European Parliament 2004 - 2009

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Since 1979, the European Parliament (EU) has been directly elected every five years. The largest ever European elections took place in June this year, when the citizens of 25 EU Member States went to the Polls to elect 732 Members of the EU,(MEPs). Parliament's powers have grown considerably since the first direct elections. The Treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice have greatly expanded its legislative, budgetary and supervisory powers, and in particular its right to assess and approve each new incoming European Commission.

Following European elections in June 2004, one of the first tasks of the newly-elected Parliament was to vote on the nomination of Jose Mannuel Barroso as President of the European Commission, Parliament approved Mr Barroso's nomination on July 22 by 413 to 251 with 44 abstentions.

Once the Commission President is approved by Parliament, Parliament must also vote on whether to approve the College of Commissioners as a whole. Before this vote takes place, individual Commissioners-designate appear at parliament hearings before the relevant EU Parliament Committee.

These hearings took place between 27 September and 8 October 2004, and a vote on the College of Commissioners was scheduled to take place on 27 October.

When it became clear at that stage that Parliament was not willing to accept all members of Mr Barroso's proposed team, Mr Barroso withdrew his proposals and subsequently presented a modified team to Parliament on 17 November. On 18 November, Parliament voted to approve this Commission by 449 to 149 with 82 abstentions.

The European Parliament (732 members) is the only directly-elected institution of the EU.Its role is to protect the rights and interests of EU citizens, especially when the EU makes laws and policies, and when the EU budget is being drawn up and EU monies are being spent.

The EU Commission is responsible for drafting EU laws (for consideration and enactment by Parliament and Council) and for ensuring that EU legislation and policy is properly implemented in Member States.

The EU Council comprises the heads of Government of all EU Member States. It meets four times a year to set broad political objectives for the European Union.