The European Parliament represents citizens of the European Union and is made up of 751 members elected from the 28 EU member states. It has legislative, supervisory, and budgetary responsibilities, including passing EU laws with the Council, questioning EU institutions, and establishing the EU budget with the Council. Members are grouped by political interests into seven European political groups rather than by nationality.

1. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT DOES THE PARLIAMENT DO?
The Parliament
represents the citizens
of the European Union.

2.  A member from this parliament is a person who
has been elected to represent the people in the
European Parliament.
 Since 1979 these members have been elected
by direct votes.
 The European Parliament is made up of 751
members elected in the 28 member states of
the European Union

4. LEGISLATIVE
SUPERVISORY
BUDGETARY

5. • Passing EU laws together with the Council of
the EU
• Deciding on international agreements.

6.  Election of the Commission President
 Questioning and checking democracy in all
Institutions of the EU
 Discussing monetary policy
 Investigation of petitions from EU citizens and
setting up Inquiries

7.  Establishing the EU Budget together with the
Council.

8.  The European Parliament differs from national
Parliaments in that the politicians of national
parties join different political groups within the
Parliament.
 There are seven European political groups.
 25 elected Members of Parliament (MEPs) are
needed to form a European political group from
at least 7 member EU countries.

9.  Members of the European Parliament are grouped
by political interests and not by nationality.
 The distribution of the actual seats within the
political groups usually follows an alphabetical
order.