Parliament with 705 MEPs – European Parliament celebrates its 70th anniversary – News


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In 70 years, the EU institution has changed significantly and today shapes the world beyond the European continent.

“This institution embodies European reconciliation,” said Parliament President Roberta Metsola in her speech marking the 70th anniversary of the EU Parliament. She emphasized the democratic importance of the body. The decisions of the European Parliament affect many areas of life – including in Switzerland. It was not always like this.

How did the European Parliament come about?


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Legend:

EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola (right) speaks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament. In the middle Margrethe Vestager, EU Commissioner for Competition.

Keystone/AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias

In 1952, the six countries Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy and the Netherlands formed the European Coal and Steel Community (Montanunion). For this purpose, an advisory body with 78 MPs was created, the so-called “Common Assembly”. It forms the cornerstone of the European Parliament (EP).

Over time, the community has evolved and with it the parliamentary assembly. The European Parliament gave itself its current name in 1962. The number of members of parliament grew steadily with the expansion to include other countries, and the Parliament was also given more powers.

With the first election of the EP in 1979 by the citizens of the community states, the parliament received direct democratic legitimacy. The EP received further rights with the Maastricht (1993), Amsterdam (1999) and Lisbon (2007) Treaties. It thus assumes far more control and responsibility today than it did 70 years ago.

What are his responsibilities? The European Parliament decides together with the Council of the European Union (EU Council of Ministers) on the legislative proposals of the EU Commission. In exchange, they can accept, modify or reject the proposals. The two chambers also decide together on the EU budget.

The EP also has a control function over various EU bodies and elects the President of the EU Commission. All members of the EU Commission are examined by the EP in hearings before their election.

The EU Parliament as a global pioneer


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Legend:

Charles Liebherr has been reporting from Brussels for Radio SRF since autumn 2019

SRF

Just before the 70th anniversary celebrations, the EU Parliament passed a law that stipulates that EU companies should have a quota of 40 percent women on boards of directors or a third in managerial positions. “For years, EU parliamentarians have been fighting for this. They prevailed against a lot of resistance from individual member states, »says Charles Liebherr, EU correspondent for Radio SRF.

This is an example of the pioneering role that the European Parliament is taking on in various subject areas. “In questions of technology, equality and climate, the MEPs are setting new EU standards that also have a global impact,” says Liebherr. This is possible because the European market is so important for global companies that they base their products on EU standards.

Where does Parliament reach its limits? There are subject areas where the European Parliament only has an advisory role and does not make any decisions – for example in foreign policy or tax policy. It lacks the rights of a “classic parliament” such as the Swiss National Council.

In the EU, only the EU Commission has the right to propose new laws. Parliament has been fighting for such a right of initiative for years. However, the EU treaties would have to be adapted for this. It also has no influence on the size of the EU budget.

Criticism of the EU Parliament


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Legend:

The plenary hall of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

IMAGO/Panoramic

Critics describe the European Parliament as weak because it does not have the same rights as a “classic” parliament. A majority of EU citizens also have the feeling that the EU Commission makes the laws alone, as Charles Liebherr, EU correspondent for Radio SRF, observes.

But this impression is wrong. “Hardly any EU law can be passed without the participation of the European Parliament,” explains Liebherr. But that was not always the case, because “with every treaty change in the EU, Parliament received further co-decision rights.

Who elects the EU Parliament? The European Parliament, with its 705 members, represents the approximately 450 million of the 27 member states of the EU. The number of deputies is proportionally determined by the respective population. The smallest EU states, Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Estonia, are entitled to at least six MEPs. Germany has the largest number of deputies, namely 96. Since 1979, the EP has been elected for five-year terms. Each country has its own election procedure. The next European elections will take place in 2024.

What is the current composition of Parliament? The MPs from the different countries join together to form parliamentary groups based on their political views.

There are seven political groups in the European Parliament


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  • EPP: Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
  • S&D: Group of the Progressive Alliance of Social Democrats in the European Parliament
  • renew Europe Group
  • Greens/EFA: Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance
  • ID: Identity and Democracy Group
  • ECR: Group of European Conservatives and Reformists
  • fraction The left in the European Parliament – ​​GUE/NGL

    What role does the EU Parliament play for Switzerland? The decisions of the European Parliament also affect non-member states, including Switzerland. “Switzerland often adopts large parts of new EU laws so that local companies can continue to export to EU countries,” says EU correspondent Liebherr. Many areas are affected, from data protection, food safety, product standards, customs controls to climate protection. “Many Swiss laws, decided autonomously by the federal councils, have a European core, whether you like it or not.”

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