EU accession criteria, conflict resolution, economic ties... MEP delegations work on these and many other topics when they meet with their counterparts from around the world.

EP delegations, actors with a global reach

The EU is in constant contact  with the rest of the world.

In the European Parliament,  41 delegations of MEPs

maintain these relations  with their counterparts around the world.

This is a way of doing  parliamentary diplomacy

Each of these delegations  has a set number of MEPs.

It corresponds to the number of  parliamentarians from the partner countries.

The ACP delegation is established  under the Cotonou Agreement.

ACP stands for Africa,  the Caribbean and the Pacific.

There are two plenary sessions,  with the entire joint parliament,

The other delegations work largely  on an invitation basis,

meaning that some countries  are prioritised for visits.

some go to vote, others don't, some are  preceded by a debate and others not.

It's exactly the way the EU Parliament  and national parliaments work.

There is a report.  First, the topic is chosen

based on its importance for both countries.

Whether it's about the fight against  terrorism, migration or the environment,

we choose the topic  and appoint two co-rapporteurs.

They work together to present a report  which is debated

in economic and political committees,  in the human rights subcommittee,

Every word matters  when spoken in the outside world.

Most media will not mention that you are  an MEP from such and such a country.

The power of the European Parliament  to amplify messages is enormous.

No president wants to be criticised  by the European Parliament.