The European Parliament Flashcards
The nature of the European Parliament
The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution of the EU, but is largely a consultative body rather than a legislative one.
Limitation of the European parliament
• Groupings
Unlike national parliaments, there is no sense of government or opposition, only groupings of loosely allied groups of individual MEPs or national political parties.
Explain why the lack of sense of government in the European Parliament limits the power of European Parliament
This makes the EP unwieldy, and lacking a clear sense of direction and an ability to act quickly and decisively.
How does the MEPs being elected strengthen the European Parliament?
As an elected body, suggesting it should have a clear mandate. It is the body that should be most representative of member states’ views.
Legitimacy of MEPs in comparison to other EU institutions
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
Accountability of MEPs
These ministers are only answerable to their own national governments, not the European Parliament
What does co-decision gives the European Parliament?
Co-decision gives the EP equal legislative status with the Council, over some functions of the EU, co-operation is a lesser role.
The role of the European Parliament has been strengthened
• Budget
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
The role of the European Parliament has been strengthened
• Veto
A veto over Commission appointments and the Commission President
The role of the European Parliament has been strengthened
• The Commission
The ability to remove the Commission as a whole, drafting legislation and calling commissioners to account for their actions before committee meetings.
Pressure groups and the European Parliament
Pressure groups and citizens of the EU can now petition the EP, who may act on such petitions with additional debates or proposing legislations.
Limitation of the European parliament
• Advisory
It cannot dismiss individual commissioners, and is still largely advisory only when it comes to drafting legislation.
Limitation of the European Parliament
• Influence
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.
Limitation of the European Parliament
• Lack of mandate
There is a lack of democratic mandate or party coherence.
Increased influence on policy making under the Lisbon Treaty
• Co-decision
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
Increased influence on policy making
• Initiate legislation
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
Lack of influence on policy making
• Indirect influence
Much of influence is indirect through political or media pressure, with formal powers, for example to hire or fire individual commissioners, being limited
Lack of influence on policy making
• Does not have the power of legislative initiative
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.
Lack of influence on policy making
• Co-decision with the Council
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
Lack of influence on policy making
• Control over implementation
Parliament has little control over how policy is implemented in practice, by the Commission, or enforced, by the ECJ
UK turnout
Barely one third of British voters bothered to turn out in the 2014 elections and only one in ten can name their MEP
The problem with electorate
The parliament is increasingly influential, but has a problem in connecting to its electorate
Election for MEP
A system of proportional representation is used to elect MEPs in all member states.
What is the number of UK MEP
The UK has 73 MEPs in the last election held in 2014
Voting behaviour
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
UK turnout
Only 34.7% of people voted in the 2009 EP election
UK turnout implication
So many citizens are not accepting the opportunity to influence decison-making
The parliament being a co-legislator
The EP has evolved from a consultative assembly to a co-legislator
Lisbon Treaty on financial legislative
The Lisbon Treaty has strengthened the European Parliament’s financial legislative and supervisory powers
