Summary Description

The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body of the European Union. The 736 Members of the European Parliament are there to represent you, the citizen. They are elected once every five years by voters right across the 27 Member States of the European Union on behalf of its 500 million citizens.

Aim & Objectives

The assertion of Parliament's institutional role in European policy-making is a result of the exercise of its different functions. Respect of democratic principles at the European level is ensured through its participation in the legislative process, its budgetary and control powers and its right to intervene before the European Court of Justice.

Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/expert/displayFtu.do?language=en&id=74&ftuId=FTU_1.3.2.html

Further Information

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=146&language=EN