The European Parliament is the European Union’s only directly elected institution, representing over 440 million citizens across 27 member states. Understanding how the European Parliament works helps you grasp how EU laws affect your daily life, from environmental standards to consumer protections.
In this guide, I’ll explain the Parliament’s three core powers, how Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected, and the law-making process that shapes European policy. Whether you’re a student researching EU institutions or a citizen wanting to engage with your representatives, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
What Is the European Parliament?
The European Parliament is one of the EU’s seven institutions and serves as the EU’s law-making body alongside the Council of the EU. It is the only EU institution directly elected by citizens, giving it democratic legitimacy to represent European interests.
Unlike national parliaments, the European Parliament cannot propose new laws on its own. Instead, it reviews, amends, and votes on proposals from the European Commission. This co-decision process ensures that EU legislation reflects both citizen input through the Parliament and member state interests through the Council.
The Parliament’s primary purpose is to exercise democratic scrutiny over other EU institutions, approve the EU budget, and ensure that EU legislation protects citizens’ rights and interests. With 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as of 2026, it stands as one of the largest democratic assemblies in the world.
What Are the Powers of the European Parliament?
The European Parliament holds three main types of powers that shape EU governance. These powers have grown significantly since the Parliament’s creation, particularly following treaty reforms that strengthened its role in the legislative process.
Legislative Powers
The Parliament shares legislative power with the Council of the EU through the ordinary legislative procedure. This means both institutions must approve proposed laws before they can take effect. The Parliament can:
- Amend legislative proposals from the European Commission
- Reject proposals entirely if they do not serve citizens’ interests
- Adopt laws in co-decision with the Council
- Request the Commission to propose new legislation
However, a critical limitation exists: the European Parliament cannot initiate legislation. Only the European Commission has the right to propose new EU laws. This distinguishes it from most national parliaments, which can draft and propose their own bills.
Supervisory Powers
The Parliament exercises democratic oversight over EU institutions, particularly the European Commission. Its supervisory functions include:
- Electing the President of the European Commission
- Approving the College of Commissioners as a whole
- Holding the Commission accountable through parliamentary questions and debates
- Voting on motions of censure to dismiss the entire Commission
- Approving international agreements negotiated by the EU
This oversight ensures that EU executive bodies remain accountable to elected representatives and, by extension, to European citizens.
Budgetary Authority
Together with the Council, the Parliament decides on the EU’s annual budget and the Multiannual Financial Framework. This power allows the Parliament to:
- Approve or reject the EU budget proposed by the Commission
- Allocate funds to specific EU programs and priorities
- Monitor how EU money is spent through discharge procedures
- Influence EU spending on areas like climate action, research, and regional development
The Parliament’s budgetary power gives it significant influence over EU priorities and ensures that taxpayer money serves European citizens effectively.
How Is the European Parliament Structured?
The European Parliament’s internal organization ensures efficient operation across multiple locations and policy areas. Understanding this structure helps explain how decisions are made and how citizens can engage with their representatives.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
MEPs are elected every five years through direct universal suffrage. As of 2026, the Parliament comprises 720 MEPs representing all EU member states. Each country receives seats based on degressive proportionality, meaning larger countries have more seats, but smaller countries have proportionally more representation per capita.
MEPs do not sit in national delegations. Instead, they organize themselves into political groups based on shared ideology rather than nationality. This unique arrangement encourages cross-border cooperation on European issues rather than purely national interests.
Political Groups
MEPs affiliate with political groups that span multiple countries. To form a political group, at least 23 MEPs from at least one-quarter of member states must join together. The main political groups as of 2026 include:
- The European People’s Party (EPP) – centre-right
- The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) – centre-left
- Renew Europe – liberal
- The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) – green politics
- The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) – conservative
- Identity and Democracy (ID) – nationalist
- The Left – left-wing
These groups coordinate voting positions, allocate committee seats, and elect the Parliament’s leadership bodies.
Committees and Subcommittees
The Parliament’s work primarily happens in committees, which prepare legislation and conduct detailed scrutiny. There are currently 20 standing committees covering policy areas like:
- Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
- Industry, Research and Energy
- Employment and Social Affairs
- Foreign Affairs
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committees examine proposed legislation, hear from experts and stakeholders, and prepare reports for plenary sessions. Most MEPs serve on one or two committees, developing expertise in specific policy areas.
Plenary Sessions
The full Parliament meets in plenary sessions approximately once per month in Strasbourg, with additional mini-plenaries in Brussels. During these sessions, all MEPs:
- Vote on committee reports and legislative proposals
- Debate major policy issues with the Commission and Council
- Question Commissioners during Question Time
- Adopt resolutions on current affairs
Plenary votes require simple majorities in most cases, though some decisions need absolute majorities of all MEPs.
Leadership and Administration
The Parliament elects a President who serves a two-and-a-half-year term and represents the institution externally. The President oversees plenary sessions and coordinates the Parliament’s work with other EU institutions.
Fourteen Vice-Presidents assist the President, and together they form the Bureau, which manages the Parliament’s internal organization and budget. The Conference of Presidents, comprising political group leaders, sets the Parliament’s agenda and decides on the allocation of speaking time.
How Are MEPs Elected?
European Parliament elections occur every five years, with the most recent election held in June 2024. These elections represent the largest democratic exercise in Europe and the second-largest democratic election in the world after India’s national elections.
Election System and Degressive Proportionality
Each member state uses its own electoral system, provided it meets EU standards for proportional representation. Some countries use national party lists, while others divide the country into constituencies.
The distribution of seats follows degressive proportionality. Larger countries like Germany, France, and Italy have the most seats, while smaller countries like Malta and Luxembourg have fewer but proportionally more representation per capita. No country has fewer than six seats, ensuring all voices are heard.
Voter Eligibility and Participation
All EU citizens aged 18 or over (or 16 in some countries) may vote in European elections, either in their country of citizenship or their country of residence. Non-EU citizens residing in an EU country generally cannot vote.
Voter turnout has varied historically, reaching a 20-year high of 50.6% in the 2019 election before dropping to approximately 51% in 2024. Turnout trends suggest increasing citizen engagement with European democracy.
How Does the European Parliament Make Laws?
Understanding the EU legislative process reveals both the Parliament’s power and its limitations. The ordinary legislative procedure, formerly called the co-decision procedure, governs most EU law-making.
The Ordinary Legislative Procedure
The process begins when the European Commission proposes new legislation. This proposal then goes through multiple readings in both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU:
First Reading: The Parliament examines the Commission proposal and adopts amendments. The Council then adopts its position. If both institutions agree, the law is adopted.
Second Reading: If the Council does not accept Parliament’s amendments, the proposal returns to Parliament for a second reading. Parliament can approve the Council’s position, reject it entirely, or propose further amendments.
Conciliation: If Parliament amends the Council’s position again, a Conciliation Committee with equal numbers of MEPs and Council representatives negotiates a compromise text. Both institutions must then approve this compromise.
Why Parliament Cannot Initiate Legislation
A common point of confusion is that the European Parliament cannot propose new laws. Only the European Commission holds this right of initiative. This arrangement dates to the EU’s origins as an economic community and reflects concerns about ensuring consistent application of EU law.
However, the Parliament can request the Commission to propose legislation, and under the Lisbon Treaty, the Commission must justify any refusal to do so. Citizens can also initiate legislation through the European Citizens’ Initiative, which requires one million signatures from at least seven member states.
Areas Where Parliament Cannot Legislate
The Parliament’s co-decision powers do not extend to all policy areas. Certain sensitive matters, including taxation, foreign policy, and defence, remain subject to unanimous decision-making in the Council without Parliament involvement. However, the scope of ordinary legislative procedure has expanded significantly over time.
Why Does the European Parliament Meet in Three Cities?
The European Parliament operates across three official locations: Strasbourg, Brussels, and Luxembourg. This unusual arrangement stems from historical compromises and practical considerations.
Strasbourg: The Official Seat
Strasbourg serves as the official seat of the European Parliament and hosts monthly plenary sessions. This arrangement reflects post-war reconciliation, with Strasbourg symbolizing peace between France and Germany. The city’s location on the French-German border reinforces this symbolism.
However, the Strasbourg location has faced criticism for its cost and inconvenience. Moving the entire Parliament staff monthly between Brussels and Strasbourg requires significant resources and produces carbon emissions. Attempts to consolidate in Brussels have faced resistance from France, which views the Strasbourg seat as a matter of national prestige.
Brussels: The Working Parliament
Most of the Parliament’s actual work happens in Brussels, where committees meet and political groups coordinate. Additional plenary sessions also occur in Brussels. The Brussels location places the Parliament near the European Commission and Council, facilitating institutional cooperation.
Luxembourg: The Secretariat
The Parliament’s Secretariat, which provides administrative support, operates primarily from Luxembourg. This reflects the city’s role as one of the EU’s official seats and its history as a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community.
While the three-seat system may seem inefficient, it represents the political compromises that have enabled European integration to progress over decades.
How Can Citizens Engage With the European Parliament?
The European Parliament offers multiple avenues for citizen participation, ensuring that European democracy remains accessible and responsive to public concerns.
Contacting Your MEPs
Every EU citizen has MEPs representing their region or country. You can contact them through:
- The European Parliament’s website contact forms
- Email addresses listed on the Parliament’s directory
- Local constituency offices in member states
- Social media accounts maintained by most MEPs
MEPs are obligated to respond to citizen inquiries and can raise specific concerns during parliamentary debates or question times.
European Citizens’ Initiative
The European Citizens’ Initiative allows one million EU citizens from at least seven member states to invite the European Commission to propose legislation on matters where the Commission has competence. Successful initiatives have addressed topics like environmental protection, water rights, and animal welfare.
Petitions
EU citizens and residents can submit petitions to the Parliament’s Committee on Petitions regarding matters of EU competence. The Committee examines petitions and may conduct investigations, forward complaints to other institutions, or hold public hearings.
Visiting the Parliament
The European Parliament welcomes visitors to its premises in Strasbourg, Brussels, and Luxembourg. Visitor centers offer educational exhibits, and citizens can attend plenary sessions when seating is available. These visits help demystify EU institutions and promote civic engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the European Parliament operate?
The European Parliament operates through a combination of committee work and plenary sessions. Twenty standing committees examine proposed legislation in detail, hear from experts, and prepare reports. The full Parliament then votes on these reports during monthly plenary sessions in Strasbourg or Brussels. Political groups coordinate positions and allocate speaking time, while the Bureau manages the Parliament’s internal organization.
How powerful is the EU Parliament?
The European Parliament has grown significantly more powerful since its creation in 1952. It now shares equal legislative authority with the Council of the EU through the ordinary legislative procedure, approves the EU budget alongside the Council, and elects the European Commission President. However, it cannot initiate legislation – only the European Commission can propose new laws. The Parliament also exercises democratic oversight over other EU institutions.
What is the difference between the European Parliament and European Commission?
The European Parliament is the EU’s directly elected legislative body representing citizens, while the European Commission is the EU’s executive branch. The Parliament votes on laws proposed by the Commission and oversees its work. The Commission proposes legislation, implements EU policies, and manages the day-to-day running of the EU. Commissioners are appointed by member states but must be approved by the Parliament, which can also dismiss the entire Commission through a motion of censure.
Why can’t the European Parliament propose laws?
The European Parliament cannot initiate legislation because the right of initiative rests solely with the European Commission. This arrangement dates to the EU’s origins as an economic community and ensures consistency in how EU law is applied across all member states. However, the Parliament can request the Commission to propose legislation, and citizens can initiate laws through the European Citizens’ Initiative. The Commission must justify any refusal to act on Parliament requests.
How often does the European Parliament meet?
The European Parliament holds monthly plenary sessions, typically four days long, in Strasbourg with additional mini-plenaries in Brussels. Committee meetings occur throughout the year, usually in Brussels. Political group meetings and negotiations happen continuously. MEPs also spend time in their constituencies meeting constituents and handling local concerns. This schedule means Parliament operates year-round with brief recess periods.
Conclusion
The European Parliament stands as a unique experiment in transnational democracy, representing hundreds of millions of citizens across diverse nations and languages. While it cannot propose legislation itself, its powers to amend, reject, and approve laws alongside the Council of the EU give it substantial influence over European policy.
Understanding how the European Parliament works empowers you to engage meaningfully with EU democracy. Whether voting in European elections, contacting your MEPs, or participating in the European Citizens’ Initiative, citizens have more opportunities than ever to shape the future of Europe. The Parliament’s evolution from a consultative assembly to a co-legislator demonstrates how European democracy continues to strengthen and adapt to meet the challenges of the 21st century.