2009: European Parliament elections

Why the EU elections were important

The European Parliament has a crucial role to play in forming European Union (EU) policies that work for the world's poor. Together with the European Council, the Parliament decides on budgets and scrutinises aid programmes including Country Strategy Papers. On trade, the European Parliament has to ratify all European agreements and has the power to raise issues with the European Commission.

Moreover, as the watchdog of European institutions, the European Parliament can put political pressure on issues over which it does not have decision making powers.

If the Lisbon Treaty is adopted, it would reinforce the role of the European Parliament. The European Parliament will have increased decision making power and the link between national parliaments and European Parliament would be strengthened.

In June 2009 half a billion EU residents in all 27 Member States elected 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the biggest trans-national election in history. From the UK, 72 MEPs were elected.

Here are the results of the 2009 European Parliament elections in the UK.

What the development sector did for the EU elections

NGOs across EU member states have produced a manifesto on EU development and climate change policy with specific demands for future MEPs. This was organised through CONCORD, the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development. The activities in various EU countries are listed on this blog.

The UK international development manifesto for the EU elections was launched on 30 March 2009.

15 of the elected MEPs signed a pledge to champion international development issues during the next five years of parliament.

Bond and its members and partner networks also organised a series of elections hustings around the UK, including one in London.