Since 1979 the European Community resp. nowadays the European Union is provided
with a parliament. From this time on there have been a lot of vehement and
controversial discussions mainly concerning the role of this European Parliament
(EP) and its legitimacy. Keeping this in mind, before lighting up the details of the institutional
reform process - mainly focussing the recent Convention (-Debate) -, I will
present the basic principles of constitution, tasks and functioning of the European
Parliament.
As said in the Treaty of Rome from 1957 the European Parliament represents the
people of the Member States of the European Community. Thus “375 million European
citizens in 15 countries are now involved in the process of European Integration
through their 626 representatives in the European Parliament1”
(http://www.europarl.eu.int/presentation/default_en.htm, 30.04.03). In its constituting
session on March 21, 1958 the general assembly was named “European Parliament”.
Until 1979, every five years the European Parliament is build by direct universal elections.
The main tasks of the EP are consultation and supervision; it is also featured
with the right to sue to the Court of Justice. The seat of the plenum of the EP is in
Strasbourg – supplementary the Committees hold their meetings in Brussels, the
General Secretariat remained in Luxembourg.
The tasks of the EP are composed of the general legislative power, the constitutional
right to decide on the budget, the right of control and interaction. To explain this aspects
more detailed:
· The general legislative power: The Parliament grew from a kind of forum to a
shaping actor (cp. Schmuck 1994: p.22). By dint of the so called isoglucose
case the European Parliament was given a “very useful delaying power” (Nugent
2001:p.207). [...]
1 Germany: 99; Great Britain, France and Italy: 87 each; Spain: 64; the Netherlands: 31; Belgium,
Greece, Portugal: 25 each; Sweden: 22; Austria: 21; Denmark and Finland: 16 each; Ireland: 15; Luxembourg:
5 (Art. 190 ECT).
Table of Contents
1. The Parliament of the European Union, its development and structure
2. The Convention and its proposal – a new option for the institutional reform of the European Parliament?
3. A proposal of the European Commission – what are the interests of the leading resp. “governing” Institution within the European Union?
4. The European Parliament in the recent discussion
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the evolving role of the European Parliament within the European Union's institutional framework, focusing on how institutional reforms and the Convention on the Future of Europe aim to enhance its democratic legitimacy and legislative influence.
- The historical development and structural evolution of the European Parliament.
- Proposals for institutional reform within the European Convention and by the European Commission.
- The democratic legitimacy and legislative powers of the European Parliament.
- The electoral procedure and the challenges of achieving a uniform system across Member States.
- Public support and citizen interaction as crucial factors for parliamentary relevance.
Excerpt from the Book
The Parliament of the European Union, its development and structure
Since 1979 the European Community resp. nowadays the European Union is provided with a parliament. From this time on there have been a lot of vehement and controversial discussions mainly concerning the role of this European Parliament (EP) and its legitimacy. Keeping this in mind, before lighting up the details of the institutional reform process - mainly focussing the recent Convention (-Debate) -, I will present the basic principles of constitution, tasks and functioning of the European Parliament.
As said in the Treaty of Rome from 1957 the European Parliament represents the people of the Member States of the European Community. Thus “375 million European citizens in 15 countries are now involved in the process of European Integration through their 626 representatives in the European Parliament” (http://www.europarl.eu.int/presentation/default_en.htm, 30.04.03). In its constituting session on March 21, 1958 the general assembly was named “European Parliament”. Until 1979, every five years the European Parliament is build by direct universal elections. The main tasks of the EP are consultation and supervision; it is also featured with the right to sue to the Court of Justice. The seat of the plenum of the EP is in Strasbourg – supplementary the Committees hold their meetings in Brussels, the General Secretariat remained in Luxembourg.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Parliament of the European Union, its development and structure: This chapter provides an overview of the foundational history, current structure, and primary tasks of the European Parliament since its inception.
2. The Convention and its proposal – a new option for the institutional reform of the European Parliament?: The section analyzes the ongoing work of the European Convention and discusses how proposed constitutional changes might impact the EP.
3. A proposal of the European Commission – what are the interests of the leading resp. “governing” Institution within the European Union?: This part investigates the Commission's perspective on institutional reform, specifically focusing on legislative norms, budgetary powers, and electoral uniformity.
4. The European Parliament in the recent discussion: The chapter synthesizes current academic and political debates regarding the EP's strength, democratic legitimacy, and the significance of the Convention for its future role.
5. Conclusion: The summary highlights the necessity for the EP to act as a stronger counterbalance to other institutions and advocates for wider public support and electoral reform.
Keywords
European Parliament, European Union, Institutional Reform, European Convention, Legislative Power, Democratic Legitimacy, Electoral Procedure, European Integration, Council, Commission, Transparency, Proportional Representation, Citizen Participation, European Constitution, Public Support
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the changing role and institutional standing of the European Parliament within the European Union, particularly in the context of ongoing reform discussions during the early 2000s.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the legislative power of the EP, the impact of the European Convention, the uniformity of electoral procedures, and the strengthening of democratic legitimacy.
What is the ultimate goal of the research?
The goal is to evaluate whether institutional reforms can transform the European Parliament into a more effective and democratically legitimate actor within the EU structure.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a document analysis approach, examining official reports from the European Commission, drafts from the European Convention, and existing political science literature on EU institutions.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the development of the EP, specific proposals for constitutional reform, the interests of the European Commission, and the broader political discourse surrounding the EP's future.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include European Parliament, institutional reform, democratic legitimacy, European Convention, and legislative procedure.
How does the Convention on the Future of Europe impact the EP's status?
The Convention is described as a critical opportunity to formalize the EP's powers, increase its democratic legitimacy, and resolve issues regarding its electoral heterogeneity.
What role do citizens play in the proposed reforms?
Citizens are viewed as essential; the paper argues that reform should address the "democratic deficit" by enhancing citizen interaction, transparency, and the representative character of the EP.
Why is the electoral procedure currently criticized?
It is criticized for being heterogeneous, non-transparent, and suffering from low voter turnout, which undermines the perceived legitimacy of the EP as a representative body.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Woltering (Author), 2002, The European Parliament - its changing role and the institutional reform in the European Union, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/23235
