The following is a report from the European Parliament, that takes a look at parliamentarians from either side of the Atlantic.From 3-8 October, the 63rd EP/US Congress Interparliamentary Meeting took place in Washington and Nevada. Twenty-three MEPs discussed issues ranging from climate change and the Middle East to trade and CIA rendition flights with their US counterparts. In this context, we can't help but wonder how much MEPs and congressmen have in common?
The delegations meet twice a year, once in Europe and once in the US and have been meeting since 1972, making this interparliamentary relationship the longest in the history of the EP. We asked some members of the US delegation where the EP and Congress differ.
So what are some of the differences?
Specialism: "The Committee structure of the European Parliament produces MEPs who have become authoritative specialists in a number of areas...Hence MEPs are invariably better informed on their subject areas than their Congressional counterparts. Members of Congress are mostly generalists, who rely on their massive staff budgets to provide them with the specialist policy expertise, " said delegation leader, British Conservative Jonathan Evans.
Initiating legislation: Congress can initiate legislation, the EP cannot.
Electoral terms: Congressmen sitting in the House of Representatives serve 2 year terms, while MEPs are elected for 5 years, "so they are always in election mode", according to Ulster Unionist James Nicholson.
Plurality: "The main and decisive difference is that Congress representatives interact with one federal administration, while we, in the EP, face a plurality of EU institutions and 27 Member State governments," said Portuguese Socialist Ana Maria Gomes.
Local interests: "Congressmen present openly and proudly their states' and their business interests. In the European Parliament, the nationalities and national interests are more in the background," said Finnish Liberal Anneli Jäätteenmäki.
Members: There are 785 MEPs in one chamber. There are 2 US chambers, the Senate with 100 members and the House of Representatives with 435. About 16% of the Congress is female compared with 30% of MEPs
Committees: The EP has 23 committees, Congress around 200
Political parties: 2 big parties in the US and 8 political groups in the EP
Working languages: Congress works in English, the EP in all 23 official EU languages
And a few of the similarities...
Concerns: "They have the same problems as we have and the same concerns; they have the same urban-rural divide and many differences between each other just as in the EP," said Mr Nicholson .
Legislative process: both bodies draft reports, have committee meetings and hearings and vote in plenary sessions.
Similar goals: serving the electorate; working on Committees, the house and in constituencies; meeting lobbyists; seeking re-election.
Similar values: according to UEN member Brian Crowley, "the EU and US share "very strong bonds of friendship, common interests and values...our two political bodies do have differences form time to time. But these differences pale into the background when you analyse how much common interest there is."
The delegations meet twice a year, once in Europe and once in the US and have been meeting since 1972, making this interparliamentary relationship the longest in the history of the EP. We asked some members of the US delegation where the EP and Congress differ.
So what are some of the differences?
Specialism: "The Committee structure of the European Parliament produces MEPs who have become authoritative specialists in a number of areas...Hence MEPs are invariably better informed on their subject areas than their Congressional counterparts. Members of Congress are mostly generalists, who rely on their massive staff budgets to provide them with the specialist policy expertise, " said delegation leader, British Conservative Jonathan Evans.
Initiating legislation: Congress can initiate legislation, the EP cannot.
Electoral terms: Congressmen sitting in the House of Representatives serve 2 year terms, while MEPs are elected for 5 years, "so they are always in election mode", according to Ulster Unionist James Nicholson.
Plurality: "The main and decisive difference is that Congress representatives interact with one federal administration, while we, in the EP, face a plurality of EU institutions and 27 Member State governments," said Portuguese Socialist Ana Maria Gomes.
Local interests: "Congressmen present openly and proudly their states' and their business interests. In the European Parliament, the nationalities and national interests are more in the background," said Finnish Liberal Anneli Jäätteenmäki.
Members: There are 785 MEPs in one chamber. There are 2 US chambers, the Senate with 100 members and the House of Representatives with 435. About 16% of the Congress is female compared with 30% of MEPs
Committees: The EP has 23 committees, Congress around 200
Political parties: 2 big parties in the US and 8 political groups in the EP
Working languages: Congress works in English, the EP in all 23 official EU languages
And a few of the similarities...
Concerns: "They have the same problems as we have and the same concerns; they have the same urban-rural divide and many differences between each other just as in the EP," said Mr Nicholson .
Legislative process: both bodies draft reports, have committee meetings and hearings and vote in plenary sessions.
Similar goals: serving the electorate; working on Committees, the house and in constituencies; meeting lobbyists; seeking re-election.
Similar values: according to UEN member Brian Crowley, "the EU and US share "very strong bonds of friendship, common interests and values...our two political bodies do have differences form time to time. But these differences pale into the background when you analyse how much common interest there is."
