2. Political groups:introduction
The political Groups of the European Parliament are the parliamentary groups of
the European Parliament. The European Parliament is unique among supranational
assemblies in that its members (MEPs) organize themselves in such ideological groups like
in traditional national legislatures. Instead, the members of other supranational assemblies
form national groups. The political groups of the European Parliament are sometimes the
formal representation of a European political party("Europarty") in the Parliament. In
other cases, they are political coalitions of a number of European parties, national
parties, and independent politicals.
3. Requirements and privileges
Working together in Groups benefits European political parties: for
example, the European Free Alliance (5 MEPs in 6th Parliament) and the European
Greens (37 MEPs in 6th Parliament) have more power by working together in
theEuropean Greens–European Free Alliance Group (42 MEPs) than they would have
as stand-alone parties, bringing their causes much-needed additional support.
Further incentives for co-operating in Groups include financial subsidies from the
Parliament and guaranteed seats on committees which are not afforded to
Independent MEPs.
For a Group to be formally recognised in the Parliament, it must fulfil the conditions
laid down in the relevant European Parliament Rule of Procedure. That Rule lays
down the minimum criteria a Group must meet to qualify as a Group. Provided those
criteria are met, MEPs can theoretically create any Group they like
4. Organisation
Groups may be based around a single European political party (e.g. the European
Peoples Party) or they can include more than one European party as well as
national parties and independents (e.g. the Liberal Group).
Each Group appoints a leader, referred to as a "president", "co-ordinator" or
"chair", who decides which way the Group should vote in Parliament. The chairs
of each Group meet in the Conference of Presidents to decide what issues will be
dealt with at the plenary session of the European Parliament. Groups can table
motions for resolutions and table amendments to reports.
7. Position of the liberal ALDE OR ELDR:ALLIANCE
OF LIBERALS AND DEMOCRATS FOR EUROPE
Liberal Group leader Graham Watson MEP has denounced the grand coalition and has
described the aim for the liberals in the following terms: "the challenge for us is not only
to break the inherent conservatism of the grand coalition, where a failing EPP Europe is
propped up by a Socialist poodle pinching the crumbs from the table" also expressing a
desire to ensure that the posts of Commission President, Council President, Parliament
President and High Representative are not carved up in an agreement between the two
groups to the exclusion of third parties.
During the fifth term it was the liberals who were involved in a break in the grand
coalition when they entered into an alliance with the People's Party, to the exclusion of
the Socialists.
8. EFA AND ECR: The Greens–European Free
Alliance,European Conservatives and Reformists
The European Conservatives and The Greens/EFA group consists of two
Reformists, abbreviated to ECR,is distinct European political parties -
conservative, anti the European Green Party (EGP) and
federalist and Eurosceptic political group in the European Free Alliance (EFA). The
the European Parliament it is based on EFA consists of parties
the Movement for European Reform. The representing stateless
largest parties in the group are nations, regionalist and minority
the Conservative Party of the United political interests. The Alliance has
Kingdom,Law and Justice(PiS) and Poland generally limited its membership to
Comes First(PJN). Most of the member parties progressive parties.[6] These European
joined from the European Democrats section parties are joined by national
of the EPP-ED and the Union for Europe of the parties, such as the Dutch Europe
Nations. Transparent and the Swedish Pirate Party.
9. European United Left–Nordic
Green Left AND Europe of Freedom
and Democracy
Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD)
is a Eurosceptic political group in
European United Left/Nordic Green the European Parliament. Formed after
Left (GUE/NGL) is a left-wing political the European parliamentary election in
group with seats in the European 2009, it is mostly made up of elements of the
Parliament since 1995. now
defunct Independence/Democracy and Union
for a Europe of Nations Groups from the out-
going parliament.
10. Non-Inscrits
Non-Inscrits (abbreviated NI; English: Non-Attached Members, abbreviated NA[1])
are Members of the European Parliament (MEP) who do not sit in one of the
recognized political groups.
The MEPs may be part of a national party, or a European political party, but for a political
grouping in parliament to be formed there need to be 25 MEPs from seven different states.
Being part of a group grants access to state funds and committee seats but the group
members must be ideologically tied.
11. EXPLAIN VIDEO
European Parliament Touchscreen Explainer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ves9cp6aDuU
