In just over one week, on 7 June 2024, Irish voters will head to the polls to elect their chosen representatives in both local and European elections. The European Parliament elections represent the world’s biggest cross-border elections. In Ireland alone, an estimated 3.4 million people are eligible to vote, while over 400 million people are eligible across the European Union as a whole. But amongst the commotion of canvassing season, many people may be rightly asking the fundamental question: “What is the role of an MEP?”
Nominations in Ireland closed one month ago (30 April 2024) and a total of 73 candidates have declared their intention to run to become a member of the European Parliament (MEP). Irish voters will elect 14 MEPs across three constituencies. There are 23 candidates contesting in the South constituency, 23 in Dublin, and 27 in the Midlands-North-West. Altogether, there will be 720 MEPs elected across all EU countries and chosen candidates will have a mandate of five years.
Legislative power
Over the last few decades, the legislative power of the European Parliament has evolved. In the 1950s the Parliament was a consultative body; one with symbolic functions but with no real influence on the policy-making process. However, under the Lisbon Treaty, which came into effect in late 2009, the Parliament’s powers significantly increased.
Fundamentally, MEPs represent their constituents at the EU level. MEPs debate, amend and pass European legislation on behalf of EU citizens regarding issues that are central to their daily lives. MEPs also represent citizens during interinstitutional negotiations with national ministers who sit on the Council of the EU and the European Commission during so-called “trilogues”.
For example, over the last five years MEPs have negotiated new laws on a variety of different issues, including the European Climate Law and the EU Digital COVID Certificate regulations, as well as rules to prevent gender-based violence, and on Artificial Intelligence.
Are all MEPs in political parties?
MEPs can be members of national political parties or can be independent. While in the European Parliament, MEPs sit in EU-wide political groups or are Non-Inscrits (Non-attached). Parliamentary political groups are not organised by nationality but rather by political affiliation. There are currently seven political groups within the European Parliament, spanning from the political far-right to the far-left. Some of the current Irish candidates have already disclosed which group they would sit in if elected, but not all have confirmed.
Where are MEPs based?
MEPs divide their time between their constituencies and two different cities: Strasbourg and Brussels. Every six weeks, MEPs spend one week carrying out “external parliamentary activities”. This could involve work back in their home country constituencies, or to do investigative work abroad with committees. During these weeks, Irish MEPs can also attend any Dáil committee if there is an issue that they would like to have a say on.
In Strasbourg, MEPs debate and vote on new laws during what is called a “Plenary” session. Plenary sessions last four days and take place once a month. While in Brussels, MEPs take part in meetings with their political groupings and within parliamentary committees. Committees are organised around different EU competencies. For example, Irish MEPs sit on committees that deal with the environment, economic affairs, civil rights, transport, and agriculture. These committees are similar to the Oireachtas committees and MEPs that sit in them examine proposed legislation, organise hearings with experts and have the opportunity to examine policy issues more closely.
Budgetary and supervisory power
As well as carrying out legislative tasks, the European Parliament has budgetary power. As such, MEPs sign off on the EU budget, along with the Council, ultimately having a considerable input as to how the EU’s money is spent.
As an institution, the European Parliament strives to defend freedom, equality and the rule of law across the EU. It aims to promote democracy and human rights around the world through election observations, for example.
MEPs in the European Parliament are not just a legislative power bloc, they also play a key supervisory role. In essence, they ensure that the EU institutions are carrying out their functions in a correct manner. During Plenary sessions in Strasbourg, and committee meetings in Brussels, MEPs monitor and interact with the European Commission and the European Council through visible and frequent debates and hearings. In this way, Plenary debates are important because they are the only EU-level forum where the European Council’s results, in particular, are examined and scrutinised, and whe.
Additionally, as part of their mandate, MEPs elect the President of the European Commission by absolute majority (361 out of 720 votes) using a secret ballot. Notably, there is a political process, also known as the Spitzenkandidat process, whereby the political group that wins the most seats in the European Parliament elections (which was the European People’s Party in 2019) has the prerogative that their chosen candidate will be the next European Commission President.
The Parliament also organises hearings of the Commissioners-designate, chosen by the newly appointed Commission President and EU countries, so that MEPs from the relevant parliament committees can assess the suitability of candidates for their proposed portfolios. This can be a tough vetting process for Commissioners-designate as a negative evaluation by the Parliament can prompt candidates to withdraw from the process, as has happened in the past.
Can MEPs propose legislation?
Ultimately, it is the Commission that has the right to “legislative initiative”. This means that the Commission is the only EU institution which may propose any new EU laws. MEPs in the European Parliament then have the task of amending, debating and approving them. However, under the Treaty of Maastricht, enhanced by the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament now has a right of legislative initiative that allows it to ask the Commission to submit a proposal. In the areas where the treaties give the European Parliament the right of initiative, its committees can draw up a report on a subject within its remit and present a motion for a resolution to the Parliament. These are known as “own-initiative reports”.
Why is it important for citizens to vote on 7 June 2024?
There are several important aspects to consider as we approach the June elections. With the rise of disinformation, and political and social fragmentation, there are increasing levels of mistrust in institutions amongst citizens. In European Movement Ireland’s 2024 poll, less than half (49%) of respondents in Ireland believe that the EU is moving in the right direction.
In the same 2024 EMI poll, 88% of respondents believed that it was important to vote in the European elections; however, the abstention rate for Irish voters was higher than the EU average during the previous European elections. In 2019, 50% of eligible Irish voters did not cast their vote.
Therefore, it must be highlighted that the function of MEPs is first and foremost to represent citizens. With this in mind, it is important for citizens to engage with the candidates who are seeking their vote in this election as MEPs play a significant role in directing the future trajectory of the EU. Citizens can engage with MEP candidates by, for example, asking them about relevant policy issues, visiting candidates’ websites, sending them an email, following their social media, reading their manifestos, or listening to their speaking points.
Of course, engagement should not end in June once MEPs are elected. It is essential to interact on an ongoing basis while MEPs are carrying out their five-year mandate. As mentioned above, MEPs now wield considerable influence in the EU’s policy-making process, so citizens should ensure to keep in contact with their MEPs beyond June 2024, and make their opinions and concerns heard on policy issues that impact them.
Check out EMI’s EU Elections Information Hub to find more information about the EU elections and the candidates running for election: European Movement Ireland | European Parliament Elections 2024
Watch EMI’s video explainer on the European Parliament: European Movement Ireland | EU Information Hub
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