European Parliament

European Parliament(Strausbourg,France)

 

The European Parliament (EP) forms one half of the EU's Legislature (the other half is the Council of the European Union). The 736 (soon to be 751)Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are directly elected by EU Citizens every 5 years on the basis of Proportional Representation. Although MEPs are elected on a national basis, they sit according to Political Groups rather than their Nationality. The Parliament and the Council of the European Union pass legislation jointly in nearly all areas

 MEP's Vote For Single Seat Parliament

MEPs have voted by a massive majority to end the European Parliament's monthly journey to Strasbourg by having a single seat for the EU assembly in Brussels.

The vote - 429 for a single seat and 184 against - is the clearest expression to date of the parliament's desire to end the "travelling circus.

Every month, the parliament's 736 MEPs and some three thousand staff and officials relocate from Brussels to Strasbourg, a trek that is required by the EU's Treaty as a symbol of post-War reconciliation in Europe.