The European
p
Parliament
I. Basic Structure of the
Parliament
l
II. How the Parliament
Works
III. Weaknesses of the
European
p
Parliament
IV. Improving the
European Parliament
li
I Basic Structure
I.
Location, Location, Location (Strasbourg,
Brussels,
B
l and
d Luxembourg)
L
b
)
„ Leadership
„
President and Vice Presidents (Bureau)
„ Conference of Presidents
„ Conference of Committee Chairs
„
Committees
„ Members of the European Parliament
(MEP )
(MEPs)
„
L ti
Location,
Location…..
L ti
The E
Th
European P
Parliament
li
t Building
B ildi
and Chamber in Strasbourg, France
…and the Administrative Secretariat
is in Luxembourg
…Location.
L ti
The European Parliament Building
and Chamber in Brussels, Belgium
II How
II.
H th
the PParliament
li
tW
Works
k
The Isoglucose Case
„ First, Second, and Third Readings
„ Types
T
off DecisionDecision
i i -Making
ki Procedures
d
„
Consultation Procedure
„ Cooperation Procedure
„ Codecision Procedure
„ Assent Procedure
„
„
Control over Budget and Commission
III. Weaknesses of the European
Parliament
„
„
Li it d legislative
Limited
l i l ti powers
Limited oversight authority
Some over Commission, less over Council of
Ministers, none over European Council
„ No single, clear executive authority
„ Executive action outside of EU
„
„
Weak public support
„
Low turnout in elections
Turnout in EP
Elections
IV. Improving
p
g the European
p
Parliament
More influence & control over
legislation
g
(right
( g of initiation))
„ More (and real) checks and balances
„ Organized,
Organized disciplined and ‘European’
Parties
„ Increased
d popular
l support
„ Stop
p being
g nomads!!!
„