Candidats européennes - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. The European Parliament is made up of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who are elected by the citizens of the European Union every five years.
- 2. MEPs represent the interests of EU citizens and are responsible for passing legislation, approving the EU budget, and holding the European Commission accountable.
- 3. Candidates for the European Parliament must be at least 18 years old and be a citizen of an EU member state.
- 4. Each EU member state is allocated a certain number of MEPs based on its population size, with larger countries having more MEPs than smaller countries.
- 5. The European Parliament is divided into political groups, with MEPs from similar ideological backgrounds coming together to form alliances and work on common goals.
- 6. The European Parliament has a president who is elected by the MEPs and chairs plenary sessions and represents the Parliament in external relations.
- 7. MEPs serve on various committees, such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.
- 8. The European Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping EU policies on a wide range of issues, including trade, agriculture, energy, and immigration.
- 9. MEPs also have the power to propose legislation, question the European Commission, and participate in the EU budgetary process.
- 10. The European Parliament elections are held every five years, with the next election scheduled to take place in 2024.