The European Parliament (EP), as the name suggests, is the legislative body of the European Union. In the early days of the EU, the EP was regarded as an “ineffectual” institution. However, many changes have been made through the development in the EU system, and now the EP has been increasingly become more important. According to EP’s website, the institution has at least five main functions, which are: legislative; budgetary; control and supervision; maintaining close links with EU member states’ national parliaments; and “defender” of human rights and democracy.[1]

            In the legislative function, officially EP shares legislative power equally with the Council of the European Union, in which it can accept, amend, or reject the content of European legislation.[2] However, in reality the EP can influence the EU legislative output more than just those three ways, such as: participation in policy discussions with the Commission are the pre-proposal legislative stage; formally adopt its own ideas for suggested legislation; improve the budgetary procedures; indirectly influence the Commission’s annual legislative program; and most importantly, EP’s views must be sought in connection with “important” legislations through legislative procedures.[3] There are three legislative procedures relating to EP, which are the consultation procedure, the ordinary legislative procedure, and the consent procedure, with each procedure applies to a particular legislative proposal depends on which treaty article(s) the proposal is based.[4]

            In the budgetary function, the EP can influence both the Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFFs) and the Annual Budgets. However, EP’s role is greater in the latter, while the Commission and the Councils still maintaining their particular power in the MFFs. Still, EP’s approval was ultimately needed for increases in most areas of EU spending.[5]

           As a legislative body, the EP also performs the control and supervision of the executive body. Yet, problem arises within this function as the EU political system lacks a “clear” executive branch to oversee.[6] Even so, the EP still manages to perform this function, notably in its relations with the Commission in which it has eight main supervisory powers and channels at its disposals, such as approving the nominee for Commission President and its power to dismiss the College of Commissioners.[7]

           The last two functions of the EP are somewhat vaguer than the first three “institutionalized” functions. But, it should be noted that the EP regularly meets with member states’ national parliaments, particularly since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, often referred to as “the Treaty of Parliaments”. Recently, the EP also plays an important part in promoting Human Rights and Democracy issues, both within the EU and with foreign countries.

            With all of these functions, the EP surely is not the “ineffectual” institution as it was in the past. Nevertheless, those functions still needs to be reviewed and perfected in order to bring a more effective and beneficial Parliament in the European Union.

[1] ___.“Powers and Functions”, accessed from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/0076b966cf/Powers-and-functions.html (4/17/2012).