EP/Council Division of Power Commission proposes law, EP response based on one of three models: Co-decision (most issues, currently) – policy goes to EP, EP can amend it themselves, passes to Council for debate, amendment, and vote. Passes back and forth between EP and council until it is approved in identical form by both. May go to a joint committee to iron out the details and agree on a common language Consultation – Commission proposes, EP can consult, meaning they can ask for amendments to a piece of legislation; however, the EP does not have the power to make amendments, only to suggest them. Policy must then be approved by the EP prior to passing it on to the Council. Assent (least common) – EP gets an up/down vote. No amendment power.

How EU laws are made Citizens, interests groups, experts: discuss, consult Commission: makes formal proposal Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation National or local authorities: implement

How many people live in the EU? Population in millions, million France Spain Sweden Poland Finland Italy United Kingdom Romania Greece Bulgaria Hungary Portugal Austria Czech Republic Ireland Lithuania Latvia Slovakia Estonia Denmark Netherlands Belgium Slovenia Cyprus Luxemburg Malta Germany

Council of Ministers – number of votes per country 345Total: 3Malta 4Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia 7Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland 10Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden 12 Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal 13Netherlands 14 Romania 27Spain and Poland 29Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom “Qualified majority” needed for many decisions: 255 votes and a majority of member states

United Kingdom The European Parliament – voice of the people Italy Ireland 24 Hungary Greece 99 Germany France Finland 6 Estonia 14 Denmark 24Czech Republic 6Cyprus 18 Bulgaria 24Belgium 18 Austria  Decides EU laws and budget together with Council of Ministers  Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work Total Sweden 54Spain 7Slovenia 14Slovakia 35 Romania 24 Portugal 54Poland 27 Netherlands 5Malta 6 Luxembourg 13 Lithuania 9Latvia Number of members elected in each country

Video Break Just a quick look at the EP, from the British press, leading up to the 2009 vote: _from=PL&v=UxhD-99SnZAhttp:// _from=PL&v=UxhD-99SnZA

The European political parties Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (March 2008) European United Left - Nordic Green Left 41 Socialist Group 215 Greens/European Free Alliance 43 Independence/ Democracy 24 Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe 101 European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 288 Union for Europe of the Nations 44 Non-attached members and temporarily empty seats 29 Total : 785

2009 EP Election Results tmlhttp:// tml

EP Election Turnout

More turnout numbers (from 2004)

Civil Society in Europe

NGO: European Women’s Lobby