MEPs represent the interests of EU citizens as well as those of their city or region in Europe. MEPs engage with people who have local and national concerns, interest groups and businesses. MEPs can question and lobby the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

MEPs also have an important role to play on issues of concern for the people of the EU such as climate change, human rights and the way in which financial markets are regulated.

Daily workload

An MEPs’ daily workload is split between work for their constituents back in their home country, their work in the Parliamentary committees, the debates in their political groups as well as debates and votes in the plenary sessions.

MEPs attend many meetings including that of their Parliamentary committees and their political groups.

They may also be part of a delegation for relations with non EU-countries which might require occasional travel outside the EU.

Parliamentary committees

MEPs are divided up into a number of specialised committees. This is done in order to carry out preparatory work for the Parliament’s plenary sittings. At the moment, there are 20 such committees. Between 25 and 73 MEPs make up a committee and the political balance of the committee reflects that of the overall Parliament.

The committees meet once or twice per month in Brussels, draw up the subjects to be discussed by MEPs and hold public debates. The committees draw up, amend and adopt legislative proposals and own-initiative reports. They consider Commission and Council proposals and, where necessary, draw up reports to be presented to the plenary assembly.

Examples of committees are Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Budgetary Control. Sub-committees can also be established to investigate specific issues.