European Parliament
The European Parliament is the elected body that represents the EU's citizens and takes part in the legislative process.
Read about the election in 2009, and see the Members of the European Parliament and the candidates who signed ILGA-Europes Pledge here.
The European Parliament has developed much since its birth in 1957 with the Treaty of Rome, initially existing as a simple Assembly of appointed members, the European Parliament has had a direct elective system since June 1979 – and remains the only directly elected body of the European Union. The European Parliament currently seats 736 elected national representatives and is elected every five years. It has steadily acquired greater influence and power through a series of treaties. They have transformed the European Parliament from a purely consultative assembly into a legislative parliament, exercising powers similar to those of the national parliaments. Today the European Parliament, as an equal partner with the Council of Ministers, passes the majority of European laws - laws that affect the lives of Europe's citizens. The Parliament's main functions are as follows:
- It considers the Commission's proposals and is associated with the Council in the legislative process by means of various procedures (co-decision, co-operation, consultation etc.)
- It has the power of supervision over the Union's activities through its confirmation of the appointment of the Commission and through the written and oral questions it can put to the Commission and the Council;
- It shares budgetary powers with the Council in voting on the annual budget and overseeing its implementation
Much of the work of the Parliament is done in its committees, which prepare reports on legislative proposals from the Commission and present them for debate by the full Parliament. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected under a system of proportional representation. Elections are held either on a regional basis, as for example in the United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium, on a national basis, as in Spain and in Denmark, or under a mixed system as in Germany. Since the Maastricht Treaty came into force in 1993 every citizen of an EU member state who lives in another country of the Union may vote or stand for election in their country of residence. The 6th European Parliament’s elections took place from 10 June to 13 June 2004.
What the European Parliament has done for LGBT rights?
The European Parliament has been a principal driving force in bringing LGB rights onto the European political agenda.
