The new legislative and budgetary competences of the European Parliament in the European constitution

Summary:

The European Parliament is probably the institution to benefit most from the European Constitution. Under it the Parliament is raised to the status of co-participant with the Council of Ministers in the exercise of the legislative and budgetary powers of the Union and extends its competences in both areas. However, in terms of legislative powers, a closer examination of Part III of the Constitutional Treaty suggests that no radical change has occurred; instead, the gradual process of increasing the legislative powers of the EP has inched forward once again

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