Why bother with Brussels? MEPs

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are directly elected, through system of proportional representation, by EU citizens to represent their interests in the European Parliament. Elections are held in each member state every five years, with just under 500 million citizens able to vote.

Currently there are 734 MPs. The number of seats allocated to each member state is based on the population size of that country. The UK currently has 72 MEPs. MEPs are accountable to their constituency so have an interest in developing a strong relationship with local organisations.

MEPs do not sit in national blocks, but in EU wide political groups.

What do MEPs do?

MEPs pass laws that affect many aspects of our lives such as maximum working hour limits, clear labelling of genetically modified organisms, ban on animal testing of cosmetics and the recycling of batteries across the EU. As representatives of the citizens' voice in Europe it is important to consider influencing MEPs as part of your campaign plan. Because:

MEPs have the power to approve, amend or reject nearly all EU legislation.
They hold the European Commission to account and can force it to resign.
As members of the European Parliament MEPs as a whole decide on the EU budget and how to spend it.

Most of MEPs work is done in committees, where MEPs debate proposals put forward by the Commission.

MEPs divide their time between regional constituencies and EU offices. MEPs spend the majority of their time in committee and group meetings in Brussels, Belgium looking at and debating proposed EU laws. One week every month MEPs spend their time in Strasbourg, France in full parliamentary sessions of the whole Parliament to debate and vote on legislation. The European Parliament website has contact details for all MEPs.

MEPs also have a responsibility to spend time in their constituencies so that that can represent local concerns at a European level. Just like MPs your local MEP will hold surgeries or meetings with local people in your area. MEPs have their own websites so you can find out what their interests are and which committees they sit on, as well as when they hold surgeries. You can write to your MEP - generally you will get a response, expressing your concerns and encouraging others to do the same can be a crucial route to influencing EU policy and law.

Read tips from campaigners on how to influence MEPs

Further Resources

ITV's new My Europe website has lots of useful resources such as using online maps to access EU news from regional MEPs and video profiles to familiarise yourself with MEPs and the issues that they champion.

Type in your postcode at www.writetothem.com to find out who your local MEP is.

What do your MEPs do - explanatory leaflet

On the Europa website there is a full list of current MEPs for the whole of the EU. View the list

The UK Office of the European Parliament have fact sheets on all UK MEP by region containing contact details and photos.

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