Subject: European Union Basics (FAQ), Part 3/8
Supersedes: <european-union/basics/part3_816804688@rtfm.mit.edu>
Date: 11 Dec 1995 14:18:11 GMT
Expires: 15 Jan 1996 14:16:40 GMT
References: <european-union/basics/part2_818691400@rtfm.mit.edu>
Summary: This file is part of an eight-part posting containing basic
  information about the European Union and other related or unrelated
  European political organisations. It is hoped to serve both as background
  information for those wishing to discuss European politics on the
  talk.politics.european-union newsgroup, and as a general reference for
  anyone concerned with politics in Europe.
X-Last-Updated: 1995/07/09
X-URL: http://www.vub.ac.be/SMIT/eubasics/parliament.html
Originator: faqserv@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
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Archive-name: european-union/basics/part3
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Last-modified: 31 May 1995
Version: 2.1
URL: http://www.vub.ac.be/SMIT/eubasics/parliament.html


European Union Basics (FAQ) list

Version 2.1 of 31 May 1995. Posted regularly to talk.politics.european-union,
eunet.politics, alt.politics.ec, alt.answers, talk.answers and news.answers.
See <About this list> in the last part of this list for ways to retrieve the
most recent version or (better) read the HTML version mentioned above. There
you will find original accented characters not present in this text version.

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Questions about the European Parliament

Personal note: you will notice that in all EU institutions, there is an
asymmetry between the number of inhabitants of member states and the number
of representatives they have in the various institutions (e.g. one
Commissioner for 300,000 Luxemburgers compared to two for 80 million
Germans). This is a compromise between the supranational principle of
one-inhabitant-one-vote and the intergovernmental principle of
one-government-one-vote, and thus an illustration of the general ambiguity
between supranational and intergovernmental principles that so characterizes
the European Union.

How is the European Parliament composed?

Direct universal elections

The European Parliament represents the peoples of the member states. It is
elected once every five years, through direct universe suffrage in every
member state.

The last general EP election was held between 9 and 12 June 1994. The next
will be in June 1999, although Austrians, Finns and Swedes will elect MEPs
earlier because their countries had not joined the EU in 1994 yet. Up to
these elections, MEPs for these countries are appointed by national
parliaments. Hiski Haapoja mentions that for Finland, these elections will
take place in October 1996 together with municipal county elections.

General composition

There are currently 626 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs):

   * 99 elected in Germany;
   * 87 each in France, Italy, the UK;
   * 64 in Spain;
   * 31 in the Netherlands;
   * 25 each in Belgium, Greece, Portugal;
   * 22 in Sweden;
   * 21 in Austria;
   * 16 each in Denmark and Finland;
   * 15 in the Republic of Ireland;
   * 6 in Luxembourg.

MEPs don't usually vote by country of origin. Instead, they organize in
political groups according to ideology and/or party affiliation. The minimum
number of MEPs to form a political group is 29 if the members come from one
member state, 23 if they come from two, 18 if they come from three and 14 if
they come from four or more member states. No MEP can be a member of more
than one political group, but no MEP is under an obligation to be part of a
political group either (even though it does bring advantages in speaking
time and infrastructure).

Some MEPs call themselves associate (rather than <full>) members of a
political group; this reflects the fact that they are not bound by the
common manifesto/platform of the pan-European political party behind the
group, usually because their national party is not a member of this
pan-European political party. This difference is irrelevant as far as
internal Parliamentary procedures are concerned.

See the list of member states in the first part of this FAQ for an overview
of ISO country abbreviations used below. Links have been added to the
official or unofficial home pages of some parties; please drop me a line if
you know any I did not include.

PES/Group of the Party of European Socialists

   * Leader: Ms Pauline Green (Labour, UK)
   * 221 members:
     62   Labour (UK)
     40   Socialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (DE)
     22   Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (ES)
     16   Partido democratico della Sinistra (IT)
     15   Europe Solidaire (Parti Socialiste) (FR)
     11   Socialdemokraterna arbetarpartiet (SE)
     10   Partido Socialista (PT)
     10   Panellinio Socialistiko Kinima (GR)
     8    Partij van de Arbeid (NL)
     8    Sozialdemokratische Partei Osterreichs (AT)
     4    Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (FI)
     3    Parti Socialiste (BE)
     3    Socialdemokratiet (DK)
     3    Socialistische Partij (BE)
     2    LSAP - d'Sozialisten (LU)
     2    Partito socialista italiano-Alleanza democratica (IT)
     1    Labour Party (IE)
     1    Social Democratic and Labour Party (UK)

EPP/European People's Party (Christian-Democrats)

   * Leader: Mr Wilfried Martens (Christelijke Volkspartij, BE)
   * 173 members:
     39   Christlich-Demokratische Union (DE)
     28   Partido Popular (ES)
     18   Conservative and Unionist Party (UK)
     13   Union pour la Democratie Francaise/Rassemblement pour la
          Republique* (FR)
     10   Christendemocratisch Appel (NL)
     9    Nea Demokratia (GR)
     8    Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern (DE)
     8    Partito popolare italiano (IT)
     6    Osterreichische Volkspartei (AT)
     5    Moderata samlingspartiet (SE)
     4    Christelijke Volkspartij (BE)
     4    Fine Gael (IE)
     4    Kansallinen Kokoomus (FI)
     3    Konservative Folkeparti (DK)
     3    Patto Segni (IT)
     2    Chreslich-Sozial Vollekspartei (LU)
     2    Coalicion Nacionalista (ES)
     2    Parti Social-Chretien (BE)
     1    Christlich Soziale Partei (BE)
     1    Kristdemokratiska samlingspartiet (SE)
     1    Partido Social Democrata* (PT)
     1    Sudtiroler Volkspartei (IT)
     1    Ulster Unionist Party (UK)

ELDR/Group of the European Liberal, Democratic and Reformist Party

   * Leader: Mr Gijs de Vries (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie, NL)
   * 52 members:
     8    Partido Social Democrata* (PT)
     5    Lega Nord (IT)
     6    Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (NL)
     4    Democraten '66 (NL)
     4    Suomen Keskusta (FI)
     4    Venstre (DK)
     3    Folkpartiet liberalerna (SE)
     3    Parti Reformateur Liberal/Front Democratique des Francophones (BE)
     3    Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (BE)
     2    Convergencia y Unio* (ES)
     2    Liberal Democrats (UK)
     2    Svenska Folkpartiet (FI)
     1    Demokratesch Partei (LU)
     1    Independents (IE)
     1    Liberales Forum (AT)
     1    Partito reppublicano italiano (IT)
     1    Radikale Venstre (DK)
     1    Union pour la Democratie Francaise/Rassemblement pour la
          Republique* (FR)

GUE/Confederal Group of the United Left - Northern Green Left

   * Leader: Mr Alfonso Puerta Gutierrez (Izquierda Unida - Iniciativa per
     Catalunya, ES)
   * 31 members:
     9    Izquierda Unida (ES)
     7    Parti Communiste (FR)
     5    Rifondazione comunista (IT)
     3    Coligacao Democratica Unitaria (PT)
     2    Kommounistiko Komma Elladas (GR)
     2    Synaspismos tis Aristeras kai tis Proodou (GR)
     1    Socialistisk Folkeparti (DK)
     1    Vaensterpartiet (SE)
     1    Vasemmistoliitto (FI)

FE/Forza Europa Group

   * Leader: Mr Giancarlo Ligabue (Forza Italia, IT)
   * 29 members:
     29   Forza Italia (IT)

EDA/Group of the European Democratic Alliance

   * Leader: Mr Jean-Claude Pasty (Rassemblement pour la Republique, FR)
   * 26 members:
     14   Union pour la Democratie Francaise/Rassemblement pour la
          Republique* (FR)
     7    Fianna Fail (IE)
     3    Centro Democratico Social/Partido Popular (PT)
     2    Politiki Anixi (GR)

GRN/Green Group in the European Parliament

   * Leaders: Ms Claudia Roth (Die Grunen, DE) & Mr Alexander Langer
     (Federazione dei Verdi, IT)
   * 25 members:
     12   Bundnis 90/Die Grunen (DE)
     3    Federazione dei Verdi (IT)
     2    Green Party (IE)
     1    Agalev (BE)
     1    Dei Greng GLEI-GAP (LU)
     1    Ecolo (BE)
     1    Groen Links (NL)
     1    Grune - Die Grune Alternative (AT)
     1    La Rete-Movimento democratico (IT)
     1    Miljopartiet de grona (SE)
     1    Vihrea Liitto (FI)

ERA/Group of the European Radical Alliance

   * Leader: Mr Jean-Francois Hory (Energie Radicale, FR)
   * 19 members:
     13   Energie Radicale (FR)
     2    Panella-Riformatori (IT)
     2    Scottish National Party (UK)
     1    Convergencia y Unio* (ES)
     1    Volksunie/Vlaamse Vrije Democraten (BE)

EN/Europe of Nations Group

   * Leader: Mr Jimmy Goldsmith (Majorite pour l'autre Europe, FR)
   * 19 members:
     13   Majorite pour l'autre Europe (FR)
     2    Folkebevagelsen mod EF (DK)
     2    Junibevagelsen (DK)
     2    Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij/ Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond/
          Reformatorisch-Politieke Federatie (NL)

NI/Non-attached members

10   Alleanza nazionale (IT)
11   Front National (FR)
5    Die Freiheitlichen (AT)
2    Vlaams Blok (BE)
1    Democratic Unionist Party (UK)
1    Front National (BE)
1    Partito socialista democratico italiano (IT)

The long list above is represented more concisely in the following table:

    PES  EPP ELDR  GUE   FE  EDA  GRN  ERA   EN   NI  TOT
AT    8    6    1    -    -    -    1    -    -    5   21
BE    6    7    6    -    -    -    2    1    -    3   25
DE   40   47    -    -    -    -   12    -    -    -   99
DK    3    3    5    1    -    -    -    -    4    -   16
ES   22   30    2    9    -    -    -    1    -    -   64
FI    4    4    6    1    -    -    1    -    -    -   16
FR   15   13    1    7    -   14    -   13   13   11   87
GR   10    9    -    4    -    2    -    -    -    -   25
IE    1    4    1    -    -    7    2    -    -    -   25
IT   18   12    6    5   29    -    4    2    -   11   87
LU    2    2    1    -    -    -    1    -    -    -    6
NL    8   10   10    -    -    -    1    -    2    -   31
PT   10    1    8    3    -    3    -    -    -    -   25
SE   11    6    3    1    -    -    1    -    -    -   22
UK   63   19    2    -    -    -    -    2    -    1   87
TOT 221  173   52   31   29   26   25   19   19   31  626

What are the powers of the European Parliament?

The powers of the European Parliament are very complicated and vary
considerably with the policy area under consideration. In many respects it
is significantly lacking in formal powers compared with the position of
national parliaments in functioning democracies, though there has been a
gradual increase in both its officially recognized and its unofficial powers
over the years of its existence.

In some policy areas and procedures, the European Parliament has the right
to amend or reject Commission proposals before the Council takes the final
decision. There are two weaknesses to this power, which make the EP much
less powerful than its national counterparts:

  1. The Commission can freely reject EP amendments, without any sanction;
     unlike national governments which face a choice between accepting the
     will of parliament or resigning, when major questions are considered a
     matter of confidence. Therefore, the EP's <Right to Amendment> is in
     fact not much more than a <Right to Advise>. Also, the Commission's
     opinion of EP amendments is crucial to their adoption since the final
     decision in the Council can only depart from the Commission's final
     proposal by unanimous vote.
  2. Under the Cooperation and Assent Procedures, EP amendments and
     rejections are valid only if (a) 60% of votes are in favour and (b) if
     the MEPs voting in favour constitute at least half of all MEPs.

Especially the latter requirement makes it quite difficult to influence the
political process, and personally I think that democratically perverse
situations arise when an amendment is declared rejected even if 90% of votes
are in favour of it, just because only 50% of MEPs have turned up for the
vote. It would be better, in my view, to require a high quorum of MEPs
turning up before a vote can take place; MEP votes are the only example I
know where a quorum is applied to the result of the vote instead of to the
vote itself. Please note that this paragraph has aroused considerable
discussion whether this rule is undemocratic or not. Most people seem to
disagree with me.

In his excellent work on the European Parliament, Martin Westlake puts
forward a table illustrating the power (or lack of thereof) of the European
Parliament on the European Union decision making process. It is a grand
total of all the 322 proposals dealt with under the co-operation procedure
up to 30 December 1993. As such this table does not include the many areas
in which the EP has other powers, or no power at all. I will expand on this
section in a later issue of this list.

                        First reading             Second reading
European Parliament     4572 amendments tabled    1074 amendments tabled
European Commission     2499 (54,65%) taken up     475 (44,22%) taken up
Council of Ministers    1966 (43%) accepted        253 (23,55%) accepted
                                           [Source: Westlake 1994, p265]

These figures both illustrate the substantial influence that the EP does
indeed have on European decision making, yet they also illustrate that in
the end the democratic legitimacy of the European decision making process
may be considered unsatisfactory. After all, what national government can
afford to ignore around 50% of the amendments that its national parliament
approves of in majority? And what about the Council of Ministers which
refuses to take into account more than 75% of the amendments the
democratically elected assembly has put forward in the second reading of a
bill, even though the Commission has still approved of a small half of
these?

There is another area in which the EP's powers have risen considerably.
Since the Maastricht Treaty, the European Parliament must approve both of
the President of the Commission and of the Commission in full. It can also
make the Commission resign with a 2/3 majority. It cannot sack individual
Commissioners.

The newly elected EP of 1994 has interpreted this decision as such that it
has the right to question all individual candidate Commissioners thoroughly
(modelled on the US Senate <hearings> for candidate government ministers)
before approving of the new Commission as a whole. The new Commission
president has accepted this interpretation in practice; hearings have taken
place from 16 to 20 January 1995, and the Commission president has had to
make some changes to and supplementary promises about the portfolios of his
fellow Commissioners as a result of the hearings, before his Commission was
approved with a 417 against 104 majority.

Who is the President of the European Parliament?

MEPs elect the President (or chair) of the European Parliament and his/her
bureau from their midst, with a mandate of two and a half years. Subsequent
EP presidents since the first direct elections were:

1979-1982
     Ms Simone Veil (LDR, France)
1982-1984
     Mr Piet Dankert (PES, Netherlands)
1984-1987
     Mr Pierre Pflimlin (EPP, France)
1987-1989
     Sir Henry Plumb (Conservative, UK) [Tory MEPs were in the former
     European Democrats group during Lord Plumb's presidency; in 1992 they
     followed their former European Democrats group partners, and joined the
     EPP group.]
1989-1992
     Mr Enrique Baron Crespo (PES, Spain)
1992-1994
     Mr Egon Klepsch (EPP, Germany)
1994-1997
     Mr Klaus Hansch (PES, Germany)

Where can I find the European Parliament on the net?

Email connectivity

Many of the civil servants working at the European Parliament have an email
address with a gateway to the Internet, in the <ditbxl.eppe.be> zone. MEPs
and their assistants are less likely to be reachable. You could try to ask
the <postmaster@ditbxl.eppe.be> for a specific person's email address.

Databases and infosystems

The European Parliament is currently preparing its own WorldWideWeb presence
on the Internet. Up to now, there are only the following electronic
information services which are not available on the Internet:

   * News and general press information is available in the menu-based
     EPISTEL system, available via X.25 and PSTN. Subscription is free for
     accredited journalists; others pay ECU 100/month. Information:
     tel.+32.2.2842128, fax +32.2.2305808.
   * EPOQUE is a documentary database produced by the European Parliament.
     Its first objective is to make information easily accessible
     internally, but it is also intended to provide information on the EP
     activities to the outside world. Access is free, but requires previous
     registration; EPOQUE is available through PSTN in Luxembourg and
     through X.25. Information: fax +352.439317.

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Last modifications on 31 May 1995. Edited by Roland Siebelink; corrections
and suggestions welcome.

--
Roland Siebelink <rcsiebel@vub.ac.be>


