What are the legislative powers of the European Parliament?

The Parliament is a co-legislator, it has the power to adopt and amend legislation and decides on the annual EU budget on an equal footing with the Council. It supervises the work of the Commission and other EU bodies and cooperates with national parliaments of EU countries to receive their input.

What powers do MEPs have?

MEPs have the power to approve, amend or reject nearly all EU legislation. They hold the European Commission to account and can force it to resign. The European Parliament also decides on the EU budget and influences how EU money is spent.

What are the main powers of the commission?

The main powers vested in the Commission are as follows:

  • Implementing the budget (Article 17(1) TEU, Article 317 TFEU).
  • Authorising the Member States to take safeguard measures laid down in the Treaties, particularly during transitional periods (e.g. Article 201 TFEU);

Can the European Parliament block legislation?

Parliament has the power to block the proposed legislation if it cannot agree with the Council. If the two institutions agree on amendments, the proposed legislation can be adopted. Sessions of the European Parliament and some Council sessions can be watched live online.

What are the two main types of legislation passed by the EU?

EU legislation is divided into primary and secondary. The treaties (primary legislation) are the basis or ground rules for all EU action. Secondary legislation – which includes regulations, directives and decisions – are derived from the principles and objectives set out in the treaties.

How much does a MEP earn?

Thus, since the 2009 elections, all MEPs receive a monthly pre-tax salary set at 38.5 per cent of that of a judge at the European Court of Justice. As of July 1, 2019, the monthly salary is of €8,932.86, or just over €107,000 per year. MEPs also receive a general expenditure allowance of €4,563 per month.

When was the codecision procedure introduced in the EU?

The codecision procedure was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty on European Union (1992), and extended and made more effective by the Amsterdam Treaty (1999). With the Lisbon Treaty that took effect on 1 December 2009, the renamed ordinary legislative procedure became the main legislative procedure of the EU´s decision-making system.

How does codification work in the EU Parliament?

Codification helps to clarify EU legislation that has undergone frequent modifications. Parliament’s committee responsible for legal affairs examines the Commission’s proposal for codification. If there is no modification of substance, the simplified procedure for adoption of a report under Rule 46 applies.

How does co-decision work in the European Parliament?

In the co-decision procedure, the European Parliament and the Council jointly adopt (i.e. co-decide) legislation. The Parliament now shares legislative authority with the Council. Co-decision requires consensus to be reached between the Council and the Parliament for legislation to be adopted.

What is the procedure of the European Parliament?

Procedure: The Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) presents recommendations to the Council, the Council defines the mandate for the negotiations and nominates the Union negotiator (from the Commission or the HR) to conduct negotiations.