How the European Parliament works and the names vying for the presidency of the EU Commission

27 Member States, 720 MEPs, 76 Italians. The role of the assembly, the executive power of the Commission, the name of Mario Draghi

By Alessio Pisanò

BRUSSELS – Until Sunday 9 June, citizens of the 27 member states are called to renew the legislature of the European Parliament, with the election of its 720 MEPs. The number of parliamentarians is assigned to individual EU countries according to the principle of degressive proportionality, for which the number of members is established on the basis of the population of the individual state.

THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

The electoral system is proportional but some details are left to the individual member states. Italy has 76 MEPs. European treaties, such as the Lisbon treaty which came into force in 2009, have attributed a wide range of competences to the Parliament, strengthening its role in the European decision-making process.

THE PLENARY SESSIONS

In fact, the European Parliament acts as co-legislator together with the European Council, sharing the power to adopt and modify legislative proposals and to decide on the EU budget. Its activity also includes supervision of the work of the Commission and cooperation with the national parliaments of the Member States.The plenary sessions, which are held once a month in Strasbourg , represent the culmination of the work carried out by the 20 parliamentary commissions and political groups. During these sessions, the most important legislative measures are discussed and approved, reflecting the long and detailed preparatory work of the commissions.

THE DESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE EU COMMISSION

Over the years, Parliament has worked to act as a defender of fundamental human rights (“not just for Eurocitizens, but for everything”) in the world, intervening on numerous occasions to promote justice and freedom at a global level. The crucial importance of the European Parliament also lies in its power to approve the designation of the next President of the European Commission, appointed primarily by the European Council with a qualified majority vote. The heads of state and government will meet in Brussels on 27 and 28 June to seek an agreement. The designated person will then have to be approved by a simple majority by the European Parliament, probably already in its installation session scheduled for 15 to 19 July or in the second session from 16 to 19 September.

THE SYSTEM OF THE SPITZENKANDIDAT

Since 2014, the main European parties have introducedthe “Spitzenkandidat” system(“leading candidate” in German), indicatinga candidate for the role of president of the Commission strong>. The political group that obtains the most votes in the European Parliament has the right to nominate its own Spitzenkandidat for the European executive, which however must be approved by the European Council, where the Heads of State and Government could propose another name, as happened in 2019 with Ursula Von Der Leyen who was not the first choice of her European political party, the EPP, winner of the elections. This year the candidate of European People’s Party is still the current president, Ursula von der Leyen, who seeks confirmation at the Berlaymont, the main building of the European Commission. If the European Parliament were to reject the European Council’s proposal, this must propose another name.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

After being elected, the President of the Commission assigns portfolios to the commissioners indicated by the Member States. The entire Commission must then obtain the approval of the Parliament and the European Council, always by a qualified majority . Each EU commissioner must appear in the parliamentary committees under the jurisdiction of the European Parliament in a public hearing and answer questions from its MEPs. This complex process ensures that the Commission is representative and accountable to both Member States and European citizens. In addition to the president of the European Commission, the European Parliament will also have to vote for its president. Usually this position is assumed by a member of the second political group to emerge from the polls in the European elections and is not assumed by the same group which wins the presidency of the European Commission, but it is not a written rule. Finally, the European Council will also have to appoint its new president given thatthe Belgian Charles Michel, currently in office, will not be reconfirmed given that he is a candidate for the European Parliament as a Belgian liberal.

THE NAMES IN COMPETITION FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION