european parliament
C1Formal, Political, Academic, News
Definition
Meaning
The directly elected legislative body of the European Union, representing its citizens.
The parliamentary institution of the EU, based in Strasbourg, Brussels, and Luxembourg, which acts as a co-legislator with the Council of the EU, approves the EU budget, and exercises democratic supervision over other EU institutions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always capitalised. Refers specifically to the EU institution, not a generic parliament in Europe. The term is singular but refers to a collective body of MEPs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'parliament' is capitalised when part of the proper noun ('the European Parliament'). In American English, 'Congress' is the more common generic term for a legislative body, but the official name is still capitalised. UK discourse more frequently references 'MEPs' (Members of the European Parliament).
Connotations
In UK discourse post-Brexit, it often carries connotations of a distant, bureaucratic institution. In US discourse, it is typically seen as a novel supranational legislature.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK/Irish/EU member state media; lower frequency in general US media except for specific EU coverage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The European Parliament + verb (elected, passed, approved, rejected, debated)Subject + verb + the European Parliament (address, consult, report to)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have a voice in Strasbourg”
- “on the Parliament's agenda”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Regulations approved by the European Parliament affect cross-border trade.
Academic
The study analysed the legislative impact of the European Parliament's Green Deal reports.
Everyday
Our local MEP represents us in the European Parliament.
Technical
The directive underwent trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new law was scrutinised and passed by the European Parliament.
American English
- The European Parliament convened to vote on the trade agreement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The European Parliament is in Strasbourg.
- Citizens vote for members of the European Parliament every five years.
- The European Parliament and the Council of the EU must both agree on new EU laws.
- Despite its increased powers under the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament still cannot initiate legislation, a prerogative reserved for the Commission.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EUROpean PARLIAMENT = EU's directly elected PARLIAMENT for all of EUROpe.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE EU'S VOICE (the institution that gives vocal, democratic expression to the EU citizenry).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'европейский парламент' in a generic sense (e.g., for the UK's parliament). It is a proper noun: 'Европейский парламент'. Avoid confusing it with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (ПАСЕ).
Common Mistakes
- Using lower case 'p' in 'Parliament' when it's part of the name.
- Referring to 'European Parliaments' (plural) for the single institution.
- Confusing it with the Council of Europe.
Practice
Quiz
Where is the official seat of the European Parliament?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the right of legislative initiative lies solely with the European Commission. The Parliament can request the Commission to propose legislation.
The European Parliament is an institution of the European Union (EU). The Council of Europe is a separate, larger international organisation (47 members) focused on human rights and is not part of the EU. Its parliamentary body is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
MEPs are elected by direct universal suffrage in each EU member state every five years. The voting systems vary by country but must be forms of proportional representation.
Yes, the Parliament can pass a motion of censure, requiring a two-thirds majority, to force the entire European Commission to resign.