The European Parliament is the legislative body. It has the legitimacy of the European citizens since it is elected by direct universal suffrage.

The 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected in each country in proportion to their population, and for five years. The election is held by direct universal suffrage.

The European Parliament has its main seat in Strasbourg (France, near the German border), but 80% of its work (committee meetings and political groups meetings) is done in Brussels. Plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg (e.g. four days a month) and in Brussels.

20 Parliamentary Committees exist, among which the Committee on Employment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) which is responsible in particular for public health.

The Committees draft reports and propose amendments to European Commission proposals. For each proposal discussed, a “Rapporteur” (draftsman) is designated as well as “Shadow Rapporteurs” from other political groups. In many cases, there is a lead Committee, which drafts the main report, and opinion Committees which also input their views. Depending on the procedure followed, the lead Committee is more or less committed to follow opinion Committees’ ideas.

At Committee level, each political group is represented proportionally. The leader of each of these groups is called a “Coordinator”. The Coordinators are responsible for determining  the general position of their group for each topic and also take important decisions together as far as procedure issues are concerned (agenda of meetings, allocation of reports etc.).

All members have the right to table amendments and vote. Because they belong to both a political group and a nation, MEPs are in practice fairly independent from political group discipline and government instructions.

The European Parliament traditionally has been seen as strong proponent of healthy lifestyles and disease awareness, in particular in the field of rare diseases.  Under the new Lisbon Treaty, it has been placed on an more equal footing with the Member States and Commission in the legislative process and is seen as a credible voice on health-specific causes.