How does the European Parliament work?

Last updated on Tuesday, 02/04/2024

Have you ever been curious about how decisions that shape the European Union are made? Let’s find out how the European Parliament works.

What’s the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is one of the main law-making bodies of the EU and represents you, along with around 447 million other Europeans.

Who's who?

The European Parliament is made up of 705 (720 after the 2024 EU Elections) Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). MEPs come from diverse backgrounds - teachers, farmers, doctors, and they are directly elected by you!

Every five years, you have the power to choose who you want to speak and act on your behalf.  

How the European Parliament works

What does the European Parliament do?

The European Parliament has 3 main roles:

• Making laws: They discuss and pass laws that impact all EU countries – from climate change actions to learning mobility programmes. 
• Budgeting: Establishing the EU budget, together with the Council of the EU.
• Overseeing other EU institutions: MEPs keep an eye on other EU bodies to make sure everything is running smoothly and fairly.

How does it work?

Parties, not countries! In the European Parliament, MEPs sit in groups based on their political beliefs, not nationalities. There are currently 7 political groups in the European Parliament. Make sure to check their programmes ahead of the next EU elections. 

The political groups of the European Parliament

Committees

Much of the work is done in smaller groups called ‘committees’, focusing on specific areas like environment, culture and education, or human rights.

Plenary sessions

Around once a month, all the MEPs gather for a 'plenary' session in Strasbourg. This is the stage where committee proposals are debated and voted on.

Make your voice heard

You can reach out to your MEPs, and tell them your views. They're there to listen and to speak for you.

Don’t let others choose for you

Between 6-9 June 2024, you can vote for your representatives in the European Parliament. Find out more information about your national rules on the Eurodesk EU Elections InfoHub! 
 

 Written by Eurodesk Brussels Link