The European Parliament is the only European institution that directly represents the voice of the 500 million EU citizens. 763 members of European Parliament (MEPs) represent the EU citizens through their action in their political groups and their work in different committees and delegations.
Since 1979 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been elected through direct universal suffrage every five years. Each EU Member State decides how the European elections are organised in its own country (either on a regional or national basis), and under its own electoral laws and procedures. Yet, all Member States follow the same system of proportional representation.
You can find further information translated in all the EU languages on the European Parliament website.
Read more about the composition and procedures of work of the 2019-2024 European Parliament
Older people's organisations and the European Parliament
The role of the European Parliament has increased with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It is therefore all the more important for older people’s organisations to establish good contacts with MEPs of their country. MEPs can develop some contacts with their national governments to promote the interests of older people. You can find the list of MEPs for each country at the following link.
Contact details of your MEPs: Your national parliaments are also represented in the European Parliament. You can find all the contact details of these representatives at the following link.
Follow the activities of the European Parliament: You can find here a list of useful links to follow EP policy development.
The importance of the Council and the Parliament in EU decision-making means that they are important targets for lobbying activities. Since the members of the Council represent the Member States and the MEPs represent their local constituents, they are often most effectively targeted by national and local organisations. AGE encourages and helps its member organisations to take an active lobbying role at these levels.
AGE work with the European Parliament
AGE Platform Europe works closely with the European Parliament (EP) and its members (MEPs) in order to influence more effectively EU policy agenda and with regard to older people and, more broadly, demographic ageing.
AGE’s work with the EP is concentrated around three major axes:
- Monitoring EP legislative work and, informing and consulting AGE members in order to develop common positions;
- Proposing amendments to EP draft reports and/or voting amendments; and
- Organizing thematic events in close collaboration with MEPs.
AGE work with the EP is also reinforced through the cooperation and support to an informal interest group on solidarity between generations, composed of members of different political parties and committees.
More information?
> To get updated on the work of the European Parliament on ageing issues, follow this link or visit our EP blog
> For any further information on AGE work with the European Parliament, you may contact our EP liaison Officer, Philippe Seidel, philippe.seidel@age-platform.eu
