It is backed by a civil service and is headquarted in Brussels and Luxemburg.

The European Council also deals with current international issues through European Political Cooperation (EPC) to align their diplomatic positions and present the united front.

The European Parliament provides a democratic forum for debate. It has a watchdog function and also plays a part in the legislative process.

Elections are held every 5 years (from July 1979)

and every EU citizen is entitled to vote, and to stand as a candidate, wherever they live in the EU. The latest elections were in June 2009. Parliament thus expresses the democratic will of the Union's citizens (more than 490 million people), and represents their interests in discussions with the other EU institutions. The present parliament has 736 members from all 27 EU countries.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) do not sit in national blocks, but in seven Europe-wide political groups. Between them, they represent all views on European integration, from the strongly pro-federalist to the openly Eurosceptic.

Jerzy Buzek was elected President of the EP on the 14th of July 2009 and will hold that post for two and a half years (until January 2012).

Number of seats per political group, as at 14.07.2009 :

· Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) EPP 265

· Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament S&D 184

· Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ALDE 84

· Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance Greens/EFA 55

· European Conservatives and Reformists Group ECR 55

· Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left GUE/ NGL 35

· Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group EFD 32

· Non-attached NA 26

TOTAL 736

The EP meets in plenary session in Strasbourg. Brussels is the usual venue for meetings of 19 committees, which prepare the ground for meetings in plenary sessions and in political groups.

Parliament’s Secretariat General is located in Luxemburg.

The EP shares the legislative function with the Council:

· It drafts directives and regulations;

· Proposes amendments, inviting the Commission to take them into account.

The SINGLE ACT established a procedure with 2 readings in Parliament and 2 readings in the Council, but it gives a Parliament a bigger say in a wide range of policy areas, notably the single market.

The MAASTRICHT TREATY strengthened EP’s hand even further by granting it powers of co- decision in specific areas:

· The free movement of workers,

· The single market;

· Education, research;

· The environment;

· Trans-European networks;

· Health, culture, consumer protection.

The EP may now reject the COUNCIL’s common position and halt the legislative process provided that an absolute majority of MEPs are in favour and the conciliation procedure has failed.

In Maastricht it was also decided that EP’s assent would be required

· in all cases of international cooperation,

· association agreements of the EU and

· In informing electoral procedure and Union citizenship.

EP also shares budgetary powers with the EC, adopting or rejecting the budget. It makes full use of its budgetary powers to try to influence policy.

The EP’s essential function is to provide political impetus, calling for new policies to be launched and for existing ones to be developed or altered. It finally set the MS on the road to the Single Act and the EU.

EP:

· Provides democratic control;

· It can dismiss the Commission by a vote of censure ( вотум недоверия) , supported by a two-thirds majority of its members;

· It monitors implementation of the common policies and the day-to-day management of these policies by means of oral and written questions to the Commission and the Council;

· It checks up the Foreign Ministers, responsible for European Political Cooperation, international relations and human rights;

· It checks up each European Council and its President.

The Commission is another key EU’s institution. It entered into force on July, 1, 1967. The number of Commissioners was increased to 20 on January, 1, 1995 (two for large MS, one for others). Commissioners are appointed by MS ‘by common accord’. Their term of office increased to 5 years and has to be approved by Parliament. It is the guardian of the Treaties; it ensures the implementation of regulations and directives adopted by the Council. It can bring a case before the Court of Justice to ensure that it is done.

The Commission has:

1. Sole right of initiative and can intervene at any stage in the legislative process to facilitate agreement within the Council or between the Council and Parliament;

2. It has an executive function, implementing decisions taken by the Council in relation to the common agricultural policy and significant powers in relation to the conduct of common policies in research and technology, development aid and regional cohesion.

3. The Commission can be forced to resign en bloc by a vote of censure (вотум недоверия) in Parliament supported by a two-thirds majority.

It is backed by a civil service and is headquarted in Brussels and Luxemburg.

5. It comprises 23 Directorates-General, responsible for implementation of common policies and general administration in a specific area.

6. The Commission enjoys financial autonomy and can spend its budget as it sees fit.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 792