STRASBOURG: A EUROPEAN CITY

EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS (VISITED)

I/ The Council of Europe (located in Strasbourg):

-Founded on the 5th of May 1949, this council is composed of the 47 european nations and seeks to develop democratic principles and Europe common. This council aims to improve the European Convention and Human rights (and many other references); a European cultural identity then cohesion and social rights. This council has 5 observers which guarantees
-The symbols are the European flag (12 stars embodying the purity and perfection), the European anthem (extracted from "Rapsodie sur l'hymne européen"-Christophe Guyard), and the European logo.

-The council of Europe gathers many branchs (3 principal branchs)

--> The parliamentary assembly (318 members)- Its members are delegates appointed by parliaments of each states. The number of delegates per state is proportional to the population of a state. For example: Germany is the most represented states because of his 83 million-people population.
The type of vote is the quality majority voting. In the hemicycle, delegates are installed according to their nationalities. This assembly is the deliberative body wich establishes and initiates many treaties for a European wide-sytem of legislation.

--> The committee of Ministers- comprising the Foreign Ministers of the 47 members states (or their diplomatic representatives). They decide Council of Europe policy, plan the budget (approximately 205 000 000 € in 2009) and programme of activities : this is a decision body.

--> The European Court of Human Rights- controls the respect of rights safeguarded by the European Convention on Human Rights in all states. This branch concerns states and inviduals regardless of nationalities. Thanks to this court: a european citizen is able to press charges to the state in which he lives. That's a renewal in the european juridic aspect.

--> Many other activites concerning cultural and historic heritage, education for democratic citizenship etc...

II/ The European Parliament (founded in 1950)

-Firstly, the European Parliament takes part in the EU (European Union) and not in Europe.
- The Members of Parliament (MP) are directly elected by citizens of the EU. There are 736 MP in the hemicycle which are gathered according to their political party (seven groups). Moreover, a proportionality exists between the population of a state and MP representing this state in the hemycicle. (Ex: France has 72 MP). Jerzy Buzek is the new president of the Parliament since 2009.
-3 places for the parliament : Luxembourg (administration), Bruxelles (preparation and plennary sessions) and Strasbourg (plennary session). During a month, the MP work 3 weeks in Bruxelles, and 1 week in Strasbourg for the plennary session ..
-The parliament has 3 essential roles :
--> To exercise the legislative power (shared with the council of the Eu) : on political problems and domains, when legislative actions are voted in order to guarantee the democratic legitimacy of the European right. "CO-DECISON"
--> To exercise the democratic control: on all european institutions, especially on the commission.
--> To exercise the budgetary power: on the total Budget with the Council. It influences the EU's spends. Budget: approximately 180 Billions Euros.