Get the picture: MEP?

What's an MEP? Is it a job? An MEP is a Member of the European Parliament. There are 754 of them working in the EP to represent 500 million Europeans. And who are they? Adult men and women, citizens of one of the 27 Member States of the European Union. They work in Brussels in Belgium and Strasbourg in France, the two seats of the Parliament. It looks like a hot job! Their time is spread over several activities. In Brussels MEPs work with their political groups and with committees specialising in certain areas, like justice, agriculture, the environment, research or the economy. They analyse and write reports on future European laws. In the Hemicycle in Strasbourg, the MEPs all meet to debate and to vote on laws in the name of European citizens. In parallel, MEPs must devote time to the citizens, media or companies in their region, or travel abroad. But who pays the MEPs? The European Union pays their salaries and work expenses as long as they are justified. MEPs must respect a code of conduct and resist external pressures in order to exercise their office independently. Can I have a go? -Yes. If you qualify, see you in 2014. Get the Picture: A picture is worth a thousand words!

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