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Updated November 17, 2023
The European Parliament and U.S. Interests
A Key EU Institution
over 200 national political parties—that span the political
The European Parliament (EP) is the only directly elected
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 current 705 members represent the EU’s roughly 445
MEPs hail from political parties that support the EU
million citizens. The EP has accumulated more power over
project, some belong to parties considered to be anti-
time (most recently with the 2009 Lisbon Treaty) as part of
establishment and euroskeptic—that is, critical of the EU or
EU efforts to improve democratic accountability and
anti-EU to varying degrees. Most euroskeptic parties in the
transparency in EU policymaking. Congress-EP ties are
EP are on the right or far right and hold predominantly
long-standing, and the EP’s potential to influence key
nationalist and anti-immigration views.
aspects of U.S.-EU relations—such as trade, data privacy,
digital policies, and counterterrorism—may be of interest to
No single group in the EP has an absolute majority, making
Congress. The next EP elections are expected in June 2024.
compromise and coalition-building key features of the EP.
Historically, the two largest groups—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 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 45
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 symbolic of postwar peace), where plenaries
new slate of European Commissioners every five years.
typically are held once per month. Committee meetings and
Structure and Organization
some part-plenary sessions occur in Brussels, Belgium. A
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) serve five-
Secretariat of about 7,000 nonpartisan civil servants and
year terms. Voting for the EP takes place on a national
contract staff, based in both Brussels and Luxembourg,
basis, with the number of MEPs elected in each EU country
provides administrative and technical support. MEPs and
based roughly on population size.
political groups also have their own staff assistants (around
3,000 personnel total). 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
prompted efforts to strengthen the EP’s ethics rules.
Figure 1. European Parliament Political Groups and Seats (as of November 2023)
Source: Created by CRS, based on European Parliament data, updated regularly, at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/table.
EP Elections
the right to approve or reject international agreements. In
In the EP’s last elections in May 2019, the pro-EU center-
2010, the EP initially rejected a U.S.-EU accord on
right EPP and the center-left S&D retained their positions
countering terrorist financing due to concerns about U.S.
as the two largest groups in the EP but lost their combined
data privacy safeguards; the EP subsequently approved this
majority as euroskeptic, liberal, and green parties gained
accord and other U.S.-EU information-sharing and data
seats. The resulting fragmentation enhanced the influence
protection agreements. The EP also would have to approve
of the centrist, liberal, pro-EU Renew Europe group. Voter
a potential new U.S.-EU critical minerals accord (aimed at
concerns about climate change translated into an increase in
easing tensions over U.S. clean energy subsidies in P.L.
seats for the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA),
117-169, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022), and possibly
composed of pro-environment parties and leftist regional
a U.S.-EU deal on a “green club” to discourage trade in
parties (e.g., Catalonian, Corsican). Higher-than-average
high-carbon steel and aluminum, lift U.S. tariffs on these
voter turnout (51% in 2019 versus 43% in 2014) also
metals, and address global overcapacity.
helped boost support for these four pro-EU parties, which
currently hold a combined 490 seats (70%).
More generally, the EP’s role in EU lawmaking may affect
certain U.S. interests. The EP was central to shaping the
Euroskeptic parties in the EP have a range of different
EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, which applies to
policy views—including on EU reforms—and often have
many U.S. companies doing business in Europe. Some U.S.
struggled to form a cohesive opposition. The most
stakeholders (including in Congress) are concerned that
stridently euroskeptic group in the EP is Identity and
new EU digital rules approved by the EP to promote
Democracy (ID), an alliance of far-right parties. The
competition and improve online platform monitoring could
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) is
unfairly target U.S. technology firms. The EP also is
considered a more moderately euroskeptic group. The Left
considering EU legislation to regulate artificial intelligence.
group includes former communist parties and some far-left
Meanwhile, some MEPs express concerns about China’s
EU critics. The number of MEPs decreased from 751 to 705
in January 2020 following the United Kingdom’s
human rights and labor practices; in 2021, the EP froze
work on ratifying an EU-China investment agreement that
withdrawal from the EU (Brexit).
some U.S. officials opposed. Many MEPs also support
The size of the next EP is set to increase to 720 MEPs
Ukraine and back robust EU sanctions on Russia (although
following the upcoming elections scheduled for June 6-9,
decisions on sanctions rest with the member states).
2024. Current polls suggest the EPP and S&D will lose
Interparliamentary exchanges between Congress and the EP
seats but remain the two largest groups in the next EP,
date back to the 1970s. The Transatlantic Legislators’
while the ECR and ID groups could make significant gains.
Dialogue (TLD) has been the formal mechanism for
EP efforts to reform EP electoral rules, including by
engagement between the U.S. House of Representatives and
establishing pan-European MEPS and giving voters a
the EP since 1999. TLD meetings are intended to take place
greater say in choosing the European Commission
twice a year to discuss various political and economic
president, continue to face opposition from member states
issues. Some MEPs and analysts have long argued for
concerned about losing influence within the EU.
further enhancing cooperation with Congress, suggesting
The United States, Congress, and the EP that closer ties could help strengthen U.S.-EU relations and
With the Lisbon Treaty, the EP gained a more prominent
reduce frictions. At the same time, structural and procedural
role in some aspects of U.S.-EU relations, particularly with
differences between Congress and the EP could pose
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The European Parliament and U.S. Interests
challenges to greater legislative cooperation. For more
Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs
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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