President of the European Parliament

Infobox Political post
post = President
body = the
European Parliament
insignia = Europarl logo.svg
insigniasize = 150px
insigniacaption = Logo of the Parliament


incumbent = Hans-Gert Pöttering
formation = 1952
inaugural = Paul Henri Spaak
website = [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/president/defaulten_mac.htm europarl.europa.eu/president]

The President of the European Parliament presides over the debates and activities of the European Parliament. He or she also represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally. The President's signature is required for enacting most EU laws and the EU budget.

Presidents serve two-and-a-half-year terms, normally divided between the two major political parties. There have been twenty-seven Presidents, since the Parliament was created in 1952 to 2007, twelve of whom have served since the first Parliamentary election in 1979. Two Presidents have been women and most have come from the older member states. The current President is Hans-Gert Pöttering.

Role in Parliament

The President chairs debates and oversees all the activities of the Parliament and its constituent bodies (ensuring the Parliament's rules of procedure are applied), in this the role is similar to that of a speaker in a national parliament. Below the President, there are 14 Vice-Presidents who chair debates when the President is not in the chamber. The President also chairs the meetings of the Bureau, which is responsible for budgetary and administration issues, and the Conference of Presidents which is a governing body composed of the presidents of each of the parliament's political groups.cite web|last= |first= |title=The President of the European Parliament|publisher=Europa (web portal)|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/president/defaulten_mac.htm|accessdate=2007-11-19] cite web|title=Duties of the President|publisher=European Parliament|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+RULES-EP+20040720+RULE-019+DOC+XML+V0//EN&navigationBar=YES|accessdate=2007-06-12 ]

Under the Lisbon Treaty, the President would no longer be counted as one of the 750 MEPs (post 2009, 785 in 2008) while in office. This is to keep the number of MEPs officially under the 750 cap. [cite web|last=Goldirova|first=Renata|title=EU agrees new 'Lisbon Treaty'|date=2007-10-19|publisher=EU Observer|url=http://euobserver.com/9/25001|accessdate=2007-11-19]

Position in the Union

He or she represents Parliament in all legal matters and external relations, particularly international relations. When the European Council meets, the President addresses it to give the Parliament's position on subjects on the Council's agenda. The President also takes part in Intergovernmental Conferences on new treaties. The President's signature is also required for the budget of the European Union and Union acts adopted under codecision procedure to be adopted. The President also chairs conciliation committees with the Council under these areas.

In most countries, the protocol of the head of state comes before all others, however in the EU the Parliament is listed as the first institution, and hence the protocol of its President comes before any other European, or national, protocol. The gifts given to numerous visiting dignitaries depends upon the President. President Josep Borrell MEP of Spain gave his counterparts a crystal cup created by an artist from Barcelona which had engraved upon it parts of the Charter of Fundamental Rights among other things.cite web|title=Parliament's Protocol Service |date=2006-07-28|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/focus_page/008-9981-205-07-30-901-20060728FCS09980-24-07-2006-2006/default_en.htm|publisher=European Parliament|accessdate=2007-10-28 ]

Election

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Mid: 16 January 2007; [ [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-1954-015-01-03-901-20070115IPR01953-15-01-2007-2007-true/default_en.htm European Parliament Press Release on election] ]

ee also

*List of presidents of EU institutions
**President of the European Council
**Presidency of the Council of the European Union
**President of the European Commission
**President of the European Union

References

External links

* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+RULES-EP+20040720+RULE-019+DOC+XML+V0//EN&navigationBar=YES Duties of the President] europarl.europa.eu
* [http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=4150 Presidents of the European Parliament] European Navigator
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/background_page/008-1806-015-01-03-901-20070109BKG01804-15-01-2007-2007-false/default_p001c006_en.htm Results of Presidential elections 1979-2007]