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The European Parliament

The European Parliament. Ben Patterson D-G for Research, Economic and Monetary Affairs Division. 1952: ECSC nominated “Common Assembly” 1958: “European ParliamentaryAssembly” with Robert Schuman as first President. 1962: name “European Parliament” adopted. 1979: Direct Elections.

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The European Parliament

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  1. The European Parliament Ben Patterson D-G for Research, Economic and Monetary Affairs Division

  2. 1952: ECSC nominated “Common Assembly” 1958: “European ParliamentaryAssembly” with Robert Schuman as first President. 1962: name “European Parliament” adopted. 1979: Direct Elections A Brief History

  3. Size of the Parliament

  4. Fixed 5 year terms “uniform procedure” (Article 190) In practice, varying systems: national lists regional lists STV (Ireland N & S) “first past the post” (UK until 1999) Elections

  5. MEPs by country, 2003

  6. Where is it?

  7. Protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions (Treaty of Amsterdam) • “The European Parliament shall have its seat in Strasbourg where the 12 periods of monthly plenary sessions, including the budget session, shall be held. The periods of additional plenary sessions shall be held in Brussels. The committees of the European Parliament shall meet in Brussels. The General Secretariat of the European Parliament and its departments shall remain in Luxembourg.” • Estimated annual cost: €169 million (€203m. in 2004).

  8. Languages 1958-1972

  9. Languages 1973-1980

  10. Languages 1981/86-1994

  11. Languages 1995-2003

  12. Languages May 2004+

  13. The Plenary

  14. The President (Pat Cox) The Bureau: Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. The “Conference of Presidents”. 3500 officials (one third linguistic). Organisation

  15. Political Groups (1) • EPP- ED Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats • PES Group of the Party of European Socialists • ELDR Group of the European Liberal, Democratic and Reformist Party • Greens/EFA Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance • EUL/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left • UEN Group of the Union for a Europe of Nations • EDD Europe of Democracies and Diversities Group

  16. Political Groups (2)

  17. Committees

  18. Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy. Budgetary Control Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs Economic and Monetary Affairs Legal Affairs and the Internal Market Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Budgets Agriculture and Rural Development Fisheries Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport Development and Cooperation Constitutional Affairs Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities Petitions The 17 standing committees

  19. ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly Inter-parliamentary delegations (21) Joint parliamentary committees (14: applicant countries and the EEA) Committees of inquiry. Temporary committees (currently one, on foot and mouth disease). Other bodies

  20. Deliberative Supervisory Legislative The “Power of the Purse”

  21. What is a “Parliament”? Meets in public Not just MEPs: Commission and Council. Foreign and Security policy, and human rights. Deliberative

  22. To ask questions To censure the Commission To approve/reject candidate for Commission President To approve/reject incoming Commission as a whole Supervisory Powers

  23. Quarterly meetings, in public, of Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. Preparatory meetings with experts. Publication of verbatim reports on INTERNET “Monetary Dialogue” with the ECB

  24. Legislation: the evolution of procedures • Pre-1979: Consultation. Votes only on “resolution”. • 1979: The “isoglucose” case. Introduction of the “double vote”. • 1987: Single European Act: Cooperation and Assent. • 1992: Maastricht: Codecision.

  25. Post-Amsterdam: co-decision • First reading in Parliament • “Common position” of Council. • Second reading in Parliament: absolute majority needed (314 votes). • Commission amends proposal. • Council votes on new text. • Conciliation • Third reading in Parliament.

  26. “Obligatory” and “non-obligatory” expenditure Two readings. The power to reject the budget as a whole by qualified majority. The “power of the purse” (1)

  27. The power to reject the discharge. The “power of the purse” (2)

  28. Petitions The Ombudsman: Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS (elected January 2003) Access to documents Register of MEP’s interests Petitions, the Ombudsman and Transparency

  29. The future • Electing President(s). • “Blocked subjects” (e.g. taxation). • Division of Budget. • €: an inflation target? • The role of national/regional parliaments: a “European Congress” ?

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