EU more democratic. EU treaties say that citizens have the right to take part in the democratic life of the Union and that decisions should be made as openly as possible. The treaties also value talking to citizens, groups, and civil society.

Talking with Religious Groups

A special rule in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 17) allows for open talks between EU institutions and churches, religious groups, and non-religious organizations. The European Parliament hosts high-level meetings to discuss current issues with religious leaders.

Helping Families: Child Abduction Mediator

The European Parliament has a special role called the Mediator for International Parental Child Abduction. This role was created in 1987 to help children who have been taken by one parent after their parents separate. The Mediator tries to find solutions that are best for the child through mediation, which is a way to solve problems without going to court. The Mediator helps parents reach an agreement that is legal and fair.

European Parliament's Research Service

The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) is the Parliament's own research department. It provides MEPs and committees with independent and reliable information and research on EU policy issues. This helps them do their work and also helps them check on the European Commission and other EU executive bodies.

The EPRS aims to offer a wide range of information and services. All its publications are available to the public online.

Eurobarometer: Understanding Public Opinion

The European Parliament regularly orders surveys and studies on public opinion in EU countries. These surveys, called Eurobarometer, ask citizens about their views on the Parliament's work and the EU in general. Topics include how people see the Parliament's role, their knowledge of the EU, their sense of belonging, and their opinions on elections, European integration, and current issues like climate change. These studies help to understand what people think across different countries and groups.

Awards from the Parliament

Sakharov Prize for Human Rights

The ceremony of the Sakharov Prize awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi by Martin Schulz, in 2013

The Sakharov Prize, started in 1988, is awarded by the European Parliament to people who work to promote human rights around the world. It helps raise awareness about human rights issues. The prize focuses on protecting human rights and freedoms, especially freedom of expression, protecting minority rights, following international law, and developing democracy.

European Charlemagne Youth Prize

The European Charlemagne Youth Prize encourages young people to get involved in European integration. It is given to youth projects that help build a common European identity and citizenship.

European Citizens' Prize

The European Citizens' Prize is awarded to citizens and groups who work to bring people from different EU countries together and support cooperation projects within the EU.

LUX Prize for Film

Since 2007, the LUX Prize is given by the European Parliament to films that deal with important European topics and encourage thinking about Europe's future. It has become a well-known film award that supports European cinema.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Journalism Prize

Since 2021, the Daphne Caruana Galizia Journalism Prize is awarded by the European Parliament for excellent journalism that reflects EU values. The prize is named after Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese journalist who was killed in 2017. The first winner in 2021 was the Pegasus Project.

Images for kids

• 

  The European Parliament's flag until 1983

• 

  Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France in January 1967. Willy Brandt, West German minister for Foreign Affairs, is speaking.

See also

In Spanish: Parlamento Europeo para niños

• Parlamentarium
• State of the Union address (European Union)
• Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament