Institutions of the European Union

Contents
	The European Parliament (EP)
	The European Commission
	Council of the European union
	The European Council
	The Court of Justice of the European Communities
	European Court of Auditors
	The Committee of the Regions
	European Economic and Social Committee (ESC)
	The European Ombudsman
	Legislative acts and measures

The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body of the European Union. EP-StrasbourgThe 736 Members of the European Parliament are there to represent the citizens. 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.

Parliament plays an active role in drafting legislation which has an impact on the daily lives of its citizens: For example, on environmental protection, consumer rights, equal opportunities, transport, and the free movement of workers, capital, services and goods. Parliament also has joint power with the Council over the annual budget of the European Union.

Rules of Procedure

Article 199 of the EC Treaty states that the European Parliament shall adopt Rules of Procedure. These are Parliament's internal organisational and operational rules.
Each time the Rules of Procedure are updated they are published in the Official Journal of the European Union, which you can obtain from the sales outlets of the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
Rules of Procedure are also available on Parliament's Internet site and distributed as a booklet within Parliament.

The President of Parliament

The President of the European Parliament directs its activities and acts as its representative.

The President: election

The candidate who obtains an absolute majority of the votes cast in a secret ballot is elected President. If an absolute majority cannot be obtained after three ballots, the President is elected on the fourth round by a simple majority.The President's term of office, which may be renewed, is two and a half years - half a parliamentary term.

The President and his duties

The President directs Parliament's activities, chairs plenary sittings and declares the budget finally adopted.The President represents Parliament in the outside world and in its relations with the other Community institutions.
Correspondence with citizens

You can contact the European Parliament through its Correspondence with Citizens Unit, which will provide an answer to your questions.

An electronic mailbox is provided for your questions, requests for information and proposals to the European Parliament.

Subjects raised must relate to matters within the European Parliament's sphere of activities. Answers will be sent within a reasonable period.

If the question covers a complex subject, a holding letter will be sent immediately by e-mail.

Changes under the Lisbon treaty

The Lisbon Treaty gives the European Parliament new lawmaking powers: it now decides on the vast majority of EU legislation. Over 40 new fields come under the procedure for co-decision by Parliament and the Council of Ministers, including agriculture, energy policy, immigration and EU funds. Parliament has the last say on the EU budget. With more power comes more responsibility. Parliament, as the only directly-elected EU institution, will have new means to keep the EU accountable to its citizens.