European Parliament – Legislative (Lower House)
The European Parliament (EP) forms one half of the EU’s legislature (the other half is the Council of the European Union). The 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are directly elected by EU citizens every five years on the basis of proportional representation. Although MEPs are elected on a national basis, they sit according to political groups rather than their nationality. Each country has a set number of seats and is divided into sub-national constituencies where this does not affect the proportional nature of the voting system.
The Parliament and the Council of the European Union pass legislation jointly in nearly all areas under the ordinary legislative procedure. This also applies to the EU budget. Finally, the Commission is accountable to Parliament, requiring its approval to take office, having to report back to it and subject to motions of censure from it. The President of the European Parliament carries out the role of speaker in parliament and represents it externally.
The EP President and Vice Presidents are elected by MEPs every two and a half years.
- acts together with the Council as a legislator
- shares with the Council the budgetary power and decides in the last instance on the general budget of the EU
- exerts the democratic control over EU institutions including the European Commission and appoints the Commission members
- based and plenary sessions in Strasbourg, General Secretariat in Luxembourg, primarily meets in Brussels
| Country | Population | Joined | MEPs | Total Contribution | Net Contribution |
| €millions (%) | €millions | ||||
| Austria | 8,205,533 | Jan 1, 1995 | 18 | 2,308.4 (2.19) | 478.30 |
| Belgium | 10,584,534 | Jan 1, 1958 | 21 | 4,035.3 (3.83) | -1,589.80 |
| Bulgaria | 7,262,675 | Jan 1, 2007 | 17 | -360.60 | |
| Cyprus | 792,604 | May 1, 2004 | 6 | 144.6 (0.14) | -95.00 |
| Czech Republic | 10,220,911 | May 1, 2004 | 21 | 932.4 (0.89) | -397.60 |
| Denmark | 5,484,723 | Jan 1, 1973 | 13 | 2,130.9 (2.02) | 629.00 |
| Estonia | 1,307,605 | May 1, 2004 | 6 | 100.7 (0.10) | -199.20 |
| Finland | 5,244,749 | Jan 1, 1995 | 13 | 1,544.8 (1.47) | 264.40 |
| France | 64,057,790 | Jan 1, 1958 | 74 | 17,303.1 (16.44) | 3,806.90 |
| Germany | 82,369,548 | Jan 1, 1958 | 96 | 22,218.4 (21.11) | 9,976.00 |
| Greece | 10,722,816 | Jan 1, 1981 | 21 | 1,882.6 (1.79) | -4,951.10 |
| Hungary | 9,930,915 | May 1, 2004 | 21 | 1,003.1 (0.95) | -839.10 |
| Ireland | 4,156,119 | Jan 1, 1973 | 11 | 1,341.3 (1.27) | -1,120.50 |
| Italy | 58,145,321 | Jan 1, 1958 | 73 | 14,359.5 (13.64) | 3,437.20 |
| Latvia | 2,245,423 | May 1, 2004 | 8 | 115.2 (0.11) | -287.40 |
| Lithuania | 3,565,205 | May 1, 2004 | 11 | 222.0 (0.21) | -577.80 |
| Luxembourg | 486,006 | Jan 1, 1958 | 6 | 241.4 (0.23) | -953.40 |
| Malta | 403,352 | May 1, 2004 | 6 | 57.4 (0.05) | -99.60 |
| Netherlands | 16,645,313 | Jan 1, 1958 | 26 | 5,552.9 (5.28) | 3,362.50 |
| Poland | 38,500,696 | May 1, 2004 | 51 | 2,099.1 (1.99) | -3,206.50 |
| Portugal | 10,676,910 | Jan 1, 1986 | 21 | 1443.0 (1.37) | -2,191.80 |
| Romania | 22,246,862 | Jan 1, 2007 | 32 | -693.10 | |
| Slovakia | 5,455,407 | May1 , 2004 | 13 | 393.1 (0.37) | -303.10 |
| Slovenia | 2,007,711 | May 1, 2004 | 8 | 300.0 (0.29) | -106.00 |
| Spain | 40,491,051 | Jan 1, 1986 | 54 | 8,957.3 (8.51) | -3,925.70 |
| Sweden | 9,045,389 | Jan 1, 1995 | 20 | 2,832.9 (2.69) | 1,259.50 |
| United Kingdom | 60,943,912 | Jan 1, 1973 | 73 | 13,739.9 (13.05) | 5,445.70 |
| Total | ~ 503,492,041 | 751 | 105,259.50 |
List of Current UK MEP’s
Former members[edit]
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