European Parliament: History and Evolution
Introduction
The European Parliament is an important forum for political debate and decision-making at the EU level. The Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by voters in all Member States to represent people’s interests with regard to EU law-making and to make sure other EU institutions are working democratically.
Evolution of the European Parliament
The Parliament, like the other institutions, was not designed in its current form when it first met on September 10, 1952. One of the oldest common institutions, it began as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
The first Treaty, signed in 1951, set up the Parliamentary Assembly, which was later renamed the European Parliament. The purpose of the original Treaty was for six countries that were previously at war to work together to achieve common aims.
Parliament has perpetually gained popularity-based, supervisory, and authoritative powers with each new Treaty.
- Treaty of Brussels (1975): The Parliament gained the privilege to examine the EU accounts at the end of every year and evaluate whether the Commission has astutely and accurately spent the EU budget.
- Single European Act (1986): Ensured that Parliament’s consent is compulsory before another country can join the EU.
- Amsterdam Treaty (1997): Gave a much stronger position to the Parliament in co-administering with the Council on an entire scope of regions that are liable to EU law.
- Lisbon Treaty (2009): Reinforces the European Parliament, gives national parliaments more responsibility in determining the course of European policy, and allows EU citizens the power of initiative. The Lisbon Treaty enhances the European Parliament’s powers as a fully recognized co-legislator with increased budgetary powers. It also gives Parliament a key role in the election of the European Commission President.
The European Parliament therefore appears destined to be in transit between the plenary sessions in Strasbourg, additional sessions in Brussels, and its Secretariat in Luxembourg.
Direct Elections
Before the introduction of direct elections, Members of the European Parliament were appointed by each of the Member States’ national parliaments. All Members had a dual mandate.
The Summit Conference held in Paris on December 9 and 10, 1974, determined that direct elections ‘should take place in or after 1978’ and asked Parliament to submit new proposals to replace its original draft convention of 1960.
The Decision and Act on European elections by direct universal suffrage were signed in Brussels on September 20, 1976. Following ratification by all Member States, the Act entered into force in July 1978, and the first elections took place on June 7 and 10, 1979.
Recent Developments
With the European elections of May 22-25, 2014, it became clear that Parliament had made full use of the Treaty provision of Article 14 TEU, which states: ‘The European Parliament shall, jointly with the Council, exercise legislative and budgetary functions. It shall exercise functions of political control and consultation as laid down in the Treaties. It shall elect the President of the Commission.’
With the new Commission President being elected by Parliament at its sitting of October 22, 2014, it had become clear to the public that the initial idea that European political parties would present to voters ‘lead candidates’ for the office of Commission President had prevailed.