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The Lisbon Treaty: more powers for the European Parliament

More democratic accountability

With a few exceptions, it would place the European Parliament (EP) on an equal footing as lawmaker with the Council, representing EU Member States, in areas where this has not been the case so far, notably in setting the EU budget (Parliament would enjoy full parity), agriculture policy and justice and home affairs. National parliaments would gain the right to object to a proposal if they felt that a given result could be better attained at national rather than EU level.

The Commission President would be selected by EU heads of government on the basis of the European election results and approved by the EP. The appointment of the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs would also be subject to Parliament's consent.

More rights and clarity for citizens

Citizens' rights would also be strengthened. For example, the Treaty would make the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights binding upon the EU itself, thus requiring EU institutions to respect citizens' civil, political, economic or social rights. A new right of citizens' initiative would enable groups who can muster one million signatures to call upon the Commission to put forward new policy proposals, thus increasing citizens' participation in EU decision-making.

Greater effectiveness

The Treaty also aims to improve the efficiency of the EU's decision-making process by increasing the use of qualified majority voting, replacing unanimity, and thus facilitating agreements in the Council of Ministers. The new European Council President and the High Representative for foreign policy should improve the consistency of EU action.

More legislative power for the European Parliament

The Lisbon Treaty would make Parliament a co-legislator with the Council in a series of new fields. Some of these, currently dealt with only by the Council, would be handled under the co-decision procedure. Others are completely new policy areas for the EU.

Existing EU policies which would become subject to co-decision (non-exhaustive list)

New policy areas to be introduced by the Lisbon Treaty which will be subject to co-decision (non-exhaustive list) 18 new Members to enter Parliament

The current number of MEPs is 736, as laid down in the Nice Treaty. Under the Lisbon Treaty, the number of MEPs would be 751. If the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, 18 new Members representing 12 different countries would take up their seats in Parliament.

The number of MEPs would temporarily rise to 754, because under the Lisbon Treaty Germany would have three fewer MEPs, but these Members would keep their seats until the end of the present legislature.

Raising the number of MEPs in the middle of the legislature requires the consent of all Member States by ratification. Until this ratification procedure is completed, the 18 new Members cannot take up their full powers.

In a resolution adopted before the June 2009 elections, Parliament therefore suggested taking in the 18 new Members as observers from the moment the Lisbon Treaty has been fully ratified until the protocol temporarily raising the number of MEPs is ratified. Some of the 12 countries elected their "Lisbon MEPs" in the June 2009 European Parliament elections, but in many countries the decision on how to choose these Member(s) will be taken later.

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