How the EU budget is adopted
Understand the procedures for the adoption of the EU's annual budget and long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Working methods of the von der Leyen II Commission (2024-2029)
Ways of working of the second von der Leyen Commission: collegial decision-making process, structure, inter-institutional & external relations, relations with the services of the Commission, ethics, transparency, communication etc.
EP Political Groups
Know the political groups of the European Parliament, their role and the rules governing them. See also Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations.
Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations
Identify the European political parties and political foundations recognised and funded by the EU and understand the rules governing them. These parties and foundations are linked to the political groups in the European Parliament but are distinct legal entities. MEPs from the same political group may be affiliated to different European political parties. See also EP Political Groups.
European Parliament Code of conduct & Register of gifts
Understand the rules governing the conduct of MEPs and former MEPs, in particular on conflicts of interests and financial interests, to ensure the integrity, transparency and accountability of their political activities. Access the register of gifts to MEPs.
Division of competences in the EU
Understand the division of competences and balance of power between the EU and its Member States set out in the treaties for the different policy areas in which the EU is active.
Summaries of EU legislation
Access to summaries and easy-to-understand explanations of the main legislation adopted by the EU and of some international agreements in 32 thematic areas, such as agriculture, environment and climate change, development, external action and single market.
European Parliament measures on transparency & ethics
Rules and measures adopted by the European Parliament to promote integrity, transparency and accountability of MEPs' political activities: access to documents, lobby groups, appropriate behaviour, expenditure of MEPs.
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
Access information on European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA). EFTA is the organisation set up to promote free trade and economic integration between the EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The EEA brings together EU Member States and three of the four EFTA members (Iceland, Liechtensteing and Norway) in the European single market, also called the Internal Market.
Hearings of the Commissioners-designate of the von der Leyen II Commission (2024-2029) - EP
European Parliament website of the 2019 hearings of the Commissioners-designate. Understand the process and access the recordings and documents for the hearing of each Commissioner, including the questions and answers, verbatim report and the final assessment of the Committees.
Hearings of the Commissioners-designate - EPRS
European Parliament Research Service website on the hearings of Commissioners-designate carried out by the EP before their investiture as part of its scrutiny powers. Find recordings and records of previous hearings, the planning of future hearings and an explanation of the procedure and role of the EP.
European Ombudsman
Independent and impartial non-judicial body that holds the EU institutions and agencies to account. File a complaint to report maladministration by an institution. Read the reports of the Ombudsman's proactive investigations on systemic issues.
EU Agenda: How EU priorities are set
Short explanation & infographic setting out: (1) how the EU's long-term priorities are set at the start of the 5-yearly institutional cycle through the adoption of the European Council's Strategic Agenda and the Commission's Political Guidelines. (2) how these long-term priorities translate into the annual work programme of the Commission.
Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC)
The Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC) coordinates the work of the committees. It plays an important role at the start of a legislative process as it resolves conflicts of competence between Committees. It consists of the Chairs of all committees and meets on Tuesdays during plenary weeks in Strasbourg.
Guide to drafting EU legislation
Understand the different parts of EU legislative acts and the principles that guide their drafting and amending.
Implementing & delegated acts - Procedure
Understand the decision-making process for secondary legislation.
REGPEX - Scrutiny of EU legislation by Regions
Find opinions from regional parliaments on proposed EU legislation, in particular with regards to the respect of the principle of subsidiarity. See also IPEX, for information on the scrutiny of legislative proposals by national parliaments, and the Subsidiarity control mechanism.