Daily Current Affairs

June 12, 2024

Current Affairs

European Parliament

Context: In the recently concluded European parliament elections, Right wing parties have secured a dominant position.

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About European Union (EU):

  • The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 European countries. 
  • It was established to foster economic cooperation and ensure lasting peace in Europe.
  • The EU is home to around 447 million people, which is around 6 % of the world’s population. Citizens of the EU countries are also EU citizens.

Historical background:

Origin: The EU's origin date back to the aftermath of World War II, to ensure peace and economic stability. The first step was the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951, involving six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

  • Treaties:
    • Treaty of Rome (1957): Established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).
    • Maastricht Treaty (1992): Created the EU and introduced new forms of cooperation in defense, justice, and home affairs.
    • Lisbon Treaty (2009): Amended the EU's structure and functioning, enhancing its global role and democratic legitimacy.

Organs of EU:

There are 4 main decision-making institutions which lead the EU’s administration. These institutions collectively provide the EU with policy direction and play different roles in the law-making process: 

  • European Parliament (Brussels/Strasbourg/Luxembourg): Elected by EU citizens, it shares legislative and budgetary powers with the Council of the European Union.
  • European Council (Brussels): Consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, defining the EU's overall direction and priorities.
  • Council of the European Union (Brussels/Luxembourg): Represents member states' governments, with ministers from each country meeting in different configurations depending on the policy area.
  • European Commission (Brussels/Luxembourg/Representations across the EU): Proposes legislation, implements decisions, upholds treaties, and manages day-to-day affairs.

Their work is complemented by other institutions and bodies which include:

  • The Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxembourg): Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly across member states.
  • The European Central Bank (Frankfurt): Manages the euro and frames and implements EU economic & monetary policy.
  • The European Court of Auditors (Luxembourg): Checks the EU’s financial management.

About European Parliament: 

  • The European Parliament is the institution that directly represents the citizens of the EU, who elect its members every five years by direct universal suffrage.
  • MEPs look after the interests of citizens, ensure the democratic functioning of other EU institutions, and promote human rights inside and outside the EU.
  • The European Parliament is one of the three pillars of the institutional architecture of the EU, along with the Council of the EU representing the interests of the member states, and the European Commission which looks after the general interest of the EU and the implementation of Community treaties.

Composition of European Parliament:

  • The Parliament consists of a maximum of 751 representatives of the citizens of the EU, including the President, who is elected by direct suffrage by all voters of the EU for a 5-year term of office. (Presently it has 720 members)
  • The number of MEPs elected in each country is roughly proportional to its population, but on a sliding scale: no country can have more than 96 MEPs or less than 6.

Functions of European Parliament:

  • Legislative powers
    • Adoption of EU legislation, together with the Council of the EU.
    • Review of the European Commission's work programme and the request of proposals for legislation from the European Commission.
  • Budgetary powers
    • Together with the Council, establishment of the EU's annual budget.
    • Adoption of the long-term financial framework (Multiannual Financial Framework).
  • Supervisory functions
    • Democratic control of all EU institutions.
    • Election of the President of the Commission and approval of the College of Commissioners as a whole. Parliament can withdraw confidence in the Commission by means of a motion of censure.
    • Examination of citizens' petitions.

It also carries out important functions like deciding on enlargements of the EU, signing certain international agreements, cooperating with national parliaments on European affairs.

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