The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union (the Council) and the European Commission, it

exercises the legislative function of the EU.

It has been directly elected every five years by universal suffrage since 1979.

The President of the European Parliament is Martin Schulz (S&D), elected in January 2012. He presides over a multi-party chamber: the two largest groups are the Group of the European People's Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D).

The last union-wide elections were the 2009 Parliamentary Elections.

The European Parliament has three places of work – Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg and Strasbourg (France). Luxembourg is home to the administrative offices (the 'General Secretariat'). Meetings of the whole Parliament ('plenary sessions') take place in Strasbourg and in Brussels. Committee meetings are held in Brussels.

European Parliament, Strasbourg, France.

European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium.

General Secretariat of the European Parliament, Luxembourg.

the Parliament have not the power of legislative initiative. In Community matters, this is a power uniquely reserved for the European Commission (the executive). 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.

With each new treaty, the powers of the Parliament, in terms of its role in the Union's legislative procedures, have expanded.

The legislative branch officially holds the Union's budgetary authority.

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 simple majority) who "elect" 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.

The Parliament also has the power to censure the Commission if they have a two-thirds majority which will force the resignation of the entire Commission from office.

European elections 2009

Blue: Europe's PeopleParty.

Red: Socialist.Orange: Liberals.

Green: Conservatives.

50: number of member

Of parliament elected In every country.

Political groups.

EPP - European People's Party (Christian Democrats)

S&D - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in Europe (centre-left)

ALDE - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (liberal)

EUL/NGL - European United Left-Nordic Green Left (left-wing)

Greens/EFA - Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens and regionalists/nationalists)

ECR - European Conservatives and Reformists Group (right-wing)

EFD - Europe of Freedom and Democracy (Eurosceptic)

NA - Non-attached (MEPs not part of any group)

European Parliament. Elections 2009.

The European Parliament now has seven political groups. The two largest are the centre-right European People’s Party and the

Socialists & Democrats.

Joseph Paul, head of the European People’s Party/European Democrats (EPP-ED) in the European Parliament.

Joseph Paul, France.

Martin Schultz (Germany)

In 2004 he was first elected leader of the Socialist group, after the 2009 elections he was confirmed as the leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the EP.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

In June 2009 he was elected to the EP for the first time.

Guy Verhofstadt (Flanders, Belgium)

European Conservatives and Reformists Group

Michal Kaminski (Poland). Elected by Law and Justice Party.

Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left

Lothar Bisky (Germany).

Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group

Francesco Speroni (Italy) is co-Chair with Nigel Farage (UK).

Speroni (elected by Lega Nord Party and Farage elected by United Kingdom

IndependenceParty

Greens/ European Free Alliance

Daniel Cohn-Bendit (France).

Rebecca Harms (Germany).

20th March, 2014, survey. This projection of seats

in the European Parliament is based on a non exhaustive collection of weekly European and national polls carried out in the 28 EU member states.

The final and official composition of the new European Parliament will only be known by its constitutive session on 1-3 July 2014.