eu parliament visits

Visit a European Union institution

Welcome to the eu institutions.

The European Union institutions are open to visitors from around the world to learn more about the EU and get an understanding of their work. 

With sites in several major European cities, the institutions offer a variety of options to visitors. Some institutions provide interactive on-site visitor centres, some allow physical access to their buildings, and some organise tailor-made presentations and discussions involving their staff.

Whatever form a visit to an EU institution takes, visitors are guaranteed an interactive and educational experience. Students and tourists alike will see and learn first-hand how the EU works. And have fun, too.

Open Day and virtual tours

Each year, to celebrate Europe Day , the EU institutions open their doors to the public in early May in Brussels and Strasbourg. Local EU offices in Europe and across the world organise a variety of activities and events for all ages. 

The EU’s Open Day offers a unique opportunity for you to discover how the European institutions affect your life. You can step inside the buildings and take part in special activities, such as public debates and guided tours. 

And if you can’t visit in person, you could always take a ‘virtual tour’. Several institutions offer virtual access to their buildings, so you can discover how the EU works from the comfort of your own home.

Click on each city section to open a full list of the possible venues, along with a link for more detailed information.

Brussels (Belgium)

European Parliament

The European Parliament has a number of venues in Brussels, for individual or group visits. This includes the ‘hemicycles’ where EU laws are debated and voted on, the EU’s interactive visitor centre - the Parlamentarium - the House of European history and Station Europe.

Plan your European Parliament visit (Brussels)

European Council / Council of the EU

Step inside the Council, discover the buildings where EU leaders meet and learn how the Council shapes Europe's future. To visit the Council, you can either explore our visitor centre and the public areas on your own or take part in our weekly guided tours.

Plan your Council visit

European Commission

The European Commission has different visit venues in Brussels. This includes the Commission’s Visitors’ Centre where groups wishing to discover the Commission and its policies can hear directly from Commission officials. Visits should be booked at least 10 weeks in advance, and can be tailored to groups’ needs. Experience Europe is the interactive exhibition centre of the Commission at the Schuman roundabout (300m from the Visitors’ Centre).  No prior registration required for individual visitors or groups of less than 10 persons. Open 7 days a week.

European External Action Service

The European External Action Service welcomes group visits to its headquarters in Brussels. Find out how the External Action Service manages EU diplomatic relations with countries outside the European Union, carrying out the EU’s common foreign and security policy. All visits are tailor-made.

Plan your visit to the European External Action Service

European Economic and Social Committee

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomes visitors to its headquarters in Brussels for an interactive presentation on its activities and its role in the decision-making process. Virtual group visits can also be arranged. 

Plan your visit to the European Economic and Social Committee

European Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) organises information visits at its premises in Brussels. Find out how the CoR works and the role of the regions in shaping the content of EU legislation. Virtual visits are also possible.

Plan your visit to the Committee of the Regions

European Data Protection Supervisor

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) welcomes specialist groups - such as students at post-graduate level - to its premises in Brussels to learn about what it does and how it works. Only official requests (e.g. from an official organisation email address) are considered.

  Request a visit to the European Data Protection Supervisor

Strasbourg (France)

The European Parliament welcomes individual or group visits to its ‘hemicycle’ building in Strasbourg. See where the Parliament’s most important debates and votes are held before visiting the Simone Veil Parlamentarium, an interactive exhibition offering insight into the Parliament’s role and work.

Plan your European Parliament visit (Strasbourg)

The European Parliament offers guided tours of its Robert Schuman building in Luxembourg. Visit the site of the first administrative seat of the European Parliament and see its ‘hemicycle’ building during your group tour.

Plan your European Parliament visit (Luxembourg)

Court of Justice of the European Union

The Court welcomes individual or group visits to its site in Luxembourg. Attend a public hearing at the Court of Justice or the General Court, or take a guided tour of the buildings and the various works of art, donated or loaned to the Court by EU countries, which reflect Europe’s varied cultural heritage. 

Plan your visit to the Court of Justice

European Court of Auditors

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) organises group visits to its site in Luxembourg. Visits involve a presentation by an ECA official on the role and workings of the Court, followed by a discussion. You must book at least 2 months in advance.

Plan your visit to the European Court of Auditors

European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank admits groups of visitors to its premises in Luxembourg on receipt of a written request. Visitors must have a direct professional interest in the bank’s activities or be university students studying economics or finance. 

Request a visit to the European Investment Bank

Frankfurt (Germany)

European Central Bank

The European Central Bank (ECB) offers a number of options to visitors, to explore what its work entails and the activities it supports in Frankfurt. Take a tour of the ECB’s Visitor Centre, attend a tailored lecture or visit its art collection.

Plan your European Central Bank visit

Visiting other EU institutions, bodies and agencies

Brussels, belgium, european parliament.

Members of the European Parliament have their main offices in Brussels, where you will find the European Parliament and the  Parlamentarium

European Council and Council of the EU

Explore the visitors' centre to learn about the Council's work and about the EU as a whole. Arrange an individual or group visit, or request a presentation on a specific topic. Visit the European Council and Council of the EU 

European Committee of the Regions

Information visits provide an introduction and the role of the regions in shaping the content of European Union legislation. Visit the European Committee of the Regions

European Economic and Social Committee

Find out about the role in the decision-making process of the European Union.  Visit the European Economic and Social Committee 

Strasbourg, France

Most of the plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg, home of the Hemicycle (horseshoe-shaped debating chamber) and the parlamentarium Simon Veil. Visit the European Parliament Hemicycle 

Luxembourg hosts parts of the administration, where the European Parliament’s first purpose-built hemicycle is based.   Visit the European Parliament 

Court of Justice of the European Union

Attend a  public hearing  at the Court of Justice or the General Court or take a guided tour of the buildings and the works of art.  Visit the Court of Justice of the European Union 

European Court of Auditors (ECA)

Visits involve a presentation by an ECA official on the role and workings of the institution, followed by a discussion. Visit the European Court of Auditors 

Frankfurt, Germany

European central bank.

Specialised guided tours are provided on the building’s history, art collection and architecture. Visit the European Central Bank

Related links

Contact and visit details of other institutions

European Union

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Visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Are you interested in learning more about the European Parliament in Strasbourg? There are a number of ways to do so. You can take a guided tour of the Parliament building, attend a public hearing or committee meeting, or participate in a conference or event. Let's visit it together and get all the practical information you need! Follow to the guide 🙂

Strasbourg, the European city

Did you know that Strasbourg is home to the major European institution, the European Parliament? The Parliament has been based in the Alsatian capital since 1958. At that time, it shared the Council of Europe's hemicycle , and then, from 1977, the Palace of Europe. With the development of the European Union and, in particular, in anticipation of its expansion in 1995, it was decided to build a dedicated building to host the European MPs.

On December 14, 1999, the European Parliament in Strasbourg inaugurated its new seat: a magnificent 220,000 sqm building that embodies openness, dialogue, and debate. It is named after Louise Weiss, a French journalist and politician who was committed to European unity and the sciences of peace.

Practical information to visit the European Parliament

The visit of the European Parliament is free . Free access for individual visitors.

Guided tours and groups

For groups of 20 or more people, registration is required on the Parliament's website. Groups will benefit from an information session in one of the 24 official languages, during which a member of staff will detail the powers and role of the institution, followed by a Q&A session and topped off with a one-hour visit of the hemicycle gallery to attend the plenary session.

Opening hours

Monday to Saturday , from 9:30am to 12:00pm and from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Visits are also possible during plenary sessions.

The European quarter is accessible by tram E: stop "Parlement européen" to visit the Parliament and stop "Droits de l’Homme" for the Council of Europe and the ECHR. Buses 6 and 30 also serve a "Conseil de l’Europe" stop. It's also very easy to go there by bike.

Access for the visit is through Rue Lucien Febvre. Please note that you will need to show your ID at the entrance to access the buildings.

Strasbourg: 1-Day Bike Rental

Rent a beautiful bike for a day and discover the beauty of Strasbourg. Ride safely and take in the main sights such as the European Parliament and the Cathédrale.

Where is the European Parliament in Strasbourg?

The European Parliament is located in the European quarter of Strasbourg , where most European institutions such as the Council of Europe or the European Court of Human Rights are located, as well as many diplomatic representations. This neighborhood is located in the north of the city, between Wacken, Robertsau, and Orangerie.

If you walk around the surrounding streets, you may see flags of many countries waving on the facades of beautiful mansions. I invite you to follow the "Parcours de l'Europe" to visit the European quarter of Strasbourg on foot or by bike .

How to visit the building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg ?

Originally, the European Parliament in Strasbourg was meant to be a place that was open to European citizens. Unfortunately, security standards have changed and it has become difficult to visit the building outside of Heritage Days.

However, in order for people to learn more about its operation and role, the Parliament teams have created a secure tour . As such, curious citizens can still discover the inside of the building for free , including its hemicycle and the Simone Veil Parlamentarium. The tour lasts between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes.

If you have no reservation to visit, you can show on the opening hours to the Parliament and visit it with audioguides (24 languages are available for the visit).

Simone Veil Parlamentarium

Located inside the Louise Weiss building, the Simone Veil Parlamentarium is an interactive and fun space that was inaugurated in 2017 where visitors can discover the European Union and its institutions, and more particularly the role of the European Parliament. It is divided into 4 zones:

• A 3D room where the hemicycle is projected on a 360° panoramic screen to experience a virtual session,
• A role-playing game to experience being an MEP,
• A display area with touch screens,
• A photo booth to take pictures in front of the visual of your choice

Thanks to touch screens, have fun finding the MEPs from your country or understanding the functioning of the European institutional triangle. It is done in a very playful and educational way.

There is also a cinema room that offers a film on European issues in the 24 official languages, as well as an exhibition on the journey of Simone Veil , the first elected President of the European Parliament and the first woman to hold this position.

If you're part of a group of 16 or more people, you might be able to participate in a role-playing game where you can experience being an MEP and confront the legislative work in a fun way. Don't forget to take a souvenir photo in the photo booth before you leave!

Photo credits to Cotad Blog

Visiting the hemicycle, the beating heart of the European Parliament

The hemicycle is a must-see during your visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg . This is the room where MEPs sit once a month for debates and votes. This is where decisions are made that impact the entire European Union, including some historical votes on climate, the economy, or peace.

Before entering the hemicycle, you will pick up a video guide and headphones at the entrance. Once the doors are pushed open, you will access the gallery overlooking the hemicycle. The view is simply breathtaking: below you are the 751 seats of the MEPs , the European flag in the center surrounded by those of the 28 member states. Sit for a few minutes to enjoy and listen to the comments of the guide in the language of your choice.

Take a look at the ceiling as well. You'll see some funny waves that are actually an ingenious lighting system designed to properly light each MEP, no matter where they are sitting. And if you listen carefully, you can also appreciate the perfectly studied acoustics of the room, which makes parliamentary sessions feasible.

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How to visit the European Parliament in Brussels and the EU Quarter

One of the most interesting things to do in Brussels is to visit the European Parliament and see the EU Quarter, a surprisingly attractive and fascinating part of Brussels. Here’s how to go on a tour of the European Parliament and pay a visit to the other key buildings and attractions of the EU Quarter.

Where is the EU quarter in Brussels?

The EU or European Quarter, also known as the Leopold Quarter, is a compact area to the south-west of Brussels city centre, about 1.5 miles (2km) from the Grand-Place. In the 1800s the Leopold Quarter was one of Brussels’ most prestigious neighbourhoods, and there are lots of beautiful old buildings left over from those days.

During the early 20th century, the wealthy residents of the Leopold Quarter moved further outside the city centre to the new suburbs. Office buildings replaced many of the mansions, and in the late 1950s, new European institutions moved in.

Today the area is dominated by politics and business but it’s still surprisingly green and attractive, with beautiful parks and squares. There are also plenty of things to see and do in this part of Brussels.

Read more: How to see the best of Brussels in 48 hours

How to get to the European Quarter

As you’d expect, this international meeting-point is well-connected to the rest of Brussels, as well as to the airport and European high-speed trains.

From the Grand Place, Bourse and the historic centre

To get to the EU Quarter from the Grand Place, take bus 95. It’ll take about 12 minutes to travel to Place du Luxembourg, outside the European Parliament.

From Brussels Midi

To get to the buildings of the European Quarter from Brussels Midi, the main inter-city and international train station in Brussels, take Metro line 2 to Trône. From Trône it’s around a 7-minute walk to Place du Luxembourg.

From Brussels Airport

If you’re coming straight to the EU Quarter from Brussels Airport, take bus route 12. The journey takes about 35 minutes.

From elsewhere in Brussels

A number of bus lines serve the European Quarter. The nearest Metro stops are Maelbeek and Schuman on lines 1 and 5, and Trone on lines 2 and 6.

Things to do in Brussels’ European Quarter

The european parliament: how to visit.

The most significant attraction in the EU quarter is the European Parliament. To visit the European Parliament and the famous hemicycle debating chamber as an individual, you’ll need to take one of the self-guided tours, which run at set times, Monday to Friday. Information about timings for the European Parliament tours are available on the Parliament website .

To join a tour, go to the rear entrance of the European Parliament building, just off Rue Wiertz. There are clear signs to get you to the right place from the front of Espace Léopold and Place du Luxembourg (follow the signs for the Hemicyle), but once at the door there’s not a lot to indicate that it’s ok to go in. Don’t worry; if you’re there at the right time just push open the door.

Read more: Visiting all the European Union capitals

You’ll be asked to show your passport, then you’ll go through airport-style security before picking up a headset and electronic guide. Although you can only take the EU Parliament tour at designated times, it’s a self-guided tour with the headset rather than a fully guided tour. The electronic tour is available in all EU languages – you can even download it as an app onto your own mobile phone rather than take a headset if you prefer. There are also printed guidebooks available in all EU languages which you can take away with you for free.

The first exhibit is an arrangement of all the flags of the EU member states – great for a photo opportunity. Once you’re through security, it’s ok to take as many photos or videos as you want inside the European Parliament building.

From the flags, you go up in a lift to the atrium where you can see a large sculpture representing cooperation between the member countries. The building is decorated with an art collection of works by up-and-coming European artists on themes of peace and cooperation.

After you leave the atrium, the next stop is the Hemicycle – the main debating chamber of the European Parliament in Brussels. Each EU member country elects representatives in the same way as they would for a national parliament. These Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) meet here and in Strasbourg.

The tour finishes after you’ve seen the Hemicycle. All together, your visit will last between 30-60 minutes. Visiting the European Parliament is free – just don’t forget your passport.

Station Europe

The original station buildings of the Brussels-Luxembourg train station now house a welcome centre for the European Quarter. You can get your bearings here, pick up a map and plan your visit to the area. There’s also a branch of the official Visit Brussels tourist information centre.

Between Station Europe and the buildings of the Espace Léopold (the name of the European Parliament complex) you’ll find a public square with chairs set up in circles, seemingly to encourage discussion.

Parliamentarium

If you want to understand more about the EU and the European Parliament, visit the Parliamentarium . The Parliamentarium is the EU Parliament’s official visitor centre, and has longer opening hours than the Parliament itself, so it’s a great option if you can’t make one of the Parliament tours.

Like the European Parliament tour, visiting the Parliamentarium is free. The entrance is just off Espace Léopold, towards Rue Montoyer.

House of European History

For an exploration of Europe’s turbulent history, and the events that led up to the formation of the European Union, visit the House of European History  in Léopold Park.

The House of European History aims not to tell the story of each individual country in Europe, but to draw together the themes that European nations have in common. The permanent exhibition covers Europe as a global force in the 19th century and the two World Wars that shattered the continent, before examining the political divisions of the second half of the 20th century.

The exhibitions are free to visit, and a multimedia tour is available in all the EU languages.

Berlaymont Building

While you can’t go inside the Berlaymont Building, it’s an impressive sight and is probably the most iconic building of the European Quarter. The Berlaymont Building is the home of the European Commission, where the day-to-day work of the EU is carried out.

You can walk around the Berlaymont building; there are information boards about the history of the building spread out around the perimeter. If you’re lucky, you might see a TV news crew filming a report.

Statue of Europe

The Statue of Europe is a 5-metre tall sculpture symbolising peace in Europe and also the European Union motto, United in Diversity. Hands painted in different colours raise up a globe decorated with the EU stars, with a white dove perched on top.

The Statue of Europe is in the grounds of the former Convent Van Maerlant, now the library of the European Commission.

Other sights in and near the EU Quarter

Léopold park.

A pretty patch of green in the middle of the European Quarter, Léopold Park was the site of a zoo until the 1880s – symbolised by a quirky and controversial group of ostrich sculptures right outside the Parliament building.

With rolling green hills, benches for an outdoor lunch and a beautiful lake, it’s the perfect spot to take a break in the European Quarter.

Parc du Cinquantenaire

If you look west along Rue de la Loi, you’ll see an enormous triumphal arch, reminiscent of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The arch itself is slightly more recent but the buildings either side were built for the 1880 National Exhibition which celebrated the Belgian nation’s 50th birthday.

The park itself is a very pleasant place for a walk, with lots of flowers, trees and lawns, and it’s a popular place for tourists and Brussels residents alike to relax.

Royal Military Museum

The Royal Military Museum occupies the left-hand side of the Cinquantenaire buildings. It holds an impressive collection of arms, armour, vehicles and aircraft. There are also two galleries dedicated to the First World War which devastated much of Belgium.

For an incredible view of the European Quarter and the surrounding area, take the stairs inside the Military Museum up to the viewing gallery on top of the arches.

On the right-hand side of the Cinquantenaire arch you’ll find Autoworld, a fantastic museum dedicated to cars and driving. Among the gleaming permanent exhibits and fascinating temporary exhibitions you’ll find information about Belgium’s contribution to automotive history.

Art & History Museum

The right-hand side of the complex also houses the Art and History Museum . More informative than an art gallery, more inspiring than a history museum, the unique collection eventually wants to be as well known as the British Museum or the Louvre.

Cauchie House

If you’re interested in architecture, and especially if you’re a lover of Art Nouveau, you can’t miss the Cauchie House . Artist couple Paul and Carolina Cauchie built the house in 1905 and decorated the front as an advertisement for their businesses; graphic design for him, art lessons for her. In the centre of the facade you can read the words “Par Nous, Pour Nous” – “By Us, For Us”. The house is at the top of Rue des Francs, just across the road from Parc du Cinquantenaire.

Museum of Natural Sciences

Another interesting museum in the European Quarter is the Museum of Natural Sciences . The museum’s most impressive exhibits are the dinosaur skeletons, including an enormous Tyrannosaurus rex. You can also explore the history of humankind and exhibitions on the natural world. The Museum of Natural Sciences is near the Hemicycle and Léopold Park, on Rue Vautier.

Would you like to visit the European Parliament?

If you’re visiting Brussels, you might also like my other post about visiting Belgian breweries and beer tasting in Brussels .

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20 thoughts on “How to visit the European Parliament in Brussels and the EU Quarter”

These places are stunning! Pinning this now 🙂

Thanks Sarah 🙂

We only made a quick stop in Brussels years ago, would love to go back and explore more.

Ah, hope you get back to Brussels soon! I’m also hoping to go back!

I would love, love to visit the EU Parliament in Brussels! My friend and I actually walked by several of these buildings and monuments during our short weekend stay there, it was such a culturally rich city to visit!

It’s so interesting, I’m so glad we were able to catch a tour! There’s definitely a lot of fun and cultural things to do in Brussels.

Great post! I visited Brussels several years back on a university trip, specifically to visit the EU, and expected to find the city very bureaucratic- however, I was surprised by how beautiful it was! Definitely a great place to spend a few days 🙂

Same, I thought the European Quarter would be grey and boring and full of suits, but it was actually really pretty and vibrant. And everyone we met that day was so warm and funny. It definitely exceeded my expectations!

Helen, I enjoyed your post! I actually had a stay over in Brussels and I saw a little bit but I want to go back

Thanks Kiera, I hope you get back there soon, I’m also hoping to go back, three days wasn’t enough!

I have visited this area but did not take a tour of the Parliament for lack of time. I have fond memories of my trip to Brusselx as I went there with my mom, and I love mother-daughter trips. We were there only for a weekend so we didn’t have much time, and there was so much good food and great beer we needed to explore, too! 😀 Still, I think it’s an important institution and I would like to get there to learn more about it.

Haha I’m with you on the beer! And the delicious chocolate, and the frites!

I had no idea that you could visit! Really interesting post

Thanks Catherine 🙂

Very cool. I didn’t realize there was so much in the EU area!

There’s absolutely loads to do, definitely worth a day on a Brussels trip 🙂

What a lovely place to visit! This just makes me realize how much I missed by not going there, I was supposed to next week, but I have a scheduling issue and had to turn down the offer 🙁

Sorry to hear that,I hope you get to visit soon. It’s definitely worth a trip!

This is awesome- our boys love history and would love to see this. Pinned so I have this when we finally get them over to Europe! Someday!!!

Thanks Elizabeth, there’s so much to see in this area and you really feel the history behind what the European project wanted to achieve – all the wars and the division. Whatever you think of the modern EU it’s a fascinating part of Brussels.

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Parlamentarium

Please note! The Parlamentarium will be closed on 24, 25 and 31 December 2023 and on 1 January 2024. Have you ever wondered how the European Union works and how it affects your daily life? The Parlamentarium has it covered! Thanks to its interactive tools like a 360° cinema, a role play game for students and a giant interactive floor map, you’ll learn everything there is to know about the European Parliament. Discover the path that led to today’s European Union and what Members of the European Parliament are doing to tackle Europe’s biggest challenges. * Free * Available in 24 languages * Book online : see practical information

Location: Esplanade Solidarność 1980 Wiertzstraat, 60, 1047 Parlement Européen

Donegal girl (14) visits European Parliament to fight for the future of Irish fishing communities

W hen young Donegal Fisherwoman Muireann Kavanagh left her home on the island of Arranmore in County Donegal this week, it was the beginning of a very long journey to the European Parliament.

A trip taking over 24 hours saw Muireann and her parents take the ferry from Arranmore to Burtonport, then to Letterkenny by car and to Dublin by bus, before flying to Frankfurt on a plane to finally arrive in Strasbourg by train.

When in Strasbourg, the 14-year-old fisherwoman was welcomed by her host for the visit, MEP Chris MacManus.

The trip comes on the back of an awareness campaign started by Muireann who has been vocal on the need to ensure a future for young people in coastal and fishing communities.

She has been leading a passionate campaign to ensure fishing communities are not left behind, following her own experience of the Pollock fishing ban.

She is fighting for an end to the zero catch scenario for pollack and fair play for small-scale fishing communities.

Muireann has grown up fishing pollack with her father and uncles in a boat built by her late grandfather. However, due to the zero catch scenario, their livelihood is now under threat.

On the back of the Pollock fishing ban, Muireann made headlines when her handwritten letter to the fisheries minister was widely circulated on social media.

In the letter, she documented the impact the ban would have on fishing communities and the threat to future generations.

This week, she is highlighting these issues in the European Parliament.

Speaking from the parliament, Muireann said, “I am delighted to be here in Strasbourg and I’m very grateful that MEP MacManus organised this opportunity to speak directly to the decision makers in the European parliament.

"For me it is vitally important to explain to the European officials just how hopeless I feel my future is as a young fisherwoman.

"My family have fished for pollock in a sustainable way for generations and it makes me sad and angry that I cannot do the same.

"I feel that fishing communities in Ireland are not getting fairness and I have made that very clear in every meeting here in the parliament,” said Muireann.

Suitably dressed in her striking yellow fishing overalls, Muireann got straight to work.

The work in question was securing a future in fishing for herself and many other young people living in coastal and island communities.

The young fisherwoman was joined by her parents Donna and Neil, as well as MEP MacManus as she met a number of high-ranking MEPs including João Pimenta MEP, Coordinator for the Left Group for the Fisheries Committee, Pierre Karleskind MEP, Chairperson of European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee and Younous Omarjee the chair of the Parliament's Committee on Regional Development.

Earlier this year, Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands Northwest, Chris McManus, went to visit Muireann at her school Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore to hear her story first hand and he was struck by the young woman’s passion and determination.

“I highlighted Muireann’s story in a European Parliament speech but I felt in was essential that she could come here to tell her story in person.”

The Midlands Northwest MEP subsequently invited the young islander to the European Parliament so she could tell her story directly to the relevant legislators.

This week the teenager arrived in Strasbourg, ready to make waves. “This is Muireann’s story, this is Muireann’s week,” said Mr McManus.

"I was more than happy to facilitate her and her family so her story can be heard loud and clear in the corridors of power.

"She deserves to be heard.

"Young Irish fisherwoman and men deserve fairness and they deserve a future.

"As MEPs we must fight to provide a future for young people like Muireann Kavanagh,” concluded Mr McManus.

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France's foreign minister will push proposals to prevent further escalation and a potential war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a visit to Lebanon on Sunday as Paris seeks to refine a roadmap that both sides could accept to ease tensions.

European Parliament

Stay informed  .

Stay updated on what Parliament is doing. Check out the latest news, watch our meetings live and follow MEPs on social media.

• Go to the page Topics
• Go to the page Today in Parliament
• Go to the page Latest news
• Go to the page Videos and live streamings
• Go to the page MEPs on social media

Members, bodies and activities  

The European Parliament is made up of 705 Members, who are directly elected.

President Roberta Metsola

The President is elected for a renewable two and a half years, meaning half a Parliamentary term.

7 Political groups

MEPs sit in political groups. They are not organised by nationality, but by political affiliation.

During plenary sessions MEPs vote on European laws and take position on issues through debates.

27 Committees

MEPs participate in committees to prepare the work for Parliament's plenary sessions.

49 Delegations

Parliament's delegations maintain relations and exchange information with parliaments in non-EU countries.

Secretariat-general

The secretariat-general supports the work of MEPs and the parliamentary bodies.

What is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is the EU's only directly-elected institution. Its 705 Members are there to represent you.

Legislative tools

• Monitoring EU decision-making process Go to the page Legislative Observatory
• Go to the page Legislative Train
• In-depth analysis of EU policies   Go to the page Think tank

Stay in touch with us  

Interested in the Parliament? Discover the various ways to stay in touch with us.

• Go to the page Visit us
• Go to the page The Parliament on social media
• Go to the page The Parliament in your country
• Go to the page Another request? We are here to help.
• Go to the page Contact us

Explainer-Why You Should Care About the European Parliament Election

FILE PHOTO: Members of the EU Parliament vote during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Starsbourg, France June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union citizens will vote on June 6-9 in elections to choose 720 new members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the next five years.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

The European Parliament is one of the three main EU institutions that run the 27-nation bloc. Along with EU governments, it decides on laws that govern common European policies and the EU market of almost 450 million people.

INFLUENCE ON KEY POLICIES

The parliament will shape crucial policies identified by EU leaders as priorities for the next five years: 

- the EU's transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Photos You Should See - April 2024

- industrial policy to keep the EU competitive against China and the United States

- an EU energy union to lower energy prices and make supply more stable

- a Capital Markets Union to help mobilise private money to pay for all that

- boosting the EU's defence production capabilities

INFLUENCE ON TOP EU JOBS

The results of the election will influence the choice of the next head of the European Commission, the executive arm that has the exclusive power to propose new EU laws.

While there is no such formal requirement, the political grouping that wins the election will have a strong argument that the next Commission head should come from its ranks.

INFLUENCE ON EU MONEY

The next European Parliament will co-decide with EU governments on the next EU budget for 2028-2034, which is now around 1.1 trillion euros ($1.18 trillion).

The next long-term budget might be increased and certainly will have to change in terms of spending priorities to take into account the possible enlargement of the EU to include Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans.

INFLUENCE ON FUTURE SHAPE OF EU

EU officials and governments say the bloc needs to reform its internal agriculture policy and the way it supports its members to equalise standards of living across the bloc before it admits new countries, especially big ones such as Ukraine.

Many also say the EU needs to change how it makes decisions, reducing the need for unanimity, if more countries are to join.

If such reforms are proposed in the next five years, the parliament will have a crucial role to play in shaping them.        

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Alison Williams)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Parliament gave the so-called "due diligence" directive the green light on April 24. It makes it so that all EU companies with over 1,000 employees and a global turnover higher than €400 million ($427 million) must eventually mitigate against business practices like forced labor, pollution, and various other human rights abuses. It also allows the European Commission to investigate potential abuses in companies' supply chains in countries outside of the EU, and creates legal liability for any violations.

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