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European Parliament logoEuropean Parliamentary Election

A European Parliamentary Election elects the European Parliament. The European Parliament is the European Union's law-making body and represents people living in the 28 member states of the European Union (EU).

The European Parliament is directly elected by EU voters every five years. The last election was in May 2019. European Elections take place to elect the 751 representatives to the European Parliament.

 

 

Members of European Parliament

Once elected, the representatives are known as Members of European Parliament (MEPs).

 

The number of MEPs for each country is roughly proportionate to its population, but this is by degressive proportionality: no country can have fewer than 6 or more than 96 MEPs and the total number cannot exceed 751 (750 plus the president).  MEPs are grouped by political affiliation, not by nationality.

 

The President represents Parliament to other EU institutions and the outside world and gives the final go-ahead to the EU budget.  The current president is Antonio Tajani.

 

MEPs spend some of their time in their regional constituencies in the UK and some of their time in political meetings in Brussels (Belgium).

 

For one week in every month they go to Strasbourg (France) to debate and vote on new European laws with MEPs from other EU member countries.

 

Vale AMs, MPs and MEPs

 

The UK MEP's represent the United Kingdom's views on decisions made in the European Parliament.

 

The Parliament has three main roles: Legislative, Supervisory and Budgetary. It has powers in a range of areas that affect member countries such as:

  • Animal rights

  • Consumer rights

  • The environment

  • International trade and agreements

  • Regional economic development

  • Workers' rights

 

It has the power to approve, amend or reject new European laws. It also approves the EU budget and new members of the European Commission.

 

EU Countries 

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia    

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Italy 

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

The Netherlands

Poland

Portugal   

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom - Voted to leave in June '16 Referendum.

 

 

 

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