Members of the European Parliament set the framework of legislation for the Member States in conjunction with the European Commission and Council of Ministers. MEPs are therefore responsible for reviewing and developing legislation and guidance which will then form the basis of national law.
The role of an MEP covers parliamentary work, representing constituents’ concerns and being a focal point for the media looking to get comment and analysis from a Green Party perspective. There are also demands to work for the Green Group in the Parliament, and demands from the party. In addition, a Green MEP will be expected to play a key role in any re-election bid. Part of the skill of being an MEP therefore, is to manage these competing demands and deliver results that keep each of the stakeholders happy - the regional and national Green Party; the constituents; the Green Group in the European Parliament and the MEP’s own aspirations and values.
The requirement of belonging to a political group
The independence of individual MEPs is clearly stated in the Parliament’s rules of procedure: "They shall not be bound by any instructions and shall not receive a binding mandate". We in the Green Party expect our MEPs to be guided first and foremost by the manifesto on which they were elected. However, there are a number of constraints on the freedom of action of individual members:
Most notable is that MEPs are required to belong to a political group in order to participate within the Parliamentary system. Some might say this puts pressure on them to follow the collective position adopted by the group; however, the Green Group doesn’t have a whip and discipline in the European Parliament is generally much less strict than in national parliaments. The key point is that individual members can play an important role in defining a Group position in the first place. Most issues dealt with by the Parliament are overseen by a party member of each Group - allowing members to specialise so that they don’t need to know the detail of each issue - clearly impossible due to the workload. Group positions are worked out by their Group co-ordinators on the relevant committee and/or by majority vote after discussion in Group meetings. Individual members have real opportunities to shape their Group’s position but they can just as easily opt out of the position if they are not satisfied.
Members also have numerous rights to act outside the normal Political Group or committee framework. These include putting questions to the Commission or Council in the context of question time, or for a written answer, or a written declaration (comparable to an Early Day Motion). All of these procedures are valuable ways of making a mark on an issue of constituency or other importance, of showing a member has played an active role on an issue, or to gain publicity. Individual members may also table and move amendments to any text in committee, explain why they voted as they did, ask questions related to the work of Parliament’s leadership, raise points of order, and make personal statements when derogatory comments have been made about them by other speakers - all of these methods can be used to make an impact as individuals.
Parliamentary Work
Much of the Parliament’s work is carried out in its 17 standing committees, where Commission proposals for new legislation are studied so they may then be voted on by the whole Parliament. Every proposal is considered by at least one committee which appoints one of its members as ‘rapporteur’ to draw up a report on it. Following consultation and lobbying and the tabling of amendments, the reports are voted on by the whole Parliament in Strasbourg. Most MEPs are members of at least two formal committees. In addition there are Inter-Groups which are cross party informal groups of MEPs set up to promote particular issues. The Parliament also maintains contact with most governments in the rest of the world, and MEPs sit on delegations to particular countries.
Below are the details for our existing MEPs to give a guide to the scope of Parliamentary work.
Caroline Lucas
o Full member of the Trade, Industry, Energy and Research Committee
o Substitute member of the Committee for Regional Policy and Transport
o Vice President of the Parliament’s delegation to the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries.
o Vice President of the Animal Welfare, and Consumer Affairs Inter-Groups.
o Member of the Peace Inter-Group.
Jean Lambert
o Full member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee
o Full member of the Petitions Committee, which hears complaints from EU citizens claiming breaches of European legislation.
o Substitute member of Civil Liberties Committee.
o Member of Peace, Anti-racism and Trade Union Inter-Groups.
o Member of the Parliament’s delegation to Malta.
Time Management/Choosing priorities
The pressure on an MEP’s time is great. One week a month is taken up by the plenary session in Strasbourg and much of the next three weeks by committee, plenary or Group meetings in Brussels, and with occasional meetings in other countries. This is compounded by the time it takes to travel between these various locations and the members home country. In addition MEPs are expected to keep in touch with their political base at home. Given the UK’s regionally based electoral system and the small number of UK Green MEPs, there is also the tension between dealing with individual constituents and regional affairs and developing broader links with NGOs, businesses, trade unions, development agencies, other elected Green Party representatives. And of course, there is always the need to strengthen links with local and national media.
There are only three official "constituency weeks" in the official European Parliamentary calendar, but the electorate and the party expect MEPs to spend a significant amount of time in their regions, especially in supporting the development and creation of local parties and in raising the profile of green issues across the region. There are further conflicting pressures within the parliamentary timetable, since the meeting of an MEP’s main committee may clash with a hearing or a debate in another committee of greater political importance. Intergroup meetings take up time as does speaking to visitors’ groups. Lobbyists will want to meet them and invite them to receptions and presentations. Then there are the requests for interviews from the Brussels, the national or local press. Members must select an appropriate balance of priorities. How much time should be spent in Brussels, Strasbourg and in their region? Should they remain generalists or seek to become policy specialists? What activities should they concentrate on? Should they take on prestigious rapporteurships or formal roles in the Parliament or Group or concentrate their efforts in their political base at home?
The size of the Green Group and the fact that the UK Greens at times hold minority views within it means it is often easier for an individual member to make an impact in plenary where they can make a well publicised speech than in committee where they will find it harder to get major rapporteurships.
The Green Euro Trust
Members of the European Parliament are given fixed sums each year to finance the cost of their support staff, administrative expenses and for some specific projects. Like Westminster MPs, the funds are given to them personally to spend as they see fit within rules set by the parliament. The Green Party agreed, however, that our MEPs would be assisted by a specially set up Euro Trust which would disburse the money, and oversee the responsibilities expected of a good employer. Membership of the trust includes Jean and Caroline. The Trust also oversees the arrangement whereby the MEPs donate 10% of their salary to Green Party funds. The trust meets 6 times a year and includes a representative from each MEPs region, GPEx and GPRC.
Lydia Howitt
July 02
