Misplaced Pages

#753246

92-761: It is registered with the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations as the European foundation affiliated to the European Free Alliance (EFA). Based in Brussels (Belgium), it develops its activities with the financial support of the European Parliament and its members. Coppieters Foundation also serves as a framework for national or regional think tanks, political foundations and academics promoting

184-578: A 'multi-lingual talking shop'." Its development since its foundation shows how the European Union 's structures have evolved without a clear 'master plan'. Tom Reid of The Washington Post has said of the union that "nobody would have deliberately designed a government as complex and as redundant as the EU". Even the Parliament's three working locations , which have switched several times, are

276-685: A Bureau to run its activities by delegation: The Bureau gathers 4 times a year to manage the annual projects of the Centre, prepare the General Assembly and facilitate coordination of joint activities by Coppieters Foundation's members. The current Bureau was elected in the 11th General Assembly of the Centre Maurits Coppieters, held in Katowice (Silesia) from March 31 to April 1, 2017 and is composed by: (The 3 years term of

368-562: A President or his Commission, but the threat to do so has produced concessions to Parliament on the Commission's composition or on policy commitments. As described above, when the Barroso Commission was put forward, the Parliament forced the proposal to be withdrawn and changed to be more acceptable to Parliament. That pressure was seen as an important sign by some of the evolving nature of the Parliament and its ability to make

460-464: A great deal of indirect influence, through non-binding resolutions and committee hearings , as a "pan-European soapbox " with the ear of thousands of Brussels-based journalists . There is also an indirect effect on foreign policy ; the Parliament must approve all development grants, including those overseas. For example, the support for post-war Iraq reconstruction, or incentives for the cessation of Iranian nuclear development , must be supported by

552-496: A month, but sometimes there are additional sessions in Brussels, while the Parliament's committee meetings are held primarily in Brussels, Belgium. In practice, the Parliament works three weeks per month in Brussels and one week (four days) in Strasbourg. The Parliament, like the other EU institutions, was not designed in its current form when it first met on 10 September 1952. One of the oldest common institutions, it began as

644-420: A result of various agreements or lack of agreements. Although most MEPs would prefer to be based just in Brussels, where it conducts the bulk of its work, at John Major 's 1992 Edinburgh summit , France engineered a treaty amendment whereby the European Parliament's official seat is in Strasbourg. The body was not mentioned in the original Schuman Declaration . It was assumed or hoped that difficulties with

736-471: A selection committee composed of the Secretaries-General of those institutions following an open call for candidates. The Director cannot be a member of the European Parliament , hold an electoral mandate, or be a current or former employee of a European political party or foundation. European Parliament The European Parliament ( EP ) is one of the two legislative bodies of

828-489: A text, which they do (or not) through successive readings up to a maximum of three. In its first reading, Parliament may send amendments to the Council which can either adopt the text with those amendments or send back a "common position". That position may either be approved by Parliament, or it may reject the text by an absolute majority , causing it to fail, or it may adopt further amendments, also by an absolute majority. If

920-526: A verification procedure. Instead, the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission may ask the APPF to verify compliance by a specific entity; following this request, the APPF asks a "committee of independent eminent persons" (composed of two members of each of the three institutions) to provide an opinion. Based on this opinion, the APPF decides whether to de-register the entity concerned. This decision

1012-406: A weekly basis. The APPF also publishes the following information: their names and statutes of registered entities, documents submitted as part of applications for registration, a list of applications that have not been approved, sanctions, a list of legal persons who are member of registered entities, and a list of Members of the European Parliament affiliated to European parties. For its part,

SECTION 10

#1732773013754

1104-548: Is a body of the European Union in charge of registering, controlling and imposing sanctions on European political parties and European political foundations . The APPF has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg ; since 2021, its Director has been Pascal Schonard. European political parties formed during the 1970s, in the run-up to the first elections of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage . In 1992,

1196-624: Is an instrument which is applicable to a particular person or group. Institutions may also issue recommendations and opinions which are merely non-binding, declarations. The Parliament and the Council are also the Union's budgetary authority since the Budgetary Treaties of the 1970s and the Lisbon Treaty . The EU budget is subject to a form of the ordinary legislative procedure with a single reading giving Parliament power over

1288-506: Is published in the Official Journal of the European Union, with the detailed grounds for de-registration, and enters into force after three months. If the APPF itself has doubts regarding an entity's compliance with EU values, it must inform the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, and wait for any of them to lodge a request for verification. Such a verification cannot be initiated within two months of elections to

1380-456: Is reported for donations above €3,000 per donor and per year; where the value is €1,500 and under, donations are published without the identity of the donors and grouped as "minor donations"; where the value is above €1,500 and up to €3,000, the identity of the donor is published if the donor has provided their written consent. There are two notable exceptions to this regular format of reporting: donations received within six months of elections to

1472-523: Is required to submit an annual report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on its activities. In January 2021, following a complaint calling for more transparency, the European Ombudsman found that the information provided on the website of the APPF was incomplete. The Ombudsman closed her inquiry following commitments from the APPF, but stated that the APPF could "make additional improvements to its website to ensure that

1564-600: Is seen as the birth of the modern European Parliament, with Parliament's 50 years celebrations being held in March 2008 rather than 2002. The three communities merged their remaining organs as the European Communities in 1967, and the body's name was changed to the current "European Parliament" in 1962. In 1970 the Parliament was granted power over areas of the Communities' budget , which were expanded to

1656-901: Is the body's speaker and presides over the multi-party chamber. The five largest political groups are the European People's Party Group (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Patriots for Europe (PfE), the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), and Renew Europe (Renew). The last EU-wide election was held in 2024 . The Parliament's headquarters are officially in Strasbourg , France, and has its administrative offices in Luxembourg City . Plenary sessions are normally held in Strasbourg for four days

1748-404: Is then communicated to the European Parliament and the Council, and only enters into force if no objection is expressed within three months or if the Parliament and Council indicate that they do not object. In case of objection, the entity remains registered, giving the three EU institutions a veto power and making de-registration a political decision. If adopted, a decision to de-register an entity

1840-576: The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe . The liberals gave support after Barroso gave them a number of concessions; the liberals previously joined the socialists' call for a delayed vote (the EPP had wanted to approve Barroso in July of that year). Once Barroso put forward the candidates for his next Commission, another case of MEPs opposing a particular nominee arose. Bulgarian nominee Rumiana Jeleva

1932-552: The Bolkestein directive in 2006. In practice, most legislation is adopted at the first reading stage after the Parliament and the Council, having set out their initial positions, then negotiate a compromise text. These negotiations take place in so-called "trilogue" meetings, in which the Commission is also present. In a few areas, special legislative procedures apply. These include justice and home affairs, budget and taxation, and certain aspects of other policy areas, such as

SECTION 20

#1732773013754

2024-599: The Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It was a consultative assembly of 78 appointed parliamentarians drawn from the national parliaments of member states, having no legislative powers. The change since its foundation was highlighted by Professor David Farrell of the University of Manchester : "For much of its life, the European Parliament could have been justly labelled

2116-566: The European Council in 1992. It stated the Parliament would retain its formal seat in Strasbourg, where twelve sessions a year would be held, but with all other parliamentary activity in Brussels. This two-seat arrangement was contested by the Parliament, but was later enshrined in the Treaty of Amsterdam . To this day the institution's locations are a source of contention. The Parliament gained more powers from successive revisions of

2208-518: The European Parliament . In December 2007, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation 1524/2007, amending Regulation 2004/2003, among others by providing a legal definition for European political foundations and including them in the existing public funding scheme. In October 2014, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation 1141/2014, which replaced Regulation 2004/2003 and overhauled

2300-608: The European Union and one of its seven institutions . Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts European legislation, following a proposal by the European Commission . The Parliament is composed of 720 members (MEPs), after the June 2024 European elections, from a previous 705 MEPs. It represents the second-largest democratic electorate in

2392-581: The High Representative . MEPs did not manage to get everything they demanded. However, they got broader financial control over the new body. In December 2017, Politico denounced the insufficient racial diversity among Members of the European Parliament. The subsequent news coverage contributed to create the Brussels So White movement to campaign to rectify this situation. On gender balance, some 37 percent of MEPs were women in

2484-548: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe or Pan-African Parliament which are appointed. After that first election, the parliament held its first session on 17 July 1979, electing Simone Veil MEP as its president. Veil was also the first female president of the Parliament since it was formed as the Common Assembly. As an elected body, the Parliament began to draft proposals addressing

2576-501: The Treaty of Maastricht provided the first legal recognition of European parties and, in 1997, the Treaty of Amsterdam enabled the public funding of European parties via political groups of the European Parliament . Following criticism of this arrangement by the European Court of Auditors , the 2001 Treaty of Nice allowed the funding of European parties directly from the budget of the European Union. In November 2003,

2668-420: The general public . They are usually authored by independent researchers. A part from the reports, Coppieters also publishes shorter policy papers and organises conferences on topics such as language diversity , the concept of cultural footprint , and the internal enlargement of the European Union . Coppieters Foundation takes its name from Maurits Coppieters (1920–2005), a prominent Flemish politician who

2760-500: The right of initiative (i.e. the right to formally initiate the legislative procedure) in the way that most national parliaments of the member states do, as the right of initiative is a prerogative of the European Commission. Nonetheless, the Parliament and the Council each have the right to request the Commission to initiate the legislative procedure and put forward a proposal. The Parliament is, in protocol terms,

2852-463: The "first institution" of the European Union (mentioned first in its treaties and having ceremonial precedence over the other EU institutions), and shares equal legislative and budgetary powers with the Council (except on a few issues where special legislative procedures apply). It likewise has equal control over the EU budget . Ultimately, the European Commission, which serves as the executive branch of

Coppieters Foundation - Misplaced Pages Continue

2944-426: The 1980s, before it was given any formal right to veto their appointment. Since it became an elected body, the membership of the European Parliament has expanded when new nations have joined (the membership was also adjusted upwards in 1994 after German reunification ). Following this, the Treaty of Nice imposed a cap on the number of members to be elected: 732, later raised to 751 by the Treaty of Lisbon . Like

3036-539: The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht , the Member States gave the Parliament the right to approve or reject an incoming Commission. In the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam , they gave it the right to approve or reject an incoming President of the Commission. In 2004, following the largest trans-national election in history, the European Council proposed as Commission President a candidate, José Manuel Barroso , from

3128-564: The 2014-19 Parliament and 40 percent in the 2019-24 Parliament, a greater proposition than in most national Parliaments in Member States In January 2019, MEPs supported proposals to boost opportunities for women and tackle sexual harassment in the European Parliament. In 2022, four people were arrested because of corruption. This came to be known as the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament . In October 2023,

3220-487: The APPF and Europol signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their cooperation and reinforce the resilience of European democracies against criminal threats, including the unlawful use of personal data in the context of European elections. The APPF and the European Parliament share the duty of reporting on European parties and foundations. In particular, the APPF reports on donations and contributions received by European parties and foundations. Within six months of

3312-461: The APPF of a change in board membership in early 2022, the party continued to refer to a former board member in social media communications and on its website. The Director of the Authority is appointed for a five-year non-renewable term by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (jointly referred to as the 'appointing authority') by common accord, on the basis of proposals made by

3404-612: The British would be resolved to allow the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to perform legislative tasks. A separate Assembly was introduced during negotiations on the Treaty as an institution to counterbalance and monitor the executive while providing democratic legitimacy. The wording of the ECSC Treaty demonstrated leaders' desire for more than a normal consultative assembly by allowing for direct election and using

3496-418: The Commission accountable, rather than being a rubber stamp for candidates. Furthermore, in voting on the Commission, MEPs also vote along party lines, rather than national lines, despite frequent pressure from national governments on their MEPs. This cohesion and willingness to use the Parliament's power ensured greater attention from national leaders, other institutions and the public – reversing

3588-539: The Commission's powers but did agree to respond within three months. Most requests are already responded to positively. During the setting up of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Parliament used its control over the EU budget to influence the shape of the EEAS. MEPs had aimed at getting greater oversight over the EEAS by linking it to the Commission and having political deputies to

3680-473: The Commission; and the right to question members of those institutions (e.g. "Commission Question Time " every Tuesday). Regarding written and oral questions, MEPs voted in July 2008 to limit questions to those within the EU's mandate and ban offensive or personal questions. The Parliament also has other powers of general supervision, mainly granted by the Maastricht Treaty . The Parliament has

3772-490: The Council does not approve these, then a " Conciliation Committee " is formed. The committee is composed of the Council members plus an equal number of MEPs who seek to agree a compromise. Once a position is agreed, it has to be approved by Parliament, by a simple majority. This is also aided by Parliament's mandate as the only directly democratic institution, which has given it leeway to have greater control over legislation than other institutions, for example over its changes to

Coppieters Foundation - Misplaced Pages Continue

3864-421: The Council has the power in some intergovernmental matters). In Community matters , this is a power uniquely reserved for the European Commission (the executive). Therefore, while Parliament can amend and reject legislation, to make a proposal for legislation, it needs the Commission to draft a bill before anything can become law. The value of a right of initiative has anyway been questioned by noting that in

3956-524: The EU treaties, notably through the extension of the ordinary legislative procedure (originally called the codecision procedure), and the right to approve international agreements through the consent procedure. In 1999, the Parliament forced the resignation of the Santer Commission . The Parliament had refused to approve the Community budget over allegations of fraud and mis-management in

4048-520: The EU's Commission-led international negotiations and have a right to information on agreements. Parliament did not secure an explicit vote over the appointment of delegation heads and special representatives for foreign policy, but it was agreed that they will appear before parliament after they have been appointed by the High Representative . Parliament wanted a pledge from the Commission that it would automatically put forward legislation when parliament requests. Barroso considered this an infringement on

4140-403: The EU, is accountable to Parliament. In particular, Parliament can decide whether or not to approve the European Council's nominee for President of the Commission , and is further tasked with approving (or rejecting) the appointment of the Commission as a whole. It can subsequently force the current Commission to resign by adopting a motion of censure . The president of the European Parliament

4232-446: The European Commission. A notable example was on the Bolkestein directive in 2006, when the Parliament voted by a large majority for over 400 amendments that changed the fundamental principle of the law. The Financial Times described it in the following terms: That is where the European parliament has suddenly come into its own. It marks another shift in power between the three central EU institutions. Last week's vote suggests that

4324-484: The European Council having to make its proposal to Parliament in light of the results of the European elections. Barroso gained the support of the European Council for a second term and secured majority support from the Parliament in September 2009. Parliament voted 382 votes in favour and 219 votes against (117 abstentions) with support of the European People's Party , European Conservatives and Reformists Party and

4416-545: The European Parliament . In July 2022, the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report on proposals by the European Commission to amend Regulation 1141/2014. In this report, the European Parliament called for a strengthening of the APPF to ensure compliance with EU values, including by applying the requirement to respect EU values to national member parties, and not solely to European parties themselves. In November 2023,

4508-603: The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation 2004/2003 "on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding", which provided the first official definition of European political parties and created a framework for their public funding. However, the Regulation did not provide legal recognition or public funding for European political foundations. Under this framework, public funding, as well as functions of verification and control, were carried out by

4600-434: The European Parliament are reported to the APPF on a weekly basis, and single donations above €12,000 that are accepted by registered entities are immediately reported. Following the reporting of high-value donations, the APPF publishes this information on its website, usually within a few days. In the six months ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election , the APPF also published, for the first time, reported donations on

4692-424: The European Parliament can exclude a European party or foundation from future public funding for up to five years, or up to 10 years in cases of repeated infringements. In October 2023, the APPF imposed a €47,000 fine on then- Identity and Democracy Party (5% of its annual budget) for providing incorrect information about a board member on its website—the first-ever sanction imposed by the APPF. While ID had notified

SECTION 50

#1732773013754

4784-509: The European Parliament controls compliance with the obligations deriving from public funding, in line with the Regulation and the Financial Regulation. Among others, the APPF regularly verifies that registered entities comply with registration criteria, as well as with governance provisions. However, with regards to observing the values on which the EU is founded , the procedure is cautiously regulated and APPF cannot initiate

4876-403: The European Parliament publishes the maximum entitlements and amounts of public funding actually paid to European parties and European foundations for each financial year, their annual financial statements and external audit reports, the final reports of European foundations on the implementation of their work programmes, and the number of individual members of European parties. Finally, the APPF

4968-548: The European Parliament. The purpose of the APPF is to register, control and impose sanctions on European political parties and foundations. The APPF and its Director are independent, and only exercise their functions in compliance with the Regulation. The Director is explicitly forbidden from seeking or taking instructions from any institution or government. However, the APPF, European Parliament, and Member States (via national contact points) are required to share information related to funding provisions, controls, and sanctions for

5060-399: The Parliament adopted a resolution to condemn "Hamas' despicable terrorist attacks against Israel". The Parliament and Council have been compared to the two chambers of a bicameral legislature. However, there are some differences from national legislatures ; for example, neither the Parliament nor the Council have the power of legislative initiative (except for the fact that

5152-612: The Parliament. Parliamentary support was also required for the transatlantic passenger data-sharing deal with the United States. Finally, Parliament holds a non-binding vote on new EU treaties but cannot veto it. However, when Parliament threatened to vote down the Nice Treaty, the Belgian and Italian Parliaments said that if it did so, they would veto the treaty on the European Parliament's behalf. With each new treaty,

5244-544: The President according to the treaties. Following the approval of the Commission President, the members of the Commission are proposed by the President in accord with the member states. Each Commissioner comes before a relevant parliamentary committee hearing covering the proposed portfolio. They are then, as a body, approved or rejected by the Parliament. In practice, the Parliament has never voted against

5336-504: The applicant in line with the registration criteria listed in the Regulation. Regardless of the outcome, this decision is then published in the Official Journal of the European Union , with the statutes of the entity concerned in case of registration or with the grounds for rejection. The APPF manages a "Register of European political parties and European political foundations" containing information on these entities, including

5428-409: The commission. The two main parties took on a government-opposition dynamic for the first time during the crisis which ended in the Commission resigning en masse, the first of any forced resignation, in the face of an impending censure from the Parliament. The Parliament had always had the right to dismiss the European Commission in a vote of censure, but it initially had no role in its appointment. In

5520-460: The current bureau expires in 2020) The first outgoing members of the first Bureau became honorary members of the Centre: One of Coppieters’ main activities is to publish reports and papers on issues related to culture , politics and European institutions with a focus on regional and minority movements . These reports are aimed at policy makers at a European level but also intended for

5612-444: The directly elected MEPs, in spite of their multitude of ideological, national and historical allegiances, have started to coalesce as a serious and effective EU institution, just as enlargement has greatly complicated negotiations inside both the Council and Commission. In 2007, for the first time, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini included Parliament in talks on the second Schengen Information System even though, in this field at

SECTION 60

#1732773013754

5704-400: The end of a financial year, European parties and foundations report to the APPF a list of donations and contributions they have received, alongside their financial statements and an audit report. Following verifications, information on donations and contribution is then published on the website of the APPF, usually several months later. The identity of donors and the value of the donation(s)

5796-432: The entire budget (before 2009, its influence was limited to certain areas) on an equal footing to the Council. If there is a disagreement between them, it is taken to a conciliation committee as it is for legislative proposals. If the joint conciliation text is not approved by the Council, the Parliament may adopt the budget definitively, but only by a three-fifths majority. The Parliament is also responsible for discharging

5888-423: The execution of their respective responsibilities. In addition, the APPF cooperates with national institutions responsible for the monitoring of national political parties and political foundations. The APPF decides on the registration and de-registration of European political parties and foundations. Following receipt of an application for registration, the APPF has one month to publish its decision to register

5980-652: The financial interests of the European Union, that no longer fulfils one or more of the registration criteria, or that has failed to fulfil obligations under national law (under specific requirements). The APPF can also impose financial sanctions on registered entities for a wide range of reasons: conviction to have engaged in illegal activities detrimental to the financial interests of the EU, failure to update documents relating to statutes or membership, non-compliance with governance requirements, failure to report donors or donations, failure to submit financial documents, or accepting undue donations or contributions. Additionally,

6072-408: The first time since 1994 . The voting age is 18 in all EU member states except for Malta , Belgium , Austria and Germany , where it is 16, and Greece , where it is 17. The European Parliament has legislative power in that the adoption of EU legislation normally requires its approval, and that of the Council, in what amounts to a bicameral legislature. However, it does not formally possess

6164-519: The fiscal aspects of environmental policy. In these areas, the Council or Parliament decide law alone after consulting the other (or with its consent). There are different types of European Union law#Legislation . The strongest act is a regulation , an act or law which is directly applicable in its entirety. Then there are directives which bind member states to certain goals which they must achieve. They do this through their own laws and hence have room to manoeuvre in deciding upon them. A decision

6256-442: The framework for European political parties and foundations, including by giving them a European legal status. Regulation 1141/2014 also established the Authority for the European political parties and European political foundations (APPF), an independent entity, endowed with legal personality, "for the purpose of registering, controlling and imposing sanctions on European political parties and European political foundations". The APPF

6348-489: The functioning of the EU. For example, in 1984, inspired by its previous work on the Political Community, it drafted the "draft Treaty establishing the European Union" (also known as the 'Spinelli Plan' after its rapporteur Altiero Spinelli MEP). Although it was not adopted, many ideas were later taken up in other treaties. Furthermore, the Parliament began holding votes on proposed Commission Presidents from

6440-444: The implementation of previous budgets based on the annual report of the European Court of Auditors . It has refused to grant discharge only twice, in 1984 and in 1998. On the latter occasion it led to the resignation of the Santer Commission ; highlighting how the discharge power gives Parliament a great deal of power over the Commission. Parliament also makes extensive use of its budgetary, and other powers, elsewhere; for example in

6532-490: The information provided is clear, complete, comparable and extractable." The APPF is empowered to impose "clear, strong and dissuasive" sanctions in order to ensure "effective, proportionate and uniform compliance" with the obligations deriving from the Regulation. For instance, the APPF is to remove from the Register a European party or foundation that has been convicted to have engaged in illegal activities detrimental to

6624-435: The institution such as more speaking time for rapporteurs, increased committee co-operation and other efficiency reforms. The Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009, granting Parliament powers over the entire EU budget , making Parliament's legislative powers equal to the Council's in nearly all areas and describing Parliament's vote on an incoming Commission President Commission President as an "election", with

6716-536: The issue of a uniform voting systems to be decided at a later date. For its sessions the assembly, and later the parliament, until 1999 convened in the same premises as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe : the House of Europe until 1977, and the Palace of Europe until 1999. In 1979, its members were directly elected for the first time . This sets it apart from similar institutions such as those of

6808-585: The largest political party (the EPP). The Parliament approved him by 431 votes to 251. However, when it came to the vote on the Commission as a whole, MEPs raised doubts about some of the nominees following their performance in the public hearings of them conducted by Parliament's committees. Most notably, the Civil Liberties committee rejected Rocco Buttiglione for the post of Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security over his views on homosexuality. That

6900-457: The national legislatures of the member states 85% of initiatives introduced without executive support fail to become law. Yet it has been argued by former Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering that as the Parliament does have the right to ask the Commission to draft such legislation, and as the Commission is following Parliament's proposals more and more Parliament does have a de facto right of legislative initiative. The Parliament also has

6992-407: The other institutions, the Parliament's seat was not yet fixed. The provisional arrangements placed Parliament in Strasbourg , while the Commission and Council had their seats in Brussels. In 1985 the Parliament, wishing to be closer to these institutions, built a second chamber in Brussels and moved some of its work there despite protests from some states. A final agreement was eventually reached by

7084-526: The power to set up a Committee of Inquiry, for example over mad cow disease or CIA detention flights – the former led to the creation of the European veterinary agency . The Parliament can call other institutions to answer questions and if necessary to take them to court if they break EU law or treaties. Furthermore, it has powers over the appointment of the members of the Court of Auditors and

7176-497: The powers of the Parliament, in terms of its role in the Union's legislative procedures , have expanded. The procedure which has slowly become dominant is the " ordinary legislative procedure " (previously named "codecision procedure"), which provides an equal footing between Parliament and Council. In particular, under the procedure, the Commission presents a proposal to Parliament and the Council which can only become law if both agree on

7268-425: The previous decline in turnout for the Parliament's elections. The Parliament also has the power to censure the Commission by a two-thirds majority which will force the resignation of the entire Commission from office. As with approval, this power has never been explicitly used, but when faced with such a vote, the Santer Commission then resigned of their own accord . There are other control instruments, such as:

7360-479: The requirement of Commission to submit reports to the Parliament and answer written and oral questions from MEPs; the requirement of the President-in-office of the Council to present its programme at the start of their presidency ; the obligation on the President of the European Council to report to Parliament after each of its meetings; the right of MEPs to make requests for legislation and policy to

7452-470: The setting up of the European External Action Service , Parliament had a de facto veto over its design as it has to approve the budgetary and staff changes. The President of the European Commission is proposed by the European Council on the basis of the European elections to Parliament. That proposal has to be approved by the Parliament (by a majority of members of the Parliament) who thereby "elect"

7544-652: The statutes of registered entities, other documents submitted as part of applications for registration, documents received from Member States where entities have their seat, and information on the identity of the persons who are members of relevant bodies or hold relevant offices. The APPF and the European Parliament share the duty of controlling European parties and foundations. The APPF controls compliance by registered entities with their obligations, in particular in relation to registration criteria, governance, changes in statutes and membership, donations and contributions, campaign financing, and funding prohibitions. For its part,

7636-463: The study of national movements and minorities in Europe . Coppieters currently has eleven full members and five associated members from eight different European countries. These members make up the General Assembly, and gather on a yearly basis to discuss Coppieters' main strategic working lines. The members are as follows: Full members: Associated members: Members of Coppieters Foundation elect

7728-530: The term "representatives of the people". Its early importance was highlighted when the Assembly was given the task of drawing up the draft treaty to establish a European Political Community . By this document, the Ad Hoc Assembly was established on 13 September 1952 with extra members, but after the failure of the negotiated and proposed European Defence Community (French parliament veto), the project

7820-406: The time, MEPs only needed to be consulted on parts of the package. After that experiment, Frattini indicated he would like to include Parliament in all justice and criminal matters, informally pre-empting the new powers they were due to gain in 2009 as part of the Treaty of Lisbon . Between 2007 and 2009, a special working group on parliamentary reform implemented a series of changes to modernise

7912-479: The whole budget in 1975. Under the Rome Treaties, the Parliament should have become elected. However, the Council was required to agree a uniform voting system beforehand, which it failed to do. The Parliament threatened to take the Council to the European Court of Justice ; this led to a compromise whereby the Council would agree to elections, but with each Member State using its own electoral system, leaving

8004-490: The world (after the Parliament of India ), with an electorate of around 375 million eligible voters in 2024. Since 1979, the Parliament has been directly elected every five years by the citizens of the European Union through universal suffrage . Voter turnout in parliamentary elections decreased each time after 1979 until 2019 , when voter turnout increased by eight percentage points, and rose above 50% for

8096-516: Was a Member of the European Parliament for the Volksunie (VU) and played a pioneering role in the formation of the EFA . During his political career Coppieters advocated for the right to self-determination in the EU. Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations The Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations ( APPF )

8188-784: Was dropped. Instead, the European Economic Community and Euratom were established in 1958 by the Treaties of Rome . The Common Assembly was shared by all three communities (which had separate executives) and it renamed itself the European Parliamentary Assembly . The first meeting was held on 19 March 1958 having been set up in Luxembourg City, it elected Schuman as its president and on 13 May it rearranged itself to sit according to political ideology rather than nationality. This

8280-415: Was established as a body of the European Union . According to the provisions on entry into force, the APPF was to be set up by 1 September 2016, Regulation 1141/2014 applied as of 1 January 2017, and it would cover the activities of European parties and foundations starting with the financial year 2018. Since then, applications for public funding are placed with the APPF, but decisions on funding remain with

8372-547: Was forced to step down by Parliament due to concerns over her experience and financial interests. She only had the support of the EPP which began to retaliate on left wing candidates before Jeleva gave in and was replaced (setting back the final vote further). Before the final vote on the Commission, Parliament demanded a number of concessions as part of a future working agreement under the new Lisbon Treaty. The deal includes that Parliament's president will attend high level Commission meetings. Parliament will have an observer seat in

8464-494: Was the first time the Parliament had ever opposed an incoming Commissioner and, despite Barroso's initial insistence upon Buttiglione, the Parliament forced Buttiglione to be withdrawn. A number of other Commissioners also had to be withdrawn or reassigned before Parliament voted to allow the Barroso Commission to take office. The Parliament also became more assertive in amending legislative proposals put forward by

#753246