AGENDA 1. INTRODUCTION 2. HISTORY OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMNET 3. STRUCTURE OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 4. THE FUNCTIONS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 5. THE ROLE OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN DECISION MAKING PROCESS

 European Parliament is one of the major institutions of EU.  It represents half billion citizens. Located in * Strasbourg, France *Brussels, Belgium * Luxembourg INTRODUCTION

Key Dates and significant events in the history of EU Parliament Period prior to 1979: Role of Parliament is rather weak; Limited competences; Early 1970-s; Budgetary authority of EP Year of 1979;Introduction of direct elections within EP; The increase of influence and the competences of European Parliament 1986 The Single European Act and European Parliament 1992 The Maastricht Treaty and the reforms within European Parliament 1997 EP and the Amsterdam Treaty 1 February, 2003 Treaty of Nice

The structure of EP The President Parliamentary Committees Members of European Parliament

The President of EP The President is elected for a renewable term of two and a half years. He is assisted by 14 Vice-Presidents and 6 Quaestors. The representation of Parliament to the outside world and in its relations with the other EU institutions is held by him. He plays an important role in organizing the work and activities of EP. Together with the President of European Council he signs the final budget and all legislative acts.

The current President of EP JERZY BUZEK Born on 3 July 1940 in Smilovice Polish engineer, academic lecturer and politician Prime Minister of Poland from 1997 to 2001 A member of the EP since 13 June 2004 Elected the President of EP on July

Parliamentary Committees Types of committees:  Permanent committees  Temporary committees  Committee of Inquiry ( Art 193 EC)  Joint parliamentary committees  Subcommittees  Standing inter-parliamentary delegations

Memebers of EP The EP is made up of 736 Members elected in 27 Member States The MEPs are elected by universal suffrage for a five-year period. They belong to political groups which are organized by political affiliation. There are currently 7 political groups in the European Parliament Some Members are not associated with any political group and are known as non-attached Members.

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The functions of the EP Legislative functions Budgetary functions Supervisory functions

The Parliament's budgetary role The European Union’s budget is made for one year and it has to be balanced. The European Parliament gives budget guidelines and establishes the budget after dialogue with the other institutions. Due to the enhancement in power now EP plays a key role in budgetary procedure.

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The supervisory role of EP and others Enjoys direct political control over Commission Has extensive supervision over The Council and The European Council. It is empowered with legislative initiative Has the possibility of using the motion of censure Enjoys locus standi to challenge an action under Art 230 EC. Elects a European Ombudsman who gives concern to citizens complaints. Receives petitions from EU citizens regarding the application of EC law

The legislative role of EP 1 The consultation procedure 2 The assent procedure 3 The co-operation procedure The co-decision procedure

DECISION-MAKING The Parliament takes part in the legislative work of the EU at three levels: Consultation Procedure Cooperation Procedure, introduced by the Single European Act in 1987 (opinions on draft directives and regulations) Assent Procedure, 1987 (accession and association) Co-decision Procedure, introduced in 1992 by Treaty of Maastricht (free movement of workers, the internal market, education, research, the environment, trans- European networks, health, culture, consumer protection, etc)

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Bibliography 1.Davies K., Understanding European Union Law, Cavendish Publishing, London European Parliament, European Parliament’s Directorate- General for Communication, Kaczorowska A., European Union Law, Routledge- Cavendish, London and New York 2008 Websites: