On July 8th, as part of their immersive week in Brussels, students participating in the EUdemos Summer School, held from July 7th to 12th, had the opportunity to step inside one of the European Union’s most symbolic institutions: the European Parliament.
The visit began with an educational presentation outlining the role and powers of the European Parliament. Students learned that the Parliament plays a central role in adopting and passing legislative proposals, approving budgets, and supervising other institutions, particularly the European Commission.
With 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected directly by EU citizens, the institution is a cornerstone of democratic representation within the Union. The direct election enables the veritable representation of EU citizens’ interests in the legislative process.
The Parliament exercises three main powers: legislative power (shared with the Council of the EU), budgetary power (approval and control of the EU budget), and democratic oversight, especially of the European Commission – the executive branch of the Union. The Parliament represents a significant siege of political debate and decision-making within the EU.
Following the presentation, participants visited the Hemicycle, the Parliament’s main debating chamber. The Hemicycle is where MEPs from across the EU come together in plenary sessions to debate, even tough the voting session takes place in the Strarboug seat of the European Parliament. Standing in the chamber offered the students a striking visual of European unity and political diversity at work.
The experience was part of a broader program designed to deepen students’ understanding of European institutions. Highlights include visits to the European Commission, the Parlamentarium, and the House of European History.
The visit to the European Parliament served as a reminder that democratic institutions are not just abstract entities, but they are living, evolving environments that depend on the engagement of European citizens.
[Edit by Matilde Sardo]
