On 10 September 1952, Paul-Henri Spaak presided over the opening of the first ever session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in Strasbourg. It was the starting point of today’s European Parliament.

In 70 years, the Assembly has grown in strength. Born as a consultative body with limited powers, it has become a true institution embracing European democracy and the expression of European public opinion. It changed name and became the European Parliament in 1962, a further step towards becoming the only directly elected, multilingual, multi-party transnational parliament in the world.

EP President Roberta Metsola opened&nbsp;the ceremony of the 70 year of the EP, that took place in Strasbourg, followed by speeches by the Prime Ministers of Parliament’s three host countries - French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, Alexander de Croo of Belgium, and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.

70th anniversary of the European Parliament

Every year, the EU's 600 000 beekeepers and their 16 million beehives produce 200 000 tonnes of honey. 

This is not however sufficient to cover demand on the EU market, and the shortfall is made up by imports, above all from China. Threats to bee health and market competition make the economic viability of apiculture a critical matter. EU policies aim therefore to address these issues and promote beekeeping, an activity that is of vital importance to the environment.

EU apiculture sector - 8th parliamentary term

EU rules are needed to better protect and support whistle-blowers and their role in revealing serious breaches of the public interest, such as corruption, miscarriages of justice, tax avoidance, lack of protection for food safety or the environment and attacks on social, human or workers’ rights.

Whistle-blowers have proved to be a crucial resource in revealing harm to the public interest.

Protection of whistleblowers - 8th parliamentary term

In March 2015, the co-legislators adopted new EU rules allowing Member States to prohibit or restrict the cultivation of crops containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on their territory, even if they are allowed at EU level.

Under the old rules (Directive 2001/18/EC), Member States could provisionally ban or restrict the use of a GMO on their territory only if they had new evidence that the organism concerned constituted a risk to human health or the environment, or in the case of an emergency.

Genetically modified organism - 8th parliamentary term

Official portraits selection of incoming during the 8th Parliamentary term.

The European Parliament is made up of 751 Members elected in the 28 Member States of the enlarged European Union. Since 1979 MEPs have been elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year period.

Official portraits of MEPs - 8th Parliamentary term

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the single European market.

The EU ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

Food safety - 8th parliamentary term

On Wednesday 18 January 2023, in a secret vote, Marc ANGEL (S&amp;D, LU) received an absolute majority of votes cast and was elected to the office of European Parliament Vice-President.

Election of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament

On 3 July 2019, David Sassoli is elected with 345 votes as the new President of the European Parliament.

He is an Italian politician and journalist. He is a member of the Democratic Party and serves in the European Parliament since 2009.

On 1 July 2014 Sassoli was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament with 393 votes, making him the second most voted Socialist candidate. In 2019, Sassoli was re-elected again in the European Parliament, with 128,533 votes.

David Sassoli, newly elected President of the European Parliament

The 34th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly took place from 18 to 20 December 2017 in Port-au-Prince (Haiti). 

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created out of a common desire to bring together the elected representatives of the European Community - the Members of the European Parliament - and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states ("ACP countries") that have signed the Cotonou Agreement: it is the only institution of its kind in the world.

It is the only international assembly in which the representatives of various countries sit together regularly with the aim of promoting the interdependence of North and South.

Since the entry into force of the Treaty on EU and EU enlargement it has acquired a more prominent role. A substantial part of the work of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly is directed towards promoting human rights and democracy and the common values of humanity, and this has produced joint commitments undertaken within the framework of the UN conferences.

34th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary assembly

A newly formed European Parliament, will emerge from the EU of June 2024 across the member states. 720 Members of the Parliament will be directly elected by the European citizens. As the legislative powerhouse of the European Union, the Parliament and its Members will hold a pivotal role in shaping policies and making legislation that transcend borders, on a variety of issues ranging from climate action to economic strength in order to address the pressing global geopolitical challenges.

New European Parliament (2024-2029)

The 41st session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly is set to take place on April 1-3, 2022, in Strasbourg. The EU has a special partnership with the ACP countries due to historic ties between them and many EU member states. This partnership is laid down in the Cotonou agreement. It is vital that this partnership has a parliamentary dimension, allowing for the scrutiny of the governmental and executive dimension. Therefore parliamentary representatives of the 78 ACP countries and 78 Members of the European Parliament meet twice a year in Joint Parliamentary Assembly, once in the EU country holding the EU Council presidency and once in a country determined by the ACP.

41st ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary assembly

In February 2014, with an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to submit legislative proposals aimed at improving the functioning of the European Arrest Warrant. In Parliament’s opinion, revision of the current legislation is needed to prevent miscarriages of justice, long waits in pre-trial detention and other breaches of suspects‘ human rights.

European Arrest Warrant - 8th parliamentary term

The Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament and human rights worldwide

2021 marks the 100th anniversary Andrej Sakharov. On this occasion, the Archives unit and the Directorate for the Library and Knowledge services jointly recall the history of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

For many years the European Parliament has championed human rights and democracy, with Members of the European Parliament holding expressing their concerns on human rights abuses in the world regardless of borders or regime. And it isn’t just sentiment: inspired by Andrei Sakharov’s constant campaigning for freedom of thought the European Parliament put this commitment into practice, founding the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1988. Presented to the Sakharov Prize laureate if possible by the President of the European Parliament at a plenary session in Strasbourg, the Prize endeavours to embody Sakharov’s extraordinary work and carry his message forward to future generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Event date: 21/05/2021

Exhibition on The Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament and human rights

Have a look a look back at the first constituent meeting of the European Parliament held in Strasbourg on 19 March 1958.

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The European Parliament of 2008 has wide decision-making powers on legislation, the budget and control and scrutiny of the European Commission. In fact, the European Parliament is unique in the world. There is no other directly elected supra-national parliament with such wide-ranging power. 

Once and if the Lisbon Treaty was ratified, the European Parliament, following the elections in June 2009, was composed of 751 MEPs with its powers once more enlarged.

60th anniversary of the European Parliament

In 2020, some of the major challenges faced by the European Union, and notably by the European Parliament, were the measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and its impact, the financing of the EU’s long-term budget, the talks to mitigate the impact of the climate change or on the agreement on future EU-UK relations.

Discover 2020 through videos, photos and audio from the European Parliament.

European Parliament review 2020

The members of the European Parliament were directly elected for the first time. The parliament held its first session in Strasbourg on 17 July 1979. Louise Weiss as the "oldest member" presided over the chamber. Simone Veil was elected president.

The Decision and Act on European elections by direct universal suffrage were signed in Brussels on 20 September 1976. Following ratification by all Member States, the Act entered into force on July 1978, and the first elections took place on 7 and 10 June 1979.

Louise Weiss was a journalist and politician. She co-founded the journal “L’Europe Nouvelle” later she created a movement advocating women’s suffrage in France. She became the oldest member of the European Parliament in 1979.

Already a renowned politician in France, where she became minister for health in 1974, Veil was elected member of the European Parliament at the first direct elections in 1979. The new Parliament elected her as its president for a period of two-and-a-half years. She thus became the first president of the directly-elected European Parliament and the first woman president of any EU institution.

40 years ago - First session of the directly elected European Parliament

German MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Danish MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Cyprus MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Romanian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Latvian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Dutch MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Belgian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Austrian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

French MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Finnish MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term

Press conference by Guy VERHOFSTADT, Sven SIMON, Gabriele BISCHOFF, Daniel FREUND, Helmut SCHOLZ, co-rapporteurs on proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties

Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

DACP

Press conference by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, ING2 Committee Chair, Vladimír BILČÍK and Nathalie LOISEAU co-rapporteurs on proposals how to improve Parliament’s transparency, integrity and accountability

Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union, including the EU-Morocco, EU-Tunisia and EU-Algeria Joint Parliamentary Committees

DMAG

Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee

Press conference by Adrián VÁZQUEZ, JURI Chair on the judgments of the General Court in Cases T-115/20, T-272/21 Puigdemont i Casamajó and Comín i Oliveres v Parliament

Joint press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Igor GROSU, President of the Moldovan Parliament

Press point by Nathalie LOISEAU co-chair of the EU-UK PPA and and Sir Oliver Heald MP on the third meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee

Delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee

Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly / Plenary session

Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly

DLAT

Meeting of the European Parliament's Bureau

European flags at half-mast in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels and Strasbourg in honour of former European Commission President Jacques Delors

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion with the human rights activists

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion withfinalists -  Colleen McNicholas (US)

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion with finalists -  Monseñor Rolando Álvarez and Vilma Nuñez de Escorcia represented by Padre Uriel Vallejos and Sara Henríquez

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Human rights as a pillar in the upcoming European elections

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion laureates’  ‘’Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life Freedom Movement in Iran’’  representatives and MEP Abir Al-Sahlani

European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Interview

Quaestors family  photo

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Parliament's call for the Right to Disconnect – 3 years after

Media Seminar - European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Meeting with finalists

Media Seminar - European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Meeting with laureates

27th meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee EU-Chile

14th European Union - West Nordic Council Inter-parliamentary Meeting

Once elected, Members of the European Parliament have an important job to do. They are the eyes, ears and voices of Europeans in the Parliament. You vote for them, then they vote for you!

Sitting in parliamentary groups, a bit like parties in national parliaments, MEPs listen to people’s concerns, debate, consult with interested parties and vote on laws.

Find out more about the role of MEPs!

The role of Members of the European Parliament - VT EE24

The role of Members of the European Parliament - 4-5 EE24

The role of Members of the European Parliament  -16:9 EE24

The European Parliament, the only directly elected EU institution, is the beating heart of European democracy! 

It represents the interests of EU citizens.  

MEPs debate, amend and pass laws which have a direct impact on the lives of some 450 million Europeans.  

Find out more about how the European Parliament works!

How the European Parliament works -  VT EE24

How the European Parliament works - 4-5 EE24

How the European Parliament works -16:9 EE24

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) discuss following the death of Alexei NAVALNY, Sakharov Prize Laureate 2021. Questions and answers session by MEPs.

Death of Alexei NAVALNY, Sakharov Prize 2021: joint meeting of AFET Committee, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee: MEPs Q&A

EP President Roberta METSOLA addresses to the Hellenic Parliament during her official visit to Athens (Greece). This footage shows extracts from from her meeting with the President of the Greek Parliament, Constantin TASSOULAS and of her speech with key remarks on the death of Alexei Navalny and the importance of the upcoming European elections (6-9 June 2024).

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Athens (Greece): extracts from arrival, meeting with Constantin TASSOULAS, President of the Hellenic Parliament and address to the Hellenic Parliament

Leading up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Metsola intends to tour all EU Member States, urging citizens to participate in the voting process. Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, delivers a speech during a joint meeting of the Committees for European Affairs, National Defense and Foreign Affairs, Cultural and Educational Affairs, and Equality, Youth and Human Rights, at the Plenary Hall of the Hellenic Parliament, during her official visit to Athens. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the Plenary Hall of the Hellenic Parliament

On the occasion of her official visit to Poland, EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Szymon HOLOWNIA, President of the Polish Parliament (Sejm).

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Warsaw (Poland): extracts from the arrival at the Sejm (Polish Parliament) and meeting with Szymon HOLOWNIA, President of the Polish Parliament

On the occasion of her official visit to Poland, EP President Roberta METSOLA participates in the inauguration of the Warsaw Europa Experience (Visitor Centre of the European Parliament) in presence of Ewa KOPACZ, EP Vice-President and Rafał TRZASKOWSKI, Mayor of Warsaw.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Warsaw (Poland): extracts from the inauguration of the Warsaw Europa Experience (Visitor Centre of the European Parliament)

On the occasion of her official visit to the Czech Republic, EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Markéta PEKAROVÁ ADAMOVÁ, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament. This video shows EP President's arrival, meeting with President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, and extracts from their press point. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Prague (Czech Republic): visit to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament

Leading up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Metsola intends to tour all EU Member States, urging citizens to participate in the voting process. Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, speaks to the press with Markéta PEKAROVÁ ADAMOVÁ, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, at the end of their meeting during her official visit to Czechia. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Markéta PEKAROVÁ ADAMOVÁ, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament

On the occasion of her official visit to Estonia, Roberta METSOLA meets with Lauri HUSSAR, Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu), and addresses the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Tallinn (Estonia): extracts from arrival at the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), meeting with Lauri HUSSAR and address in plenary

On the occasion of her official visit to Estonia, Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, addresses the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu), after her bilateral meeting with Lauri HUSSAR, Speaker of the Estonian Parliament. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President addresses the Riigikogu, Estonian Parliament

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Søren GADE, Speaker of the Folketing, in the Folketing (Danish Parliament) during her official visit to Copenhagen (Denmark). This news item shows extracts from the arrival of President Metsola and welcome by Speaker Gade as well as extracts from the bilateral and meeting with Danish MEPs.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Copenhagen (Denmark) - Meeting at the Folketing (Danish Parliament): arrival and meeting with Søren GADE, Speaker of the Folketing

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, pays an official visit to Luxembourg. This footage shows her press point with Claude WISELER, Speaker of the Chamber of deputies (Luxembourgish Parliament). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Claude WISELER, Speaker of the Chamber of deputies (Luxembourgish Parliament)

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, visits the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourgish Parliament) and meets with Claude WISELER, Speaker of the Luxembourgish Parliament, and with members of the Bureau and Committees of Foreign and European affairs during her official visit to Luxembourg. This news item shows extracts from the bilateral with Speaker Wiseler, from the meeting with members of the Bureau and Committees and from the press point.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Luxembourg - Visit to the Luxembourgish Parliament: bilateral with Claude WISELER, Speaker of the Luxembourgish Parliament, meeting with members of the Bureau and Committees and press point

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German MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Danish MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Cyprus MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Romanian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

German MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Romanian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Latvian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Danish MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Dutch MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

German MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Romanian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Belgian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Austrian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Dutch MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Danish MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

French MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Dutch MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

Finnish MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term