What is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is a directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union. Together with the European Commission and Council of the European Union, it exercises the legislative function of the EU. The Parliament is composed of 751 members, who represent the largest trans-national democratic electorate in the world and the second largest democratic electorate in the world.


What does EP do?

• Deciding on international agreements;
• Deciding on enlargements;
• Granting discharge, i.e. approving the way EU budgets have been spent
• Examining citizens' petitions and setting up inquiries;
• Discussing monetary policy with the European Central Bank;
• Election observations;
• Establishing the EU budget, together with the Council;
• Approving the EU's long-term budget - "Multiannual Financial Framework";
• Elect the President of the Commission and approving the Commission as an authority. The opportunity to vote in favour of a motion of censure by imposing an obligation on the Commission to resign;
• Reviewing the Commission's work program and invite it to propose legislation;
• Adoption of EU legislation with the EU Council on the basis of proposals from the European Commission;
• Questioning Commission and Council;
• Democratic scrutiny of all EU institutions;

If you need help from the Parliament to act on a certain issue, you can petition it either by post or online, petitions can cover any subject which comes under the EU's remit and to submit a petition, you must be resident in the EU or be a citizen of an EU member state. Companies or other organisations must be based here.