- European Parliament
The European Parliament has three important roles:
- Legislation: Since the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament has a lot more power in the legislative process due to the introduction of the co-decision procedure as the main decision-making process for new EU legislation. Together with the Council, the Parliament then decides on legislation to be introduced or adapted. A law cannot be adopted if there is disagreement between the Council and the Parliament.
- Budget: Together with the Council, the Parliament decides on the annual budget of the European Union.
- Control and monitoring of the democratic process: The Parliament approves the nomination of the President of the Commission and has the power to express a motion of censure with a 2 /3 majority that forces the Commission to resign.
The Parliament has currently 736 MEPs. The Lisbon treaty has introduced an increase to 751 MEPs that will come into force in 2014. The Parliament has 20 permanent committees and two special committees that prepare the work of the European Parliament’s plenary session. The twelve plenary sessions each year take place in Strasbourg, whereas the Committee meetings take place in Brussels as well as six additional plenary sessions. The Secretariat General of the Parliament resides in Luxembourg.
