European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Citizens’ enquiries
European Parliament position on the Conference on the Future of Europe
Members of the European Parliament from the Constitutional Affairs Committee have warned that the Covid‑19 crisis has made the need for reform more crucial than ever. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the composition of the European Parliament, following Court of Justice ruling on case C-502/19
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages following the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union in case C-502/19, Junqueras Vies, of 19 December 2019. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the use of animals in scientific research
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages calling on the Parliament to introduce a Europe-wide moratorium on the use of animals in scientific research. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the situation of the Kurdish population in north east Syria – Rojava
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages on the situation of the Kurdish population in north east Syria, following a Turkish military operation in this region in October 2019. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on self-employed workers on e-commerce websites during the coronavirus pandemic
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages on the situation of micro-enterprises and the self-employed, in particular on e-commerce websites, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the Patrick Zaky case
Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament (or to the institution’s public portal) expressing their views on current issues and/or requesting action from the Parliament. Continue reading
What role for the European Parliament’s committees and how do they work?
The European Parliament’s committees carry out detailed examination of proposed EU laws and draw up proposed changes, upon which Members subsequently debate and vote. The committees are fundamental to EU decision-making systems and to the powers of the European Parliament. The European Parliament has 20 parliamentary committees composed of Members. Each committee is headed by … Continue reading
What is the European Parliament’s position on the situation in Syria?
In a resolution adopted on 15 March 2018, the European Parliament strongly condemned ‘… the widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed during the conflict, and in particular the acts perpetrated by forces of the Assad regime, including with the support of its allies Russia and Iran, as well as by the UN-listed terrorist organisations’. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the situation at the EU’s external borders with Turkey following a large attempted influx of migrants
The President of the European Parliament has received a large number of messages calling on the EU to adopt a clear and humane migration and external border policy. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the EP resolution on the fundamental rights of people of African descent in Europe
The President of the European Parliament has received a large number of messages calling on the Parliament to revoke its resolution on the fundamental rights of people of African descent in Europe. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Stop extremism’
The President of the European Parliament has received a large number of messages calling on the Parliament to reject, if submitted for a vote, an ‘Anti-Extremism Directive’. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on rules concerning lead concentration in PVC
The President of the European Parliament has received a large number of messages calling for the European Parliament to reject a Commission proposal to amend the rules concerning lead concentration in PVC. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on the import and transport of wildlife into Vietnam
The President of the European Parliament has received a large number of messages on the import and transport of wildlife into Vietnam.
You can find below, in English and Dutch, the reply sent to citizens who wrote to the President of the European Parliament on this matter. Continue reading
What are political groups in the European Parliament and how are they formed?
The European Parliament regularly receives questions from citizens about its political groups. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries to the European Parliament in 2019
Throughout 2019, people from across the EU and the world addressed the European Parliament to request information, express opinions or suggest ideas on a wide range of topics. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP) provides them with clear answers on the issues they raise. Continue reading
European Youth Event
The European Parliament regularly receives questions from citizens about the European Youth Event. Are you interested too? Find out how you can take part! Continue reading
Get in touch with the European Parliament
The European Parliament regularly receives enquiries from citizens about how to contact the European Parliament, its Members and its departments. If you have a question, who should you contact? Continue reading
European Parliament’s role in hearings of the 2019 Commissioner-designates
On 16 July 2019, the European Parliament elected, with 383 votes in favour, Ursula von der Leyen as President of the next European Commission. Individual governments of EU countries subsequently put forward candidate members of the European Commission. On 10 September 2019, President-elect von der Leyen presented her team, along with the proposed allocation of portfolios. Continue reading
Translation and interpretation at the European Parliament
Using 24 languages creates 552 possible language combinations. To cope with these, the European Parliament uses a system of ‘relay’ languages: a speaker or a text is first interpreted or translated into one of the most widely used languages (English, French or German), and then into other languages. As a rule, each interpreter and translator works into his/her mother tongue. Continue reading
Staffing arrangements of Members of the European Parliament
Members are free to choose their own staff, although they may not employ close relatives. To cover the costs of hiring staff, Members have a monthly budget of about €25 000 at their disposal. However, the Parliament does not simply give these sums to the Members. Parliament pays their staff salaries directly – and contributes to the relevant tax and social security authorities. Continue reading
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