The European Parliament

Question 1

The nature of the European Parliament

Answer 1

The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution of the EU, but is largely a consultative body rather than a legislative one.

Question 2

Limitation of the European parliament

• Groupings

Answer 2

Unlike national parliaments, there is no sense of government or opposition, only groupings of loosely allied groups of individual MEPs or national political parties.

Question 3

Explain why the lack of sense of government in the European Parliament limits the power of European Parliament

Answer 3

This makes the EP unwieldy, and lacking a clear sense of direction and an ability to act quickly and decisively.

Question 4

How does the MEPs being elected strengthen the European Parliament?

Answer 4

As an elected body, suggesting it should have a clear mandate. It is the body that should be most representative of member states’ views.

Question 5

Legitimacy of MEPs in comparison to other EU institutions

Answer 5

They are elected on national rather than European platforms, and so find themselves undermined by institutions like the Council, which is made up of national ministers from member states who have more authority than the EP

Question 6

Accountability of MEPs

Answer 6

These ministers are only answerable to their own national governments, not the European Parliament

Question 7

What does co-decision gives the European Parliament?

Answer 7

Co-decision gives the EP equal legislative status with the Council, over some functions of the EU, co-operation is a lesser role.

Question 8

The role of the European Parliament has been strengthened

• Budget

Answer 8

The role of the EP has been strengthened include approval of the budget. The Lisbon Treaty granted Parliament powers over the entire EU budget, which gives a large indirect influence on policy

Question 9

The role of the European Parliament has been strengthened

• Veto

Answer 9

A veto over Commission appointments and the Commission President

Question 10

The role of the European Parliament has been strengthened

• The Commission

Answer 10

The ability to remove the Commission as a whole, drafting legislation and calling commissioners to account for their actions before committee meetings.

Question 11

Pressure groups and the European Parliament

Answer 11

Pressure groups and citizens of the EU can now petition the EP, who may act on such petitions with additional debates or proposing legislations.

Question 12

Limitation of the European parliament

• Advisory

Answer 12

It cannot dismiss individual commissioners, and is still largely advisory only when it comes to drafting legislation.

Question 13

Limitation of the European Parliament

• Influence

Answer 13

While decisions are largely made by national governments through the Council, it is unlikely that the EP will be seen as significantly influential within the EU.

Question 14

Limitation of the European Parliament

• Lack of mandate

Answer 14

There is a lack of democratic mandate or party coherence.

Question 15

Increased influence on policy making under the Lisbon Treaty

• Co-decision

Answer 15

Under the treaty of Lisbon the Parliament’s role in passing EU legislation has increased. It has equal footing, co-decision, with the Council of Ministers

Question 16

Increased influence on policy making

• Initiate legislation

Answer 16

Because Parliament has the right to ask the Commission to draft legislation, and they are following these requests more often, Parliament can effectively initiate legislation

Question 17

Lack of influence on policy making

• Indirect influence

Answer 17

Much of influence is indirect through political or media pressure, with formal powers, for example to hire or fire individual commissioners, being limited

Question 18

Lack of influence on policy making

• Does not have the power of legislative initiative

Answer 18

The Parliament still does not have the power of legislative initiative, which is reserved for the European Commission.

Whilst Parliament can amend and reject legislation, it needs the Commission to draft a bill before anything can become law.

Question 19

Lack of influence on policy making

• Co-decision with the Council

Answer 19

The Parliament only possesses co-decision with the Council of Ministers and 85% of proposals that do not enjoy the Council’s support do not become law

Question 20

Lack of influence on policy making

• Control over implementation

Answer 20

Parliament has little control over how policy is implemented in practice, by the Commission, or enforced, by the ECJ

Question 21

UK turnout

Answer 21

Barely one third of British voters bothered to turn out in the 2014 elections and only one in ten can name their MEP

Question 22

The problem with electorate

Answer 22

The parliament is increasingly influential, but has a problem in connecting to its electorate

Question 23

Election for MEP

Answer 23

A system of proportional representation is used to elect MEPs in all member states.

Question 24

What is the number of UK MEP

Answer 24

The UK has 73 MEPs in the last election held in 2014

Question 25

Voting behaviour

Answer 25

Those who do vote tend to vote more on the basis of their opinions on national issues rather than European issues, due to in part to a feeling of distance from the workings of the EU

Question 26

UK turnout

Answer 26

Only 34.7% of people voted in the 2009 EP election

Question 27

UK turnout implication

Answer 27

So many citizens are not accepting the opportunity to influence decison-making

Question 28

The parliament being a co-legislator

Answer 28

The EP has evolved from a consultative assembly to a co-legislator

Question 29

Lisbon Treaty on financial legislative

Answer 29

The Lisbon Treaty has strengthened the European Parliament’s financial legislative and supervisory powers