European Parliament

The European Parliament

The European Parliament is one of the main groups that help make rules for the European Union. It is like a big team of leaders from many countries who work together. There are 720 members, called MEPs, who come from all over Europe. They help make laws, decide how money is spent, and choose important leaders for the EU.

People in every EU country can vote for their MEP every five years. This is one of the biggest votes in the world! The main meeting place is in Strasbourg, France, but they also meet in Brussels, Belgium.

The European Parliament has many different groups of members who share similar ideas. Some of the biggest groups are the European People’s Party Group, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and Renew Europe. These groups work together to make decisions that help millions of people live better lives.

The Parliament also has a special helper called the European Ombudsman. This person helps citizens solve problems with EU institutions. Anyone can share their concerns with the Parliament, and it tries to find solutions.

The European Parliament gives out special prizes each year, like the Sakharov Prize for people who protect human rights around the world. These prizes help show the important values of the European Union.