Connect with us

EU

The secrets behind Parliament's colourful calendar

SHARE:

Published

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

20140623PHT50201_originalThe European Parliament's short summer recess will be over after this week, so it is back to business. The colours of the Parliamentary calendar illustrate what's on MEPs' schedule for that day. Find out what activities the different colours indicate.

Bluepolitical groups

In weeks that are marked blue MEPs meet with other members from their political group. The political groups in Parliament bring together MEPs coming from different national political parties, sharing the same political stance and affiliations. To establish a political group, 25 different MEPs from at least seven different member states are needed. The Parliament has started this term with seven political groups.

During the political groups’ meeting, MEPs discuss their positions on proposed legislation, to be debated and voted on during plenary. They scrutinise reports from Parliamentary committees, table amendments and agree on a group position.

Pink – committee meetings

Each MEP works in one or more parliamentary committees, dedicated to a particular area of European policy, ranging from foreign affairs to economic issues, equality, education and culture.

Pink weeks are dedicated to committee meetings, the forum where MEPs coming from different political groups discuss draft legislation, propose amendments, consider Commission and Council proposals and draw up reports to be presented to the plenary.

Advertisement

Red – plenary sessions

All this work culminates during Parliament’s plenary sessions, in Strasbourg or Brussels. Plenary sessions, marked red on the calendar, are when MEPs debate important issues, take significant decisions through votes by adopting, amending, or rejecting legislation.

The next plenary session is scheduled for 15-18 September.

Turquoise – work outside  the Parliament

During turquoise week, MEPs undertake activities outside the Parliament. They work either in their constituency in their home country, where they have the opportunity to interact with their electorate, or in Parliamentary delegations, responsible for maintaining relations with non-EU countries.


More information

Share this article:

EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter.

Trending