Pelle from Sweden is interested to know why MEPs don't have the same powers to propose laws as their national counterparts. How it Works investigates the legislative role of the MEPs.

How It Works: Can MEPs make laws?

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14555252/A008-00004-EN.srt

Article 211 of the Constitutional Treaty   of the European Community:

The Commission will have its   own power of decision.

The European Parliament,   Commission and Council of the EU

form the institutional triangle of the EU.

Within this triangle it's the Commission   that proposes European laws,

but the EP has an essential role   in the expansion of these laws.

In fact it is the case that national   parliaments, as the German Bundestag,

But only a very small part of legislative   initiatives come from the parliament.

The majority stems from the   government ministries. Why is that?

and cause complex reciprocal effects   with other laws.

To be able to draft such a   law, expert knowledge is necessary.

As a general rule the   Commission initiates,

the EP and Council shapes   but they retain a certain power.

If the Council wants the Commission   to make a proposal they comply.

Some European Court of Justice   judgements

When the EP considers   that an EU law is needed,

it can ask the Commission to make a   proposal if they have a majority.

Proof that the EP can have the last word,   it can oppose legislation,

one example of this was on the   Working Time Directive.

In April 2009 no agreement was found   between the EP and Council.

The result was the law was   simply abandoned.