Information
Landmark: European ParliamentCity: Strasbourg
Country: France
Continent: Europe
European Parliament, Strasbourg, France, Europe
Overview
The European Parliament stands as one of the EU’s main institutions, shaping laws and giving voice to the people of its member states-much like a chamber where every vote echoes across the union.You’ll find it in Strasbourg, France, with branches in Brussels, Belgium, and Luxembourg, where the old stone buildings catch the afternoon light.Number one.The European Parliament’s main seat sits in Strasbourg, a city where its plenary sessions fill the chamber with the low hum of debate.Some committee meetings and other events happen in Brussels, while the administrative offices work out of Luxembourg.The European Parliament debates and passes laws, signs off on budgets, and keeps a close watch on the European Commission and the rest of the EU’s institutions.It speaks for EU citizens, making sure their voices carry weight in the decisions that shape policy, and traces its roots to the European Parliamentary Assembly, first formed in 1952 under the European Coal and Steel Community.At first, national parliaments chose the members of the assembly.Then in 1979, for the first time, EU citizens went to the polls to elect the European Parliament, giving it stronger democratic legitimacy and a truer voice for the people.Since then, its powers and influence have grown sharply.Over the years, it gained more legislative power-especially after the Single European Act in 1986 and the Lisbon Treaty in 2009-both of which widened the Parliament’s influence over EU decisions, much like adding extra seats at a crowded table.Three.The European Parliament has 705 members, called MEPs, and every five years EU citizens head to the polls to choose them.Each country’s share of MEPs matches its population size, so bigger nations send more people to Brussels-Germany, for example, has far more seats than Malta.In the European Parliament, MEPs don’t sit by country-they join political groups instead.The biggest blocs are the European People’s Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe, along with a few others.The Parliament’s President, chosen by MEPs, serves a two-and-a-half-year term and leads the chamber, often with the sharp rap of a gavel to call the room to order.The President oversees debates, keeps order in the room, and speaks for the European Parliament on the world stage.Number four.The main European Parliament building in Strasbourg sits beside the Rhône, its glass façade catching the afternoon light.The complex stands out with striking architecture, its stone arches catching the afternoon light, and it’s the heart of everything the institution does.The European Parliament’s headquarters in Strasbourg sits in the Louise Weiss Building, a glass and steel landmark that opened its doors in 1999.It’s named for Louise Weiss, the sharp-tongued French journalist and political activist who pushed hard for a European Parliament-once handing out pamphlets in the chill of a Paris street.The building’s sleek design centers on a vast circular chamber, its pale wood desks arranged in arcs, where MEPs gather to debate and vote on EU laws.The Plenary Chamber stands out with its bright, open layout, a clear break from the heavy wood and closed rooms of traditional parliaments.The building also houses offices, meeting rooms, and the quiet, high-ceilinged chambers where committees meet.Architecture: The Louise Weiss Building’s design draws on the idea of openness, with sweeping glass curves that reflect the EU’s commitment to democracy and transparency.A ring of glass wraps around the central structure, flooding the space with sunlight and opening wide views of the hills beyond.It’s built to capture the lively, multinational character of the European Parliament-its debates, its decisions, even the hum of voices in the chamber.The Louise Weiss Building also stands out for its eco-friendly design, with solar panels glinting in the sun, an energy-saving heating and cooling system, and breezes flowing through its natural ventilation.The building’s design makes the EU’s commitment to environmental responsibility impossible to miss, from its sunlit glass walls to its roof lined with greenery.Five.The European Parliament holds a key place in how the EU works, and over time its influence has grown-much like a voice that’s grown louder in the room.It plays a role in many legislative and political processes, from shaping policy debates to drafting laws-work the European Parliament tackles alongside the European Council, where member state governments have their say.Under the ordinary legislative process, Parliament debates the proposals, tweaks their wording, and casts its votes-sometimes after hours of discussion in a crowded chamber.Budgetary Authority: The European Parliament shares the power to decide the EU’s budget with the European Council, shaping everything from farm subsidies to research grants.It signs off on or blocks the EU’s yearly budget, shaping where the money goes-whether to a new rail line in Spain or research labs in Germany.Keeping a close eye on the European Commission, the Parliament tracks its every move, watching how the EU’s executive arm drafts laws and sets policy.It can sign off on-or block-the nomination of European Commissioners, and it keeps them in check through hearings, lively debates, and pointed questions that sometimes land like a sharp tap on the table.The European Parliament plays a role in shaping the EU’s foreign policy, especially on human rights, and can pass resolutions on global issues from trade deals to environmental concerns and urgent humanitarian crises, such as relief after a devastating flood.The European Parliament votes to approve the President of the European Commission, a candidate put forward by the European Council-much like choosing a captain after the team’s huddle.This process makes sure the European Parliament must give its approval before anyone takes a top job in the EU’s executive branch, such as the powerful Commission President.Number six stood alone, small and sharp like a pencil tip on the page.The European Parliament holds its plenary sessions in Strasbourg about a dozen times a year, filling the chamber with the low murmur of debate and the shuffle of papers.In these sessions, MEPs argue their positions, trade quick rebuttals, and cast their votes on legislative proposals, reports, and resolutions.In plenary sessions, MEPs tackle big issues-climate change, trade deals, migration, human rights-before wrapping up with votes that shape the everyday lives of people across the EU; in Strasbourg, the European Parliament welcomes visitors, offering guided tours where you can step into the chamber, hear its history, and see how it works on the world stage.Inside the building, the Parliamentarium invites visitors to explore interactive exhibits-tap a screen, spin a globe-that bring to life the EU’s history, its institutions, and the daily work of the European Parliament.Eight.The European Parliament in Strasbourg stands as both a powerful political force and a striking architectural landmark, its glass façade reflecting the ideals of democracy, cooperation, and unity at the heart of the European Union.Elected directly by the people of the EU, it helps shape laws, holds leaders to account, and defends the Union’s core principles-much like a steady hand guiding the wheel.Its sleek, modern design and far-reaching legislative powers make it a vivid symbol of Europe’s shared future and democratic ideals, like sunlight spilling across the flags outside its doors.
