EU Parliament
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU has developed a single market through a standardized system of laws which apply in all member states, guaranteeing the free movement of people, goods, services and capital. It enacts legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Passport controls have been abolished for travel within the Schengen Area.
A supranational body known as the European Parliament makes decisions based on proposals from its members who come from national parliaments throughout the EU countries; it consists of 751 MEPs representing some 500 million citizens living across 28 nations. The composition changes with each election cycle held every five years since 1979 when direct elections were first introduced to choose representatives – this allows citizens to directly influence policy-making at a continental level by voting for their desired candidate or party list groupings aligned to particular ideologies or interests such as environmentalism or gender equality issues amongst others. As part of its legislative role it also approves budgets related matters including taxation levels set by governments as well as financial contributions made into shared funds like those used towards agricultural subsidies etcetera – these activities help keep economies more balanced between different parts making up Europe’s diverse landscape while simultaneously aiding poorer regions so they can benefit from increased investment opportunities too! Additionally there exists other forms external representation such holding dialogues with foreign powers outside EU borders via official delegations sent out periodically either individually or jointly coordinated among many Member States depending upon issue type being discussed i e diplomatic relations over human rights violations occurring elsewhere around world etcetera .
In addition to its core functions outlined above ,the European Parliament also exercises oversight roles monitoring actions taken by executive branches both nationally domestically internationally ensuring compliance directives regulations issued under auspices Global Affairs Commission GAC )as well delegation treaties signed international organizations like United Nations UN ). This means any proposal needs pass muster before becoming law thus safeguarding democratic principles enshrined Treaties Establishing functioning democracies modern society today !
