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Updated June 9, 2023
The European Parliament and U.S. Interests
A Key EU Institution
roughly 200 national political parties—that span the
The European Parliament (EP) is the only directly elected
political spectrum, as well as a number of “non-attached” or
institution of the 27-country European Union (EU). The
independent MEPs (see Figure 1). Although the majority of
EP’s 705 members represent the EU’s roughly 445 million
MEPs hail from political parties that support the EU
citizens. The EP has accumulated more power over time as
project, some belong to parties considered to be anti-
part of EU efforts to improve democratic accountability and
establishment and euroskeptic—that is, critical of the EU or
transparency in EU policymaking. Since the 2009 Lisbon
anti-EU to varying degrees. Most euroskeptic parties are on
Treaty, the EP has become a more important actor on
the right or far right (and are predominantly nationalist and
several issues of U.S. concern, including trade, data
anti-immigration), but a few are on the left or far left.
privacy, and counterterrorism. Congress-EP ties are long-
standing, and the EP’s potential to influence key aspects of
No single group in the EP has an absolute majority, making
U.S.-EU relations may be of interest to Congress.
compromise and coalition-building key features of the EP.
Historically, the two largest parties—the center-right
Role and Responsibilities
European People’s Party (EPP) and the center-left
The EP plays a role in the EU’s legislative and budget
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the
processes and has a degree of oversight responsibility. The
European Parliament (S&D)—have tended to dominate the
EP works closely with the two other main EU institutions:
EP by cooperating in unofficial “grand coalitions.” At the
the European Commission, which represents the interests of
same time, voting blocs may vary on specific pieces of
the EU as a whole and functions as the EU’s executive, and
legislation. The relative size of the political groups also
the Council of the European Union (or the Council of
helps to determine EP leadership and committee posts.
Ministers), which represents the interests of the EU’s
EP Leadership, Committees, and Delegations
national governments. Although the European Commission
MEPs elect a president of the European Parliament every
has the right of legislative initiative, the EP shares
two-and-a-half years (twice per parliamentary term). The
legislative power with the Council of Ministers in most
president oversees the work of the EP and represents it
policy areas, giving the EP the right to accept, amend, or
externally. Roberta Metsola, a Maltese MEP from the EPP,
reject the vast majority of EU laws (with some exceptions,
was elected as EP president in January 2022. The EP has 20
such as taxation and most aspects of foreign policy). Both
standing committees that are key actors in the adoption of
the EP and the Council of Ministers must approve a
EU legislation. In terms of their importance and power, EP
European Commission proposal for it to become EU law in
committees rival those in the U.S. Congress and surpass
a process known as the ordinary legislative procedure or
those in most national European legislatures. Each
co-decision. The EP also must approve the accession of
committee considers legislative proposals that fall within its
new EU members and international agreements (including
jurisdiction and recommends to the full EP whether to
on trade) and may issue nonlegislative resolutions (used, for
adopt, amend, or reject the proposed legislation. The EP
example, to provide opinions on foreign policy issues).
also may establish temporary committees on specific issues
With the Council of Ministers, the EP decides how to
or committees of inquiry on breaches of EU law. The EP
allocate the EU’s annual budget (fixed as a percentage of
plays a role in the EU’s international presence with 44
the EU’s combined gross national income). The EP also has
delegations that maintain parliament-to-parliament relations
a supervisory role over the European Commission and some
throughout the world (including with the U.S. Congress).
limited oversight over the activities of the Council of
Location and Administration
Ministers. The EP monitors EU policies, can conduct
The EP’s official seat is in Strasbourg, France (a location,
investigations and public hearings, and must approve each
near Germany, chosen to symbolize postwar reconciliation).
new slate of European Commissioners every five years.
Plenaries typically are held in Strasbourg once per month.
Structure and Organization
Committee meetings and some part-plenary sessions occur
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) serve five-
in Brussels, Belgium. A Secretariat of about 7,000
year terms. Voting for the EP takes place on a national
nonpartisan civil servants and contract staff, based in both
basis, with the number of MEPs elected in each EU country
Brussels and Luxembourg, provides administrative and
based roughly on population size.
technical support. MEPs and political groups also have their
own staff assistants. The EP faces some criticism that its
Political Groups
multiple locations entail a wasteful duplication of resources
Once elected, MEPs caucus according to political ideology
and sizeable commuting costs, as well as calls for greater
rather than nationality. A political group must contain at
transparency about MEPs’ office and travel expenses. The
least 23 MEPs from a minimum of seven EU countries.
so-called Qatargate corruption scandal involving several
Currently, the EP has seven political groups—containing
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The European Parliament and U.S. Interests
MEPs and staffers that came to light in late 2022 has
renewed focus on strengthening the EP’s ethics rules.
Figure 1. European Parliament Political Groups and Seats
Source: Graphic created by CRS, based on data from the European Parliament, as of June 2023, at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/.
EP Elections
the right to approve or reject international agreements. In
In the EP’s most recent elections in May 2019, the pro-EU
2010, the EP initially rejected a U.S.-EU accord on
center-right EPP and the center-left S&D retained their
countering terrorist financing due to concerns about U.S.
positions as the two largest groups in the EP but lost their
data privacy safeguards. The EP also would have to
combined majority as euroskeptic, liberal, and green parties
approve any future U.S.-EU free-trade agreement. Some
gained seats. The resulting fragmentation enhanced the
MEPs criticize concluding a potential new U.S.-EU critical
influence of the centrist, liberal, pro-EU Renew Europe
minerals accord (aimed at easing U.S.-EU trade tensions
group. Voter concerns about climate change translated into
over U.S. clean energy subsidies in P.L. 117-169, the
an increase in seats for the Greens/European Free Alliance
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022) in a way that could
(Greens/EFA), composed of pro-environment parties and
circumvent the EP’s role in trade matters.
leftist regional parties (e.g., Catalonian, Corsican). Higher
than average voter turnout (51% in 2019 versus 43% in
More generally, the EP’s role in EU lawmaking may affect
2014) also helped boost support for these four pro-EU
certain U.S. interests. The EP was central to shaping the
parties, which currently hold a combined 493 seats (70%).
EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, which applies to
many U.S. companies doing business in Europe. The EP
Euroskeptic parties in the EP have a range of different
approved new EU digital rules aimed at promoting
policy views—including on EU reforms—and often have
competition in the digital sector and improving online
struggled to form a cohesive opposition. The most
platform monitoring, but some U.S. stakeholders are
stridently euroskeptic group in the EP is Identity and
concerned that these measures could unfairly target large
Democracy (ID), an alliance of far-right parties. The
U.S. technology firms. Meanwhile, some MEPs share U.S.
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) is
concerns about China’s human rights and labor practices;
considered a more moderately euroskeptic group. The Left
the EP froze work on ratifying an EU-China investment
group includes former communist parties and some far-left
agreement in 2021 following China’s sanctioning of several
EU critics. The overall number of MEPs decreased from
EU entities and officials, including five MEPs. Many MEPs
751 to 705 in January 2020 following the United
also firmly support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and back
Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU (Brexit).
robust EU sanctions against Russia (although decisions on
sanctions rest with the member states).
The next EP elections are due in May 2024. The EP has
long supported reforming EP electoral rules to bolster the
Interparliamentary exchanges between Congress and the EP
EP’s visibility and the EU’s overall democratic legitimacy.
date back to the 1970s. The Transatlantic Legislators’
In May 2022, the EP approved measures to establish 28
Dialogue (TLD) has been the formal mechanism for
pan-European MEPs, give voters a greater say in choosing
engagement between the U.S. House of Representatives and
the European Commission president, and further harmonize
the EP since 1999. TLD meetings are intended to take place
electoral rules across the bloc. To take effect, these changes
twice a year to discuss various political and economic
must be approved unanimously by all EU member states,
issues. Many MEPs have long argued for further enhancing
many of which have opposed such reforms in the past that
cooperation with Congress, and some U.S. analysts suggest
they feared could decrease their influence within the EU.
it might be in U.S. interests for Congress to forge closer ties
The United States, Congress, and the EP with the EP to help strengthen U.S.-EU relations and reduce
frictions. Others assess that structural and procedural
With the Lisbon Treaty, the EP gained a more prominent
differences between Congress and the EP likely would
role in some aspects of U.S.-EU relations, particularly with
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The European Parliament and U.S. Interests
impede more extensive legislative cooperation. For more
Kristin Archick, Acting Section Research Manager
information on the EU and U.S. relations, see CRS Report
RS21372, The European Union: Questions and Answers.
IF11211
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
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